Who would want to miss the opportunity to work outside when temperatures are in the triple digits? Ranching really weeds out the wimps and leaves the rest with skills like knowing which hilltop has the best breeze, which shade tree has the fewest mosquitoes and which cooler keeps beverages cowboy-cold for the longest time.

While summer may translate to coconut-flavored beach trips and lazy lake weekends for many of my deserving Southern brothers and sisters, there is still a small percentage of us who don’t even bother planning recreational time unless it involves an unscheduled afternoon trip to the creek.

If you’re not sweating it out in the hayfield, you’re repairing your equipment from the last cutting. Or working on fences. Or building catch pens. My favorite, though, is rounding up bulls for their extended stay in the summer bachelor pad: “The Bull Pasture.”

The Bull Pasture has its own special arrangements for the beloved boys of summer. Custom made for their hooting pleasure, the entire pasture is dented with previously dug holes awaiting further excavation. These holes are the visible result of territory disputes from many generations of ball-bearing bovines. While the less adventurous occupants may use existing holes for their displays, the more energetic ones are unafraid to start excavation of fresh ground. In addition to the sand shower that each well-engineered pit provides for fly control, the crater conglomerate also offers security by deterring any motorized vehicle or spirited equine from traveling too fast through the bulls’ “holy ground.”

Descending from the dimpled pastureland to lower elevations, the macho males will find themselves plenty of oak trees to shade up under to escape the summer heat. Here, they may choose to employ a buddy system. This allows them to nap safely in teams of two, usually with one older and one younger member. Knowing the teams helps when you are trying to get a head count and determine which brother is missing.

More often than not, the missing party is farther down the hill, situated comfortably near the creek. The spring-fed branch features a modest 10-foot drop over clay and tree roots. On occasion, I have witnessed a lone bull parked underneath the flowing water. I’m still not sure what the recommended bath time is or how they decide who gets the shower next. Those who do get the chance to soak though wear their clay boots with pride.

Characters (and personalities) make for good theater

Because of logistical reasons (and the fact that the trailer can only haul so many bull bodies), arrival time to this summer outpost is staggered. This makes for good theater and allows for individual personalities to really manifest themselves.

Jake is the strong, silent type that gets first dibs on everything. No one questions him because he is much older and larger than the rest of the group.

Stoney is the classic sensitive guy. Any time a fight appears imminent, which is every time we add more bulls to the group, Stoney runs circles around the battle in a state of panic. He cannot rest in peace until everyone has settled in, and he prefers for everyone to get along.

Bear is the bully (pun intended). He gets great joy out of picking fights with everyone except his best buddy Stoney. They’re bull besties. They even nap rump to rump.

Pendleton is the lone wolf (and the exception to the buddy system) and would be just as happy living next to the barn where he could get fed solo every day. He is not a fan of the fraternity life.

The rest of the boys eventually find their way into the pecking order and make peace while counting down the days until they can check out for breeding season. In the interim, it’s back to hooting, digging, napping and splashing. Not a bad way to spend summer in Alabama.