Technical Abstract: This study evaluated the hypothesis that grazing cattle will most often frequent nutritionally superior portions of large pastures. Forage quantity/quality characteristics were mapped among three pastures and cattle grazing patterns subsequently tracked with GPS collars. Cattle preferred locations with higher than average crude protein and digestibility and areas with lower than average standing crop and neutral detergent fiber. These preferences likely explain adherence of cattle to historic grazing patterns and seasonal spatial movements of cattle in large pastures. Management practices that can affect desirable changes in forage quality, like mowing, burning, or prescribed grazing, can likely be used to attract stock to historically unused locales.