Where are a bull’s cows?

[Traveler]

When hunting an area that is mostly steep terrain (1200’ elevation over 900yds) where and how far away do you think the group of cows is to a lone bull in middle of day? (assume it’s the herd bull) Above, below, same elevation?

 

[spike camp]

If it’s the herd bull, he’s close enough to have his nose up the butt, of any cow that’ll allow it.

 

[Traveler]

If it’s the herd bull, he’s close enough to have his nose up the butt, of any cow that’ll allow it.

That’s what I have always thought too. Found a mature bull and for this area would expect him to have a herd. He was calling and came in to my cow calls. Seemed to be alone though, moved 400yds from first time I heard him. Don’t bring cows with him.

 

[wytx]

Satellite bull you found, looking for cows. The easiest to call in.

 

[mt terry d]

Early in the rut I've found old bulls generally aren't with the cows yet.
They'll let the younger ones do the herding, chasing the spikes and
raghorns off and then when the cows become receptive they will
stroll in, say "thank you son" and take over.

Like the old joke about the two angus bulls that see a bunch of cows on
the other hillside.
Young bull says "Hey Pops, let's run over there and breed some cows!"
Pops says "No. Let's walk over and breed them all".

 

[Dos Perros]

Normally they are mixed right in...a bunch of elk and it's one just happens to have antlers poking out of its head. Not always the case but usually. They may get up to wallow or drink mid day. They may bed separate, but loosely attached.

Besides visually seeing the cows, you can often surmise a bull has cows by how he is bugling as the sun rises and the morning gets later. If his bugles are loud and kinda screamy with lip balling and at consistent intervals as he moves you can guess he has cows because he is bugling to keep tabs on them, keep them all together and in line. Sometimes you can hear the cows calling or popping branches as they move in the timber. Whether or not a bull has cows is probably the most important question to answer before you move in or start calling, because it will dictate everything you do.

 

[Traveler]

I thought this bull may have cows with him since he was moving away to a bedding area while still responding. Eventually he stopped moving and then ended up coming in to my calls, thought he may have bedded his cows and then came to check me out.

 

[mt terry d]

I thought this bull may have cows with him since he was moving away to a bedding area while still responding. Eventually he stopped moving and then ended up coming in to my calls, thought he may have bedded his cows and then came to check me out.

Leaving cows to check out another bull is a rarity.
More likely it was a satellite bull that came.
It's also rare to not have satellite bulls near/following a herd bull with cows

It's in a herd bull's best interest to avoid a fight if possible.
It's a waste of his energy besides the possibility of losing or being injured.
You get too close and he'll move the bunch a few hundred yards; over and
over and over, usually through rough and thick cover.
IF you can keep after him long enough (which means he needs to keep responding
and you need to bust your butt and the wind/thermals are favorable) at some point
he'll say enough is enough.
When that happens nothing but a whiff of human will stop him from coming in.