mavericks and the state.

what is to follow is STRICKLY my personal opinion. it is founded in state livestock law, which isn't hard to read or understand. most state livestock laws were written pre statehood and were intended to stop little arguments like the pleasant valley war.  but unscrupulous livestock officers have taken it upon themselves to interpete these laws in a form that puts them in a good lite with their bosses, WHO are usually politicians or law enforcement with NO back ground in agriculture.  with that said here goes. one of the first laws enacted by the territorial legislature was one concerning mavericks or orejanas. that term is Mexican for unbranded and was actually used in the drafting of the law as a description. that law stated ANY orejana not with its branded mother was immediately the property of the state. this was done in hopes that ranchers would work to keep their cattle branded and under control, thus keeping violence to a minimum. problem was there are always those who are lazey, cheap or just don't care who would rather whin and complain about their cattle being branded by some one else. it has been my experience that if you catch and lead in a maverick you EARNED him, its hard work and not very profitable.   but if caught with one in your posestion the big , long arm of the livestock department will immediately seize such animal and using that statute take posestion and later liquidate the animal with the funds going in the state treasury. legal theft in my opinion. contrary to public opinion ive never mavericked on a property that was not in my control. I believe that in this day of fenced up ranches  if you find a maverick on your property you are entitled to it.  not the state . there are no longer brand inspecters who have the ability to go gather the maverick or stray on public lands. those old fellers were weeded out by unscrupulous cow cops who coveted the position, then couldn't fulfill the job. I knew of one good cow cop who was forced out because his state truck smelled like a feedlot, funny his main job was inspecting feedlots.  others got old, and the newer crop of cow cops learned such skills as editing audio tapes and manipulating witnesses who didn't speak English! but they CANT CATCH A COW! go figure. and yes ive had a long standing fued with the deptment of agriculture, but not the law in it self.  just the pukes we have allowed to take control of it.