Skip to content

200 Cows Mysteriously Disappear From Colorado Ranch

Tanko

Tanko

Joined
Oct 27, 2021
Messages
54,908
Possible.

But where do you put 200 cows?

If this wasn't a theft, then what was it?
I'd check other nearby ranchers. The other ranchers probably bought them at 50% on the dollar and doing this allows you to spread out the sales to a few willing to work with you (less noticable).

You can move 20-30 head in a semi-truck. He may have done small batches over 6-8 months so as not to draw attention. That's how I 'd do it.
 

phillyflyers

phillyflyers

Joined
Aug 8, 2024
Messages
8,307
I'd check other nearby ranchers. The other ranchers probably bought them at 50% on the dollar and doing this allows you to spread out the sales to a few willing to work with you (less noticable).

You can move 20-30 head in a semi-truck. He may have done small batches over 6-8 months so as not to draw attention. That's how I 'd do it.
If he did that then I guess we'll find out soon enough.

The state launched a massive investigation.
 

djefferis

djefferis

Joined
Jan 8, 2024
Messages
4,009
The real story is a lot less interesting.

Approximately 180 cows missing from several ranches in Montrose, CO

So you have multiple reports of several ranchers whose herds were grazing on public lands losing cattle - COLLECTIVELY totaling near 200 reports over several months of winter.

Start with the fact this is a very open area and there will always be lost cattle - predators and simple “over reporting” Ranchers claims to have “lost” stock that they sold on their own/never owned and use as a tax write off claiming a casualty loss.

Then there is the very real threat of rustling - just like everything else - cartels are pretty well organized at stealing cattle. Wouldn’t be terribly difficult for a few guys with a truck and trailer to sneak in and grab 30-40 head in a night in this territory. Run them through a local slaughterhouse and dispose of carcasses. Again - 3 or 4 theft could take 2/3rds of the missing cattle easily and the other 1/3 predators and simple over stating the losses.

10k reward yea - you think an undocumented worker is going to go rat against a cartel hoping a local sheriff will honor their word and pay them ?? No way in hell these people piss off the cartel that feeds them and their families for a fake reward promise.
 

phillyflyers

phillyflyers

Joined
Aug 8, 2024
Messages
8,307
The real story is a lot less interesting.

Approximately 180 cows missing from several ranches in Montrose, CO

So you have multiple reports of several ranchers whose herds were grazing on public lands losing cattle - COLLECTIVELY totaling near 200 reports over several months of winter.

Start with the fact this is a very open area and there will always be lost cattle - predators and simple “over reporting” Ranchers claims to have “lost” stock that they sold on their own/never owned and use as a tax write off claiming a casualty loss.

Then there is the very real threat of rustling - just like everything else - cartels are pretty well organized at stealing cattle. Wouldn’t be terribly difficult for a few guys with a truck and trailer to sneak in and grab 30-40 head in a night in this territory. Run them through a local slaughterhouse and dispose of carcasses. Again - 3 or 4 theft could take 2/3rds of the missing cattle easily and the other 1/3 predators and simple over stating the losses.

10k reward yea - you think an undocumented worker is going to go rat against a cartel hoping a local sheriff will honor their word and pay them ?? No way in hell these people piss off the cartel that feeds them and their families for a fake reward promise.
So you think it's drug cartels from Mexico doing this?
 

djefferis

djefferis

Joined
Jan 8, 2024
Messages
4,009
So you think it's drug cartels from Mexico doing this?

Saying it wouldn’t be the first time - if they are hopping trains and stealing Nikes and targeting warehouses - stealing cattle wouldn’t be a stretch.

Not cartels directly - more small rings with loose connections to the cartels.

Difficult to detect and easy pickings out there on open range.

Hell - could just be a couple of local meth heads too - all you need is a pickup truck and a livestock trailer. Taking 6-8 at a time every couple of days would be nothing and would add up quickly. Someone taking and selling that small would be unnoticed if they processor. Not until you try to move a lot at once that it catches people’s attention.
 

Archie

Archie

Joined
Nov 8, 2021
Messages
6,452
a few years back cows were attacking joggers

the ranchers drop them off to graze in these public lands, hiking, biking, running spots.

maybe a few finally pissed off the wrong illegal foreign gang group.

retribution
 
Top