Posting this in the Hogs & Varmint section since that's where I've seen the most use of IR equipment.

I'm looking for someone in Central Texas with thermal gear that would hire some of their time to help me locate a lost calf. I'm currently in a wheelchair due to knee surgery, so can't can't bush-whack myself and my wife is not willing to do so. I know thermal imaging isn't miraculous, but I think it could help either at night, or early in the morning, to break through the shadows.

The calf is "probably" in a fairly small area around Brushy Creek, south of Hutto. We had some cowboys out to rope it, but they lost it in the heavy brush and thorn vines. We did mow some of the brush down, and have paths through the original area, but it is likely that it has wandered further afield. It is a black Angus, hard to see in the shadows in the woods.

My goal is just to locate it. Once I find it, I can encourage it out into the open with feed then ultimately have it roped and returned home.

Wish I was close enough to help you bud.

Did you find it? Normally Im down close enough to help at least once a week. But Murphys law strikes and I wont be for at least two weeks.

Nothing yet. Not sure if it is in the heavy brush and hiding, or if it got down into the creek and headed for the hinterlands. No sign of it from anywhere I can get on the tractor, so I'm afraid it's taken a hike. I have notified the livestock deputies for both Williamson and Travis counties. I just have to hope that anyone that sees it is honest enough to report it instead of adding to their herd.

If we ever do find it and catch it, it will be renamed to "Sir Loin" and I will look forward to enjoying the first steak.

How big of a piece of property is it on?

best wishes.

The size is uncertain, since it got into an unfenced area. There is a relatively small area of less than 20 acres where it was last seen, but it is possible that it has made its way to a larger area adjacent to the creek. Some of that is fairly open, other parts are VERY brushy. I hope to have my teenage nephew walk the creek to see if it is obvious where it might have gone out (or is coming to drink). It could be south of Brushy Creek, near the Triple Crown Dog Academy, or further west, close to the Riverwalk subdivision. It is even possible that it got into the large open areas between 685 and SH130.

Can you narrow it down any from here?

Sorry, I didn't do a great job of describing the location. It is further north. I'm including a photo of Google satellite that shows the overall area. The small red X on the photo marks the spot the calf was last seen. There are cross fences in several places and the creek banks are steep most everywhere. That isn't to say it couldn't have made it into the creek or across. The second photo is a little closer view of the area where I "hope" the calf is still hiding. That is the brushy area around the red X in the first photo.

I'm hoping that IR would allow me to quickly scan the more open areas around the edges. That would ultimately help reduce the search area where we (being other members of my family that can walk) have to push through the brush on foot.

David

Just throwing this out there...

You might try to contact BEARCLAW on here as he rents thermal equipment for a very reasonable rate. I think waiting and hoping for someone close to you with thermal is not doing that calf any favors.

I hope that helps and good luck with finding the calf.

Stealth,

I left a PM message with Bearclaw yesterday and a message at his website. No response to either...

I have NV with IR. Doesn't pick up heat obviously, but it picks up eyes really well. I still think you will have better luck during the day. Thermal won't read that far into the brush anyway if it is that thick. Do you have permission to access the other pieces of land nearby?

I could possibly be of some assistance but would not be until late next week.

He stopped replying, so maybe he found it?

O7FJ, sorry--thought I'd answered your last message. Most of the land I'm looking on is public. The other is owned by remote landlords/developers. But nope, still haven't found it. I sent a PM to GTOutfitter. I have son-in-law and nephew walking the creek in the morning, looking for ingress and egress routes. Hopefully they'll see something, but if not, I'm still looking for ways to find it.

Let me know what they see, may be able to help some Friday. What's the story on the calf? FFA project?

They have found one set of hoof prints coming down the creek bank so far, still looking.

Calf was a "do-it-yourself" beef project. Bought two steers of "Lowline" Angus. Smaller, theoretically higher carcass yield variety imported from Australian strain of Angus in the 70's. They are supposed to do really well on grass alone. We are going to graze until next summer, then send off to the butcher.

Biggest problem is my inability to walk. The availability of heavy cover is also a problem. There is plenty of green grass and water that is accessible, so he can hide for quite a while.

FINALLY found it and caught it today. Patience was the key-- after a while it seems to have started wandering back, closer to home. Found it in an area near here, that we'd searched MANY times before.

Good to hear!