Would You Rather Shoot A Cow?

[Swede]

I know there are not many that will immediately say yes to this, but I will shoot a good cow on the first day and would rather have a dry fat cow over a small bull any day. I used to feel differently, but I have changed. When I was a kid we did not think all that much about trophy quality. Then there were the years when antlers mattered. I guess I am just going back to my roots. Still I would shoot a big bull before anything else if I had the immediate choice.

[Tigger]

Bull for me until the last day, then a cow. I do not buy into the theory "shoot the first day what you would shoot the last day" one bit. I am okay going home without an elk and just have the experience of the hunt.

[jmez]

I wouldn't say I prefer shooting a cow but if there is one in bow range at first light on day 1 I'm shooting.

[WapitiTalk1]

No sir. Even in an area that allows it, I will not shoot a cow during the majority of the season which has resulted in an unfilled tag for various years. It's all about the bulls for me personally... just love hunting those galoots with their big mouths. Even in a bull only area, I won't shoot a spike or rag horn until time has ran out on my hunt, and, a smallish bull decides he wishes to leave the mountain in my custody. It's all about the hunt for me......being "out there" away from the rat race and simply doing the elk hunting/calling thing for as long as I can. If I tag out early, I'm there to continue the hunt and call for whomever I'm hunting with. Mrs. Phantom isn't a fan of wild game so I'm not really what you would call a meat hunter (although I can get her to eat my elk chili and meatloaf on occasion).

[stringunner]

Yep, no question about it. Will drop a cow the first minute of the first day! Way to much chicken in the past year!

[Elkduds]

That's why I drew a cow tag

[oldnovice]

Well, since I am a novice hunter, and I didn't even see an elk last year, of course any elk in sight is gonna die! Meat in the freezer trumps everything else for me. Of course, I have mulie and elk tags for the GMU I am hunting so I may be there a bit longer.

[saddlesore]

I do enjoy eating nice cow, maybe a two year old, definitely. In 2009, I killed big bull in a Colo. trophy unit that took me 21 years to draw a tag. It took me 5 years to eat that old bull it was so tough. I have killed several younger raghorns since then and cows too because I always draw a cow tag for ML season and up until this year, an either sex tag for another unit that has some OTC with a cap on the numbers. That changed to only bulls this year. By far, the cows were always tastier and more tender than the young bulls. I have on occasion killed some might tough older cows in years past though.

Basically though. I never pass up a legal kill. Bull or cow.

I did kill an older cow moose last year. Tough old gal, but I have been doing some recipes for cooking it in a pressure cooker and it is coming out pretty tender.

Mostly I hear guys that t don't fill their tag saying they were trophy hunting, and ones that kill dinks or cows say they were meat hunting.

[the weasel]

25 yrs. and haven't harvested an elk yet........ so..... ummmm, yeah! first legal adult elk I get a chance at. no cows with calves though.

[Ryan Conkle]

I am after a bull although, with that being said, if I get down to my last day or 2 of my hunt and have not punched my tag yet and a nice cow presents a good shot...she is probably going to get shot. My wife and I do not eat store bought meat and live off of the wild game that we harvest, so with that being said, with only a day or 2 left in my hunt...I am perfectly content with harvesting a nice cow and bringing meat home for another year.

[hike2hunt]

Meat in the freezer


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[T.B.]

I would rather shoot a 6x6 ....BUT will absolutely shoot the first adult elk that will stand within bow range

[ElkNut1]

No cows for me, early in my elk hunting career yes, but I enjoy playing with the bulls too much! (grin)

Weasel, 25 years & nothing, wow! How can we help sir, let's get that monkey off your back?

ElkNut1

[Swede]

Weasel, 25 years & nothing, wow! How can we help sir, let's get that monkey off your back?

I was thinking the same thing. Weasel is no quitter. I applaud that tenacity.

[twinkieman]

Nothing wrong with shooting a cow, as long as it's not me. Bulls only, they are too much fun to play with

[Gypsumreaper]

I've passed to many shots waiting for that herd bull, had a cow on me at 11 yards one year with her heard bull just behind a tree 40 yards away, she came in as a decoy in a way for the bull, I seen him and got to excited he was coming in, she was an old old cow my buddy had hinted the area his entire life and knew this cow she had a mark on her side from a muzzleloader shooting her years before she lived through and ran with the same bull every year. And she would literally check things out for him before he came in and of she didn't like it she would push him back up the mountain, she did it to him, drove him up about 200 yards he said he wanted the cow "us" and came thundering back down to us she caught up to him at 65 yards from me and turned him around again. I wish I woulda just shot her and my buddy said the same thing she had ruined more hunts for him and his hunters that any other herd in the area. If I have a shot at a cow now I'm taking it, still haven't killed my elk with a bow, haven't killed my bull yet either after 13 years rifle and bow, I love chasing them but that's also why I love guiding, helping someone else kill to me is just as beneficial. I'm hoping to get my one big bull soon then I can slack off. But I'm sure if I have that big herd bull and a cow I'm gonna wait for the bull again. Hard saying cause all situations are different


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[Elkduds]

+1 Weasel, I won't shoot a cow-calf pair either.

[saddlesore]

I have been doing this elk hunting thing since about 1966.I have old horns laying all around and nailed up on the garage and barn. I have played with them, chased them, killed them. Even had them chase me. I get about as excited seeing a bull as I do a cow. Put the cross hairs on them or FO sight if it is ML, and then butcher. Sometimes I put the safety back on and let them walk. My biggest thrill is just going.

