When the historic MC Ranch was sold in 1992, the Beaty Butte Grazing Association was formed by several local families including Ed Stabb to operate this 26,000 AUM Permit. Every year the ranchers put their cattle together and run them communally on 540,000+ acres in total or about an 800 sq. mile range. This is the second largest BLM grazing allotment in the State of Oregon and houses one of Oregon’s larger wild horse populations. Each ranch participates in a staggered gather when the water and grass gets low. Three to four days before these photos were taken, riders went out to move what cattle they could find closer in. The morning these photos were taken, riders went out and gathered an area 3 miles north and 6 miles west, moving them in large groups to a staging area at the top of notoriously steep Doherty Slide, which features a precipitous and spectacular drop-off all the way down its entire three mile length. At the bottom of the hill they leave the road and go cross country to the old Barry Ranch where they are held for the night. The next day they are moved 12 miles over Blizzard Gap to Warner Valley. After a days rest, the cattle are sorted by owner. Meantime other members of the association return to the rangelands to continue the gathering process which can take weeks.
Call Ed today at 541-280-1895 or email edsredmond@gmail.com for more information!