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Dear Friends, Matador Ranch is wet. We like saying that, but we've also endured a pretty hard winter for us with numerous snowy and icy days. It's certainly been a challenge for our quail hunters, with high winds and frigid temperatures. You know, it's called "hunting" for a reason...the birds don't just jump into your bags.
Deer season ended in early January and we had a good year across the ranch. We've submitted 12 entries in the Texas Big Game awards, including a whitetail that scored 157 4/8 taken by 15-year-old Cole Hillman of Madison, Miss., and a 144 0/8 whitetail taken by Jonathan Leak of Senoia, Ga. We are anxiously awaiting early summer when our fawns begin hitting the ground. If you will recall, we completed our first artificial breeding season on the ranch in November.
With a little break between hunting seasons, we are pushing to get our cattle worked. Branding typically takes 6-8 weeks as we move from pasture to pasture. Of course, with Mother Nature as your partner, that has some flexibility built in. We'll move our stockers from winter pasture to summer pasture in a few weeks and our ranch-bred mares will begin foaling soon.
We are excited to introduce Akaushi cattle into our breeding program here at the ranch. (see photo at left) We think these cattle have a real place in our program and have done some AI and embryo transfer work earlier in the year.
I want to take one more opportunity to brag about our staff at the Matador - including the many dayworkers, guides and consultants who help us out occasionally. These people are professional in every sense of the word and really take to heart our MBM™ Guiding Principles. They are focused on safety and working with integrity and a commitment to compliance. I am lucky to be on this team.
Hope you enjoy catching up with what's going on at the Matador.
Sincerely,
Bob Kilmer
Ranch Manager
bob.kilmer@matadorranch.com
 
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Hunting Report
Twelve Matador deer will be considered for Texas Big Game awards. See www.texasbiggameawards.com for more information. The entries and Boone and Crockett scores are as follows:
Gary Larson, South Salem, N.Y. - 131 5/8
Cole Hillman, Madison, Miss. - 157 4/8
Dwight "Andy" Andrus III, Lafayette, La. - 156 4/8
Gerald Cooper, Gulfport, Miss. - 140 3/8
Reed Andrus, Lafayette, La. - 139 7/8
Dwight Andrus Jr., Lafayette, La. - 152 5/8
Richard Thomas, Wake Forest, N.C. - 136 7/8
Barry Williamson, Lumerton, N.C. - 140 1/8
George Dayson, Montvale, N.J. - 132 6/8
David Poole, Southlake, Tex. - 152 0/8
Jonathan Leak, Senoia, Ga. - 144 0/8
James Lee Herndon, Valdosta, Ga. - 146 0/8
Cole Hillman
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Jonathan Leak
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Our quail hunters faced ice, snow and often blizzard conditions. Here are a few photos of successful hunters.
Turkey season begins April 3 and runs through May 16.
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Improving the Rangeland
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Ranchers in our area have fought cedar, mesquite and cactus - all water-hogging invasive species that choke out our native grasses - for decades. At Matador, we've tried various techniques over the years in our efforts to ever-improve our natural resources. Today, we employ many tools, but none more effective than the use of prescribed burns.
In February, working with professionals who specialize in controlled burns, we burned about 5160 acres. With the amount of good soil moisture that we have, this country will green up beautifully as our days get longer and warmer...we see impressive benefits across the ranch where we've used prescribed burns in the past. We'll post before and after photos in our next newsletter...as well as on our Facebook page.
Since Jan. 1, we have received good moisture across the ranch, and a total of 3.83 inches so far. All in all a much better start than last year. Our 2009 total rainfall was 16.69 inches, compared to 27.52 inches in 2008. We got to the 16-inch mark with a wet December of 1.47 inches.
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Matador Horses
Woody, one of our ranch-raised geldings, was entered in the special ranch horse sale at the Fort Worth Livestock Show & Rodeo in January. He went home with a couple from Tyler, who were impressed with his good nature and cow instincts.
Also at Fort Worth, Tim Washington, who manages the Russellville area, had a good showing with TS Matador Star, or "Eagle Eye", our palomino stallion, bringing home 4th overall in the AQHA ranch versatility class. This was Tim's and Eagle Eye's first AQHA competition.
Matador will have several horses in the Caprock Ranchers Sale July 16-17 in Clarendon, Texas. See www.caprockranchers.com for details...we'll also post photos and information about the horses on our Web site www.matadorranch.com.
These are the horses we've identified to sell this year:
Horse Sale
MCC Joys Gun 2005 Mare Venue TBD MCC Royal Peppy 2008 Mare Caprock
MCC Playin Seven 2008 Gelding Caprock
MCC Playboyshighbrow 2008 Gelding Caprock
MCC Sandino Showoff 2008 Mare Caprock
MCC Travalin Fever 2008 Mare Caprock
MCC High Plains Rio 2007 Gelding Venue TBD Matador Joes Dunit 2002 Gelding Caprock MCC Double Trouble 1996 Gelding Caprock
Black Chick Doc 2002 Gelding Caprock
Tequila 1989 Gelding Private Treaty
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Akaushi Cattle Update
Matador Ranch has introduced the Akaushi cattle breed to the ranch. Akaushi, which are prized for their marbling and taste, originated in Japan.
Our goal is to offer a consumer-preferred product that commands a premium at market by supplying Akaushi-registered progeny initially for other breeding programs. Guests at the ranch's hunting lodge may also get to sample Akaushi beef in the future.
The first-generation crosses and purebreds are expected this fall. The expectation is the new breed will complement our commercial cattle operation and through artificial insemination and embryo transfer develop a foundation herd.
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Don't forget to follow Matador Ranch on Facebook and Twitter!
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The Matador Ranch Store
Check out our store at http://store.matadorranch.com, where you'll find closeout prices on a great selection of our camo gear. Availability is limited, so don't delay!
Also, check back often for the latest spring merchandise from the Matador Ranch. Several new items will be added over the coming weeks. Watch for updates on our Facebook page!
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Calendar of Events
March 26-27 Cow Horse Clinic, Melrose, N.M., conducted by Les Vogt, 15-time world champion in National Reined Cow Horse Association and American Quarter Horse Association events
March 28 RHAA competition following the clinic April 17 West Texas Outdoor Expo and Beast Feast, Lubbock Matador Ranch booth from noon to 5:30 p.m. at City Bank Coliseum May 6-8 Western Heritage Classic, Abilene, the national finals of the Ranch Horse Association of America events; Tim Washington will show Eagle Eye and Gilbert Guerrero will show MCC Big Gun. Several others will be on personal horses. May 13 Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Ranch Gathering, Matador Pavilion; from 5 to 8 p.m.
July 16-17 Caprock Ranchers Futurity (16th) and Sale (17th), Clarendon
Aug. 21 Ranch Cutting Horse Association Auction, Wichita Falls ( www.ranchcutters.com) |
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Matador Safety Program
Matador ranch employees, dayworkers and their spouses were treated to an Akaushi steak dinner at the lodge in February to recognize the team's safety achievements in 2009. Matador Ranch employs a safety incentive program that encourages employees to be committed to safety and compliance in every aspect of their day-to-day work. In acknowledgment of the accident-free year, each employee earned an incentive bonus. Assistant Manager J.D. Russell ,pictured above, presented the awards. | |
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