Killing the lead cow?

[3forks]

I know most of you guys only kill trophy bulls and won’t waste your time hunting cows, but bear with me...

I was thinking today that of all the posts I’ve seen regarding how to hunt elk, I can’t recall anyone advising a new hunter not to kill the lead cow in a group of elk.

I have seen plenty of posts where someone advised a new hunter to kill the first legal elk they see, but none on not killing the lead cow.

100 years ago when I was a kid, I was taught that the lead cow is usually the animal that is the oldest and has the most knowledge of the trails to use, migration/escape routes, water, and the best grass. Also, it was considered more sporting not to kill the lead cow because the rest of the herd be easier to kill if the lead cow was not there to follow. And, because the lead cow is usually the oldest - the meat wouldn’t be as tender as a younger animal.

I‘m sure all of this is debatable - but you can’t deny that there is a generally a lead cow within a group of elk. Anyway, just curious if others have heard or been taught about the concept of the lead cow, or is just something our forefathers believed in.

 

[wildwilderness]

I have been taught the same. I will only shoot the lead cow if we want to tag out on the herd. ( they stick around and are easier to shoot) Otherwise I’ll shoot for the smallest one!

Now if you just want to make sure you kill an elk of course take the first shot at the first legal elk.

 

[Swede]

The only thing I can confirm is that the lead cow may be tough. Very tough to chew on. In Oregon and I suppose in other States the game commission determines the number of elk in each management unit. They don't much care which elk is the lead cow, the management approved numbers will be met if other factors don't prevail.

 

[Ridge Ghost]

Food for thought- I have several hunting spots that, in the absence of hunting pressure, the herd will stay in the same spot forever and browse the food down to the nubs. This occurs year after year, to the point that they will actually begin browsing on knapweed rather than moving on in search of fresh food. Meanwhile, the next drainage over hasn't been touched by elk in years and has surplus feed. Why? My guess is that the lead cow keeps going back to the same spot that she knows, year after year. Perhaps if you shoot the lead cow out of the group, the group will have to a fresh start as far as home range and will venture in to new areas, giving the old spot a rest and utilizing a new area that hasn't been browsed in years. I'm no biologist, and this is just a wild guess, but it seems like this would be a healthy re-start for the herd every few years.

 

[Bubblehide]

In today's world, this is a very complex question. Previous to reintroduction of the wolf, I would have said that the lead cow is generally non-viable, meaning she can not reproduce. As such, taking out the lead cow would have been beneficial to the herd on multiple levels, not having a non-viable animal competing for food... it would make the heard more mobile resulting in increased herd numbers.

In today's world in areas that have wolves, the lead cow is very critical to keeping the herd alive, as such killing the herd cow may have a significant adverse affect on the herd. On the other hand, it may result in splittin the herd up. This could be either detrimental or beneficial, very much depending on conditions. I could say lots more, but it's a good start at food for thought.

 

[cnelk]

There's usually more than one 'lead/dominant' cow in a herd.

 

[trophyhill]

Ive killed several. And they were damn good eating! If I can pull off 2 tags this year, lead cows are on the menu!

 

[zpooch]

First elk i ever shot was a lead cow. Very tough, tooth aged at 15.5 and she wasn't dry. Only shot I had and she was staring at me about to bolt. I'd take that shot again in that situation

 

[tttoadman]

I know we love the bulls in the herd, but i love watching those smart old cows push the herd around. The best way to find the bulls in the fringe is to have a good old cow that keeps looking back at him.

To the OP question. I have never thought about not shooting a lead cow, but now I would agree it is better to let them pass.

 

[rob86jeep]

If a hunter is new, there's no way they'll know which one is the lead cow so it's pointless to tell to new hunters (regardless if you think it matters or not).

 

[North Idaho Stickbow]

I think she’d be the hardest to kill in the entire herd. They’re like whitetail-skiddish in an elk body.

