Wild Cow Tales

by Ben K. Green

Book Overview

In thirteen stories full of rope burns and brush scratches, the author of the classic Horse Tradin' tells of the days when he made a specialty of catching wild cows. Ben K. Green calls himself a "stove-up old cowboy," and readers of this book will learn soon enough where the broken bones came from. Green tells of his adventures with wild steers, sharing with readers the years he worked in thorny brush and canyon country delivering those animals that...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803270887
• ISBN13: 9780803270886
• Release Date: August 1999
• Publisher: Bison Books
• Length: 306 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Imagine being there!

What a great look back at what times were like in the life of a real cowboy. Well written. I really liked that he told stories that showed his mistakes and victories. I have shared these books with friends. All really enjoyed them as much as I did.

Wild Cow Tales

All of Ben K. Green's books are great. What a wonderful way to go back into time. He really makes you understand what life was like in the Texas hill country.

Cowboy vs. cows, a contest of who's smarter

Wild cows, as the author explains, are just plain ornery, uncooperative cattle that resist all efforts to be rounded up. As a young Texas cowboy in the 1920s and 30s, Green made a living going after these hard-to-catch cattle, and this book is a collection of accounts of his successes (if he ever missed any, he doesn't mention it). Usually he works alone, on horseback, gathering up cows a few at a time and driving them to the nearest train station where they can be shipped to market. Typically he has worked a deal with the owner, buying them "range delivery," and spending sometimes many weeks to outsmart the critters, often one by one, to get them roped, corralled, or whatever it takes.A young, tough, wild cowboy, as he often refers to himself, he has more than his share of hot, sweaty work, getting bunged up, frustrated, and frequently outmaneuvered. On one job, he's also shunned by a whole community of folk who regard him with disdain as he works to gather up a herd of cows for a bank collecting a bad debt. Each account is different, presenting a very different situation, and Green takes the reader along as he mulls over the problem, tries this and then that, eventually finding a solution. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a departure from other books about cowboying, and it gets very much into cowboy psychology and the wealth of knowledge acquired in dealing daily with cattle. Green writes in a conversational style, with dry humor and a leisurely way of setting scenes and describing action, meanwhile building a kind of suspense as he figures out each time how to outsmart his "wild cows."Thanks to the University of Nebraska Press for reprinting this and many other classics of western literature. Western illustrator Lorence Bjorklund provides many fine drawings, and with the cover design from a painting by W.H.D. Koerner they capture the spirit of this book wonderfully. I happily recommend this informative and entertaining book to anyone with an interest in cattle ranching and cowboys.

wanting to live a dream

i,m into the cowboy scene.i,ve worked on a ranch in west texas one year,that was the best time of my life.for the review,i read wild cow tales quite a few years ago.i was able to get caught up in the stories,if anybody is into livestock working or otherwise,they can relate to Mr.Ben Green and his stories.hope to get all of his books.thanks for making the available.veral overstreet. p.s. i purchased this book for my great nephew who is seven years old.every since he has been able to talk all that he has wanted to do is be a bullrider.i hope he gets as much enjoyment from the book as i did,again, thanks

Classic Texas Cowboy Book

Ben Green probably writes one of the best cowboy stories I've ever read. A book full of short stories that are enjoyable for the adult as well as the kid.