Howdy – I’m Connor McCauley, a Colorado ski bum turned Texas rancher, and this is a week in my life. Let’s get into it.
This week’s newsletter is coming at you a bit early because we’ve got a big weekend ahead. Saturday marks our first official cattle working of the spring. These are calves that were born over the past few months, and it’s time to give them a good once-over and get them settled into our system. We’ve got a crew of Texas cowboys coming out to help. You’ll see the full behind-the-scenes in next week’s newsletter and YouTube episode. No wild rodeo antics here—we take pride in keeping things calm and roping to a minimum. Less stress for the cattle, and better for everyone involved.
Monday: Boxes, Bikes & Horse Shenanigans
We kicked off the week strong on Monday. Between Helen, Mary, Sam, and myself, we packed 50 boxes for shipment. Our rhythm keeps getting better—only three hours of hands-on packing. That doesn’t include restocking inventory or printing labels, but still, we’re moving like a well-oiled machine.
And just a reminder while we’re here: when you buy from TriTails Premium Beef, you’re not supporting a grocery store or middleman. You’re backing a real Texas ranch, run by folks who are out there every day doing the work—raising cattle, boxing steaks, and sending them straight from our ranch to your doorstep.
After work, I decided to hop on the dirt bike and enjoy the longer daylight hours. Out on the trail, I ran into a group of aoudad rams—they bolted ahead of me and dipped into the canyon like they’d been waiting all day for their dramatic exit. You’ll see it in the YouTube video this week—definitely one of the cooler encounters I’ve had while riding.
That evening, I figured it was a good time to get in some pistol practice. I’ve been honing in with my new 9mm and working on tightening my grouping. I’ve got a ways to go before I can claim I outshoot Helen, but the rivalry is alive and well.
My first attempt at moving the target to our pistol range didn’t quite go as planned. I barely got it halfway there before the horses surrounded me like I was wearing a feed bag instead of a vest. One was nibbling at my arm, another kept crowding me, and before I knew it, I had a full-blown equine intervention. Shooting? Not happening.
Later, when Helen got back from her walk with the dogs, we grabbed a few overripe apples and walked down to feed the horses. That’s when the real comedy started. One of them, clearly unimpressed with apples, decided to try and eat my GoPro instead. You’ll see it in the video—it cuts from peaceful feeding to a sudden close-up of horse teeth like a ranch version of Shark Week. Safe to say, that horse is not getting a YouTube channel of its own anytime soon.
After all that, I headed to the ranch gym and knocked out a Bulgarian split squat/barbell combo. Finished the day on the porch with Helen, sipping an Old Fashioned as the sun dipped over the canyon. She was relaxing in our new patio furniture, dogs at her feet, completely unbothered by the fact that she’s still outshooting me—for now.
Tuesday: Feed Runs & Canyon Watch
Tuesdays mean one thing lately: loading up our military-grade feed Hummer and heading down into the canyon to feed the cattle. The routine itself is steady, but the view? Never gets old.
We’ve been keeping an eye on a golden eagle that’s been posted up on the canyon rim. She’s perched on top of a sheer cliff that drops at least 100 feet—prime real estate for a bird of prey. We’ve seen her there every time we feed, and we’re pretty sure she’s nesting now. It’s one of those moments that stops you in your tracks—wild, quiet, and totally untamed.
After chores wrapped up, I finally got in a successful round of pistol practice—with no horse interference this time. Got a few solid rounds in and might’ve even edged out a better grouping than Helen’s last target. I’ll keep that to myself for now. (She reads these.)
Midweek: Office Work & Hunting Lease Update
Wednesday and Thursday were filled with office work—emails, marketing, order updates, and all the behind-the-scenes pieces that keep TriTails running.
Quick heads-up for our readers:
We’re opening up our fall hunting lease this year. If you or someone you know is looking for a spot in West Texas, give us a call through the number on our website. We’d be glad to talk through it and see if it’s the right fit.
That’s it for this week—just part one, really. Be sure to check back next week for the full breakdown of our spring cattle working. I’ll have fresh stories, good footage, and a few more moments that’ll make you appreciate life on the ranch.
Until then,
– Connor
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