 

[Sioux33]

I remember reading an article in Bugle magazine not too long ago and they interviewed a guide up on the Rocky Mtn Front in MT, who hunted the Sun River migratory herd for 30-40 years or so and that was his one rule to his hunters, do not shoot the lead cow. In migratory herds like that I'd give her a pass.

However, I'd definitely take out the lead cow in those giant herds that hang around private as I'd rather see 5-6 small herds split up vs 100 eyeballs all huddled together.

 

[MAVinWA]

just don't do it...

same as don't shoot the cow which has a calf with her.
on occasion, a day here or there with my archery cow tag unfilled due to not shooting a cow w/calf. Just waited for the right cow to encounter.

unlike a couple hunters I've come across in the field, whom filled their cow tags with calves! I've observed good size calves but these that were taken were the size of small mule deer does!!!
darn eastern WT hunters-1st time elk trippers, can't tell the difference.

 

[realunlucky]

just don't do it...

same as don't shoot the cow which has a calf with her.
on occasion, a day here or there with my archery cow tag unfilled due to not shooting a cow w/calf. Just waited for the right cow to encounter.

unlike a couple hunters I've come across in the field, whom filled their cow tags with calves!
darn eastern WT hunters-1st time elk trippers, can't tell the difference.

Cow tags are simply about population numbers control what difference does it matter if they shoot a yearling or a cow? It's still a >1 result in the herd number. Actually killing a yearling that might be more at risk of not surviving the winter anyways might be more beneficial to the herd stability long term. Maybe you should have a conversation with a biologist how unit numbers are set and why.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

 

[cnelk]

^^^ BS about not shooting calf elk.
Game biologists have set seasons so offspring have great chances of survival, regardless if mama is alive or dead.

Also, nothing wrong with taking a calf. Great table fare and also part of the quota equation.

 

[trophyhill]

My 2nd elk, I saw some legs coming thru the timber about 15 minutes before dark. I was on the edge of a meadow next to a waterhole. I just knew they were coming to water.

Instead of hitting water, they fed around the pine tree to my left. The bull was thrashing the other side of the pine. A calf fed out to my left. I ranged it at 40 yards. It stared at me long enough I thought I was busted. Then it went back to feeding. Then it's momma appeared feeding right behind it. A 40 yard pass thru both lungs ended my hunt.

What happened next was kinda sad accept I know that elk are herd animals. The calf and bull took off and stopped somewhere out of site. The bull bugled a few times, and the calf whaled for a short time. Then it was time to get to work. The cow was still wet. About a 5 year old cow if I had to guess. Best eating, tenderest elk I've ever eaten.

 

[chindits]

A former office manager cursed many a time the hunter that killed the lead cow in the herd she hunted. She thought it totally changed the migration route of that herd for the rest of her hunting days. Bless her soul.

I’ve been fortunate enough to pass on all but one cow opportunity. I guess if I wasn’t going to take a bull bow hunting, I would want a small cow for the pack out. So not likely for me to take a lead cow.

On taking calves, I think it was an Eastman article about 20 years ago suggesting calves are a viable option because they’re unproven to make it through the winter. Where as there momma is a proven breeder so pass on the cow with a track record. But I’ve never taken a calf.

 

[mtnwrunner]

Nope, do not shoot the lead cow. I watched one several years ago take a herd of about 50 elk to a safe area away from a pack of 8 wolves that were following and chasing them. It was surreal and she was one smart lady.
Kind of have a love/hate relationship with them and i have bitched and cussed at them as they are usually the ones that bust your ass.

Randy

 

[GunsAreFun]

If a hunter is new, there's no way they'll know which one is the lead cow so it's pointless to tell to new hunters (regardless if you think it matters or not).

That’s what I was thinking. Doubt I would be able to tell. Even if I had the knowledge to know, I’d probably not have the time or visibility of the whole herd to really know for sure.

 

[Carrera72]

I was hunting a private ranch for elk and was advised to shoot the lead cow if they were leaving the ranch. If the herd was coming onto the ranch we were to let the lead cow go and kill a cow in the back of the herd. I hunted the ranch a couple of years and there seemed to be good success rates with this thought process.