Infrastructure

The condition, organization and the use and care of its many components contribute to the effectiveness of operating a place such as the McIntyre Ranch. Staff housing, storage sheds and maintenance shops all require attention to issues like plumbing, electrical, roofing and painting. Equipment is needed; tractors to run the post pounder, to run the bedding machine, to pull the feed-wagon, a loader for cleaning pens and loading feed, a grader for maintaining roads and clearing snow. Semi-tractors for hauling feed, trucks for spreading manure, trucks for hauling water, all-terrain vehicles for fencing, snowmobiles for winter mobility, trucks to pull trailers, trailers to carry horses and cattle and supplies. The list goes on and therefore our attitude must be 'a place for everything and everything in its place' and 'take care of that which takes care of you'. These are the things we focus on while we manage the cattle that manage the grass. Sound romantic?

Hunting

In conjunction with the balance of nature philosophy, no hunting is permitted on the McIntyre Ranch. To the best of our knowledge this has been the policy since 1908. This policy includes antelope, white-tailed and mule deer, coyotes, sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge and all ducks and geese. For many years, students of the Fish and Wildlife Technology program of the Lethbridge Community College have conducted annual aerial counts as part of their curriculum. Their findings show the deer population has ranged between 700 to 1100 head.

Although the Ranch is well posted for 'no trespassing', a small percentage of hunters have proven to not be strong enough to 'resist the temptation' and have not respected our wishes. Because of this we patrol the property during hunting season. By law, we are obliged to permit access to hunters if a wounded deer enters our property so the hunter my 'finish the job'. Staff are positioned in strategic locations and are provided with a good view and the ability to communicate with each other. This controls violations of trespassing and assists with locating wounded animals. Efforts to protect the property seem to be paying off as a diminishing number of violations have been noticed. It is our hope that all hunters grow to appreciate the valuable role the McIntyre Ranch plays in providing some hunting in the area as a result of our protectionist approach.

Unfortunately, it is seen that some animals are more detrimental to a cattle/grass operation than others. Holes created by the ground squirrel and badger populations cause dangerous riding conditions for the cowmen and horses and in extreme cases these holes can also render the land unproductive. Because of this, permission is given to staff to control the population of these animals.

Only one concerted effort has been made to decrease the number of ground squirrels in the past fifteen years. In the spring of 2002, poison was distributed in a relatively small area of a cultivated pasture. Areas such as this have not been cultivated since at least 1985 and have hence created 'un-natural' ground squirrels populations. These 'over-run' areas have significantly reduced the forage production and have created some very dangerous terrain. Aware of the valuable role these creatures play in the ecosystem, the poison used was chosen so predators such as badgers, eagles, hawks, coyotes etc. that might consume the poisoned ground squirrel would not be affected by it.

Porcupine numbers are also permitted to be limited as in extreme cases, porcupine quills can kill a cow. A curious bovine can get a snout and mouthful of quills, thus making it very uncomfortable (if not impossible) to eat and drink. Cattle are checked regularly enough where discomfort is as bad as it typically gets - no one can recall an animal actually dying on the Ranch from quills. When a bull, cow, yearling or calf is seen with quills the animal is roped and the quills are removed. Because none of the 'cowboys' carry a firearm on their horse, control of the porcupine, ground squirrels and badgers is very limited.