The last two I attended many moons back, one in WY and one in MT were pretty much pre determined. Bait piles were put out ahead of time for heavily sponsored teams. I was still shooting control heavily at that time and knew a lot of local ranch folks in those areas and I trusted them for the info. Then again I may have been told wrong. But those never been there before guys did win.
I have shot over for 40 years from Havre to Eagle Pass. Ranchers were happy to see my kind come, and any nearby spreads were welcoming once they found out you knew how to close gates and didn't shoot near the livestock. Helping for a few hours here and there gathering stock or helping feed in real cold weather I took for granted And I never left town for a ranch without contacting them to see if I could bring anything out with me. It never hurt that when I sold those dogs, usually in the round, some of it got sent back to that rancher or manager with a thank you in a Christmas card.
I guess everything moves on and not always the direction we like.
Hef-A