Cow specific tips/tactics

[texag10]

A friend and I will be hunting OTC in CO from archery opener through Labor Day weekend. Both of us will be getting an any elk tag. I've purchased and gone through the Elk101 UEH course, but wanted to see on here what, if any, differences there would be if trying specifically to get a cow elk? Both of us are going for meat primarily, and while I would be over the moon with any legal bull, thought our odds might be better if we went after cows. My friend definitely wants to get something down, as his wife told him if he leaves her with 18 month old twins and a 4 month old and comes back empty handed he might as well not come home!

Any help is appreciated. We will be backpacking and carrying camp with us so we can just set up where we happen to be at night.

 

[307]

Young bulls, especially spikes, are easier to kill. Cows stay in groups and the multitude of eyeballs is a real challenge with a bow. I think killing a lead cow with a bow is likely a bigger accomplishment than killing a bull. They are so wary and alert, and they don't get horny and stupid...

On the bright side, there are lots of them and you might just be in the right place at the right time.

 

[307]

The fact that cows travel and live in bigger groups makes them easier to find though.

I think at that time of year, if you find cows, you will find young bulls playing boss until the big boys show up and run them off. I would focus on young bulls if meat is the goal.

 

[Bar]

A lost calf call will bring in most cows. Even a single cow will come to it.

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

A lost calf call will bring in most cows. Even a single cow will come to it.

Do you recommend any brand of open reed calf call?

 

[Bar]

A Dillion "The Rookie"

Wayne Carlton "Lonesome Cow Call"

Believe it or not...Baby Hoochie Mama

 

[LostArra]

Young bulls, especially spikes, are easier to kill. Cows stay in groups and the multitude of eyeballs is a real challenge with a bow. I think killing a lead cow with a bow is likely a bigger accomplishment than killing a bull. They are so wary and alert, and they don't get horny and stupid...

On the bright side, there are lots of them and you might just be in the right place at the right time.

This is definitely my experience. Plus there is always one more cow bedded in the tall grass or timber that you don't see until it's too late.

I once followed a herd for 8 hours through Wyoming sage country before finally getting a shot. It's amazing how each time they bed down there is a cow facing in every direction.

 

[Bar]

Not sure why anybody would kill a lead cow? She'll be old and not the best tasting cow.

 

[Bubblehide]

Not sure why anybody would kill a lead cow? She'll be old and not the best tasting cow.

I've never had a bad tasting older cow. Besides that, that lead cow is highly likely to no longer be viable, so harvesting the lead cow can benefit the population.

 

[Bar]

Hard to say, because you never know how long she's been a lead cow. I agree a cow will always taste good compared to some bulls. However, it seems like the younger the sweeter the meat.

 

[307]

I killed an old cow last fall and she tastes great. So, n=1 tells me old cows taste just fine.

I didn't say at any point that it was preferable to kill an old cow, just that it would be quite difficult.

 

[Wapiti66]

You said OTC, so that rules out spikes. Four point minimum for OTC units. Ive had a bad old cow, not sure how old she was but she had no teeth left and was very gamey. As others said, satellite bulls are a good option, if you find cows there will be bulls in the same area in September. Learn basic cow and calf calls and keep your options open, you never know what elk you will see.

 

[texag10]

Thanks for the quick replies everyone. Lost calf call is a good idea that was also mentioned in the elk 101 course, good to hear it validated.

My hunting buddy is friends with a local that hunts the same unit we'll be going to, he also said cows were easy to find, not so easy to get within bow range of.

 

[WyoBowhunter21]

Not sure why anybody would kill a lead cow? She'll be old and not the best tasting cow.

My experience leads me to disagree here. Just because she is in the lead doesn't mean she is old. I have killed numerous lead cows and only a few were old, tasted great but were old. Last year I shot the lead cow and the g&f estimate was 2 years old. My dad shot one of the last couple cows and she was 3-4. It really depends on her attitude and aggressive nature. Elk are no different than humans. An old gal may be tough but the younger one may just be a little more feisty. Again this is my opinion.

 

[Bar]

Well, I didn't want to start anything, so I didn't say anything. I have shot a lead cow and it was gamey. I'm not alone and the reason i'm saying this. Look at post #12.

You may shoot a lead cow and it will taste great. That doesn't mean they'll all taste great. Just like if you shoot one and it taste bad it means they'll all taste bad. I choose to leave lead cows alone now. Just in case.

 

[5MilesBack]

Hunting that early, I'd sit on water if you can sit. I can't, so I don't. But all elk will be coming into water at some point that early on those hot days. I'd be surprised if you didn't kill a legal bull or cow the first weekend doing this.

 

[muddydogs]

So how do you know a lead cow from any other cow? Maybe the lead cow stopped off to take a pee and another cow is leading the group up a trail. When a group of elk are feeding around and nothing really spooks them it's hard to tell which is the boss and which is just a grumpy old girl. When spooked elk don't generally wait around for the lead cow to head out, it's generally every cow for themselfs. About the only time you might be able to tell if a certain cow is a lead cow is if the herd is headed out on a trail with a place in mind and nothing is going to stop them.
During the archery season chances are the bulls will be bugling so a sure way to find cows is chase bugles as bulls won't be far from the cows. Your first time elk hunting and with a bow, don't worry about lead cow or calf shoot the first legal animal you can and be proud of it. Experience elk hunters don't always get an animal every year.

 

[Bar]

You sure?

 

[basschump]

I hunt with a friend in northern New Mexico. On my first cow hunt a few years ago- he told me to shoot a medium sized one if I had a choice. He thought the older cows were gamey.


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