[Coloclover]

I have a cow tag because I just want to kill an elk. Perhaps after I am successful a few times I might get pickier.

[WYO_ELK]

I would prefer to shoot a 2-3 year old bull. I want a freezer full of meat. a young bull will still have more meat than a cow. however, in the second half of the week, I will take a cow if she presents me with a good shot. I would rather shoot a cow with my bow than try to come back for rifle season to fill my tag.

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[Lefty]

I havent killed a bull archery hunting. I did kill a cow on my last day of my season a few years back..I wouldn't say Im a trophy hunter, I like to hunt. I generally know Im going to fill the freezer one way or another. Last year we gave away a 1/3 of our moose,..and I tried to give away geese.
I enjoy the hunt so Ill pass on cows the first few weeks. If I could shoot a cow from camp opening day,.. well maybe. With my daughter and wife coming up to camp and a 12 week moose tag that my daughter has Im in no hurry to kill an elk. It masy even depend how many days Im hunting with my daughter, or if there is a nice buck going to a field I can archery hunt
bu tI would rather shoot a cow than tag soup on the last hunt

[JKaboom]

If I had an either sex tag then yeah no problem. However I just got a leftover draw bull tag so there is not a choice for me this season. I am after meat alone so the first bull that I can take will be taken...

[Fridaythe13th]

After 3 year of archery elk hunting, this is the first year were I told myself I'm shooting what ever is in range. The reason is I can start calling for others in our group and work on being a better caller. My group of 6 has had tag soup 2 out of 3 years. That sucks!!! Thanks to Paul and his videos I have been practicing every day on calling. Cow or bull does not matter to me.

[Indian Summer]

On the first day or 2? Hail no! I would rather take a cow home than a raghorn but I'm in the crowd that hunts bulls only until the last day or two and then I'm all about grocery shopping. I wouldn't bother hunting in a spot where I didn't think I could kill a cow in 1 day otherwise I guess I might think differently. So when it comes to cows I CAN shoot on the last day what I passed on the first.

[the weasel]

Swede,Elknut:
Not real sure what you guys could do but I thank you for your concerns. I'm the "perfect hunter" according to my wife... who cant even step on an Ant. It just never seems to work out for me, it's the cloud I carry around with me I guess. 25 yrs. and no elk (yet) and only 3 bucks. I always joke with my ol' man " it's our last name, and the fact were Irish! that damn Irish luck"! I told him if I could change our name or heritage we would probably get one every year. I've had a few close calls in the years, but I have never even sent an arrow at one yet. I guess that's better than flinging away wildly and wounding them. Oh yeah.... I don't feel Oregon is a prime hot spot for Elk either. Too many damn roads, and too many hunters!! I have joked about getting a tattoo on my left forearm ... "Next Year".... I have done just about any "hunt style" you can do except a solo pack in style. Done the drive and glass openings, treestand, beat the brush, wonder around calling, all to no avail. I rarely call anymore do to the fact when you do the "2 leggers" come out of the timber to shout you. but someday i'll get lucky I hope!

[CurlyTail]

We have only shot one cow. It was the best tasting Elk I have ever had.

In my area in September, I have way more trouble getting in range of a cow than a Bull, so I consider the cow to be a very challenging target.

Since I have a second tag this year, and the seasons overlap some, I will shoot a cow if I can, and be the caller for my hunting partners until they tag out.

Actually, I have never shot a Spike Elk. I think they look freaky cool. Someone called them "Martians" which makes me laugh. Maybe I would rather shoot a Spike this year. Has anyone ever seen a European mounted Spike? I think it would be great.

[Kessler10]

think this question depends on what weapon I am using. for archery, yes, I will shoot a cow in bow range on the first minute of the first day. For rifle I would say i would allow a few days to get a bull, depending on how many I am seeing in those first few days I would let loose on a cow after the first few days.

[Old school]

Since it will be my 2 boys and I bowhunting, that answer is yes. I'd shoot a cow the very first day because that wouldn't end our hunt, we would still have 2 tags to fill and a lot of hunting and calling to do - and I'm looking forward to the hunt this year. Feel as though I've gained a ton of knowledge and am pretty prepared. Anxious to put it all to test in the field come September.

--Mitch

[Mukbowhunt]

I would rather shoot a cow over a spike but I am an opportunist. Cows are in danger around me!


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[TurkeyBowMaster]

I can see myself shooting a cow...wouldn't be no horns to pack out so a cow is a better choice but I am not passing a stinking one bull for a cow. It's sort of first come first serve but I might hold off the first few days be for the stermanation begins.

[Elkhunttoo]

I drew on a bull hunt so it's bull for me. Even if I wouldn't of drawn it's bull only for me every year

[Steve G]

I'd prefer to hunt the bull and then shoot the cow standing next to it. Challenge accomplished and the meat tastes better.

[Swede]

It used to be thought that saving a cow meant that the herds could continue to expand. That is really not the case. The Fish and Wildlife has limits on elk numbers, by unit, and the bull cow ratios. If the percent of cows gets too high or the total number exceeds management objectives, they issue more tags including cow tags.

[lamrith]

Being 0-2 coming into season 3 anything legal gets a splinter. That said I have partnered with a guy that will do everything he can to get me into bulls, and this year I am hunting a bull only unit with him, so cows will get to walk for this year. While I dream of a nice 5x5 or better, I also want the meat in the freezer so I can stop paying retail beef prices. If I was in a cow legal unit though I would drop one in a heartbeat, being part of a camp, the hunt is not over just because you personally tag out. Then I can relax and help rest of the guys in camp get their tags filled.