Jerry had some bulls that were all bull, very masculine and had learned how to survive in some tough country. We had managed to use all of them successfully but had to spend some time with each of them training them to our mode of operation.
We rocked along for a couple of years taking care of each situation as it arose. I just loved the cattle and the ranch but everything comes to an end and the ranch sold and we lost the lease. So we were gathering the cattle and getting a tally as the new owner wanted to buy the cattle. We had all the cattle gathered and in the corral except for one final bunch. We had them gathered and going to the pens when one bull found a big thicket of stiff mesquite. He walked right to the middle of the thicket, and we were unable to budge him. So we penned the rest of the cattle and left him in the middle of the thicket. After getting the remainder of the herd penned, I told one man to watch the gate but leave it open and we would be right back with the bull. Upon returning to the bull, he was in the same spot, very sedentary. It was impossible to ride close enough to him to make him move. We wanted to get some rocks and throw at him but no rocks on salt flat, so we resorted to gourds, but that impressed the bull about as much as our hollering and screaming. I had a final plan but waited until the last resort. Finally I told everyone to wait right here and keep an eye on him, I would be right back. I loped to the house which was not more than a couple hundred yards away. I went in the house got my 45 colt pistol and holster, strapped it on and loped back to the bull in the thicket. All was the same as when I had left it. I told the crew to let me have the bull and go back to the corals. After the crew had left and the bull was watching me as I was talking to him trying to get as close as possible. The mesquite was thick but I was able to get within about 25 feet from him. He was watching me and trying to figure out my strategy. So I had his attention and I pulled my pistol and was looking for a horn or ear that was open with nothing to deflect the bullett or body behind the ear or horn. I found my target and got set and was squeezing the trigger while I hollered “Hey Bull”. The bullet went true and the bulls head nearly hit the ground but he got up as quickly as he went down and he headed straight for the corrals nearly knocking down several men guarding the gate. He went straight for the middle of the herd and by the time I got there he was standing in the middle of the herd looking at me as if to say “Is this where you want me.”
We tallied the herd and sold them to the new owner of the figure 2 Ranch, it was a good deal and Jerry was a happy man