When Dickinson Cattle Co was headquartered in Colorado, a March 1977 blizzard swept across the plains inflicting a heavy toll. Eleven people froze to death and over 39,000 cattle. Record winds were documented well over 100 mph and the torture lasted three destructive days. It was not an abundance of snow, but rather the chill factor/speed of the harsh northern winds. It had come with no warning from official weather sources. This was late in the season for killer storms.
Linda and I started raising Texas Longhorns with 7 registered cattle in 1967. By March 10, 1977 we had 98 females -- 3 days later 58 were alive and suffering from massive stress. We doctored cattle for days. Some had hoves frozen off. All the ones who lived -- we saved. Even their hair was snow-blasted off from the constant beating.
As we hunted the remaining herd, sights like this broke our hearts. Linda and I were devastated. A blizzard is no respecter of genetics or cost of purchase. Our cows had drifted away from the hammering wind and some stopped at fences, until the fences blew down, or they froze. These were cows that had been hunted and bought from all over Texas and Oklahoma. Most were from $300 to $1000 inventory cost. That was big to us with mostly borrowed money.
I had seen some skulls polished by T. D. Kelsey and a local taxidermist. I did not like what was called European mounts which was the top of the head cut off with the horns. I liked the Western polished Skulls with full noses and head. Armed with some sharp butcher knives I spent days removing and skinning cold skulls. Over time each skull was carefully boiled, cleaned and polished. To my amazement a few of the cow's skulls were sold for as much as I had paid for the cows. From this horrible disaster came a wonderful side business that has now lasted 41 years, and growing.
Today over 200 skulls are prepared for indoor use at DCC. No longer blizzard losses, we hope, there is a constant flow of steers processed for freezer beef, skulls acquired from other cattle people and exhibition cattle purchased in their senior years just for the immortalization of each, a one-of-a-kind skull.
A careful 26 step process from skin removal to the final jeweler's polish takes several months. The 26 steps have been perfected since a meager start in 1977. Our son Joel, and DCC ranch hands may be the major providers of beautiful skulls in the USA. Pictured is one step where the bone-part is hung-out-to-dry to soak up the bright ultraviolet sun rays. In the perfection of a Western Polished Skull it takes time to deserve the finest homes and steak houses.
This is a steer named "Rugged WR" measuring 76.5" tip to tip. This one is typical of the high end and priced at $705 from the Longhorn Head To Tail ranch store. He is the state of the art 26 step Western polish process.
Odd and unusual shapes of all kinds display the rough and tumble life of a Texas Longhorn. Almost never is one perfect without dings and scars. This is Ms Bloviate. A personal paragraph illustrating her pushy attitude goes with her legend. Some skulls include photos of living cattle and registration certificates from their breeding records. She is $385.
The Dickinson Cattle Co raises 3 or 4 over 100" steers a year. Normally they are 5 to 6 years old. This is Legacy Champion steer "Junction," who was sold before ever going on line. The air gets thin with this near record wide horned inventory -- but it happens.
This is not a fun business, nor do the ranch hands like cleaning skulls, but good things do happen. Check out the inventory site and make a selection. It is nearing Christmas. If you want to be certain of getting a special gift you know you will enjoy, order yourself a skull. Pick them out at https://head2tail.com/product-category/skulls/ Quick -- make a plan, you can't get many of these in a sleigh. Call 740 758 5050.
Longhorns Head To Tail, LLC
35000 Muskrat Rd.
Barnesville, OH 43713
740 758-5050
www.head2tail.com