Solo Cows During the Rut

[Rangerz]

Question for the experts.

This past season in Idaho, about the middle of the month, we started seeing some lone cows and a couple of cows with calves.

Do you think these cows had already been bred and were getting away from the chaos or something else?

Thanks, Chris

[saddlesore]

Possibly the small harems were broken up when hunter spooked them.

[Swede]

Sometime in the late 1990s, early in the archery season I went into a basin, where I saw a lone cow. About twice a week, whenever I went back, that cow was always there by herself. I called to her and she paid me no attention. Finally on the last Wednesday of the season I went back. She was still there, and filled my tag. When I would go into that basin, she would run off for a short distance, but she was always somewhere around. I don't think she was bred.
Over the years I have seen plenty of lone cows during the season. All I can say is that they don't all herd up. You can find lone bulls throughout the season too. If I said why, it would be just a guess.

[Wyo67]

Agree with Swede. Although we didn't see any lone cows, we did see the occasional cow with her yearling calves. They looked our way, but had nothing else to do with any of our herd talk calling. Pretty sure no other hunters had been in where we were, but could be wrong.

[ElkNut1]

Chris, it's a very good chance they had been in estrus & are now out! Bulls know which ones to keep their eyes & noses on. If their demeanor had been one of concern or looking urgently for the group it could have showed in their nervousness. But day after day of being alone by themselves or with other cows then it's a good chance they've been bred. It's a common scene in the elkwoods to see lone cows as Sept goes on.

ElkNut1