Hey fellas, I need some input. One of the farms that I hunt that has always been very productive does both row crops and raises cattle. I have always hunted the crop fields thus far as I am a bit nervous about the cows. However, the largest pasture there has about a dozen large old pecan trees in it. They are an absolute crow magnet! They are always in those trees and on the ground under them. I scouted around and found a good place in the pasture to set-up my blind but I'm still not sure about it. The last time I hunted next to a pasture all the cows came and stood there and stared at me. Also, I am not sure what (if anything) they would do to my decoys, my blind or to any dead birds... Any advise would be appreciated!
boba said
Jan 27, 2024
The cows think your bringing food. Just take your hat off and wave like you have lost your mind to run them out of there! A lot of yelling is also in order here!
Make sure you run them off far enough away from your setup "that they don't come back"
Granite Jaw said
Jan 28, 2024
MSRob wrote:
Hey fellas, I need some input. One of the farms that I hunt that has always been very productive does both row crops and raises cattle. I have always hunted the crop fields thus far as I am a bit nervous about the cows. However, the largest pasture there has about a dozen large old pecan trees in it. They are an absolute crow magnet! They are always in those trees and on the ground under them. I scouted around and found a good place in the pasture to set-up my blind but I'm still not sure about it. The last time I hunted next to a pasture all the cows came and stood there and stared at me. Also, I am not sure what (if anything) they would do to my decoys, my blind or to any dead birds... Any advise would be appreciated!
Rob,
I'd ask the owner what kind of temperament they had and if there was a bull in the pasture. Don't get between a cow and her calf and don't turn your back on a bull.
Otherwise, those cows shouldn't cause you any problems as long as they have enough room to get a comfortable distance from the shooting. They may think they're getting fed, or just be curious, but they'll lose interest and move off when the shooting starts. The distance they stay away depends on how skittish they are.
They're not going to bother the blind or decoys as long as you're around. Pigs would probably be in the decoys eating dead crows, cattle won't.
I'd say you'll be able to get where you need to be to put the hurt on 'em.
Randy
boba said
Jan 31, 2024
Randy, back in the 80's I had a calf get it's hind leg get hung up in the speaker cord to one of my Johnny Stewart speakers! It got spooked and the next think I saw was my speaker come flying out of the tree and bouncing along the ground behind that calf lol. When things settled down I went and picked it up, it still worked, a few dents but still ok!
camo said
Feb 5, 2024
Good story Bob. My first thought was like you, just raise your hat at them, move towards them and yell get on out of here . They'll be gone. I have a target range on my pasture & when I have cattle or horses out there I have to run them off because the gunshots doesn't bother them. They'll graze right around the burm. Paul.
Assassin said
Feb 22, 2024
Cows are more curious than anything else.
I hunt several pastures with adjacent pecan trees, and at least for me, the cows are an added benefit because crows see them everywhere from daylight to dark!
Depending on the cows, when you start shooting they will do one of two things. Run the other direction or just stand there and do what cows do.
Just watch for calves and crazy bulls and you should be fine. Me personally, I have never had an issue with cows, and on some hunts, I actually enjoy their presence.
MSRob said
Apr 20, 2024
Hey Fellas, Thanks for all the advise! I did not get a chance to try the pasture this season, but (thanks to all the encouragement) I will give it a shot next season.
Hey fellas, I need some input. One of the farms that I hunt that has always been very productive does both row crops and raises cattle. I have always hunted the crop fields thus far as I am a bit nervous about the cows. However, the largest pasture there has about a dozen large old pecan trees in it. They are an absolute crow magnet! They are always in those trees and on the ground under them. I scouted around and found a good place in the pasture to set-up my blind but I'm still not sure about it. The last time I hunted next to a pasture all the cows came and stood there and stared at me. Also, I am not sure what (if anything) they would do to my decoys, my blind or to any dead birds... Any advise would be appreciated!
Make sure you run them off far enough away from your setup "that they don't come back"
Rob,
I'd ask the owner what kind of temperament they had and if there was a bull in the pasture. Don't get between a cow and her calf and don't turn your back on a bull.
Otherwise, those cows shouldn't cause you any problems as long as they have enough room to get a comfortable distance from the shooting. They may think they're getting fed, or just be curious, but they'll lose interest and move off when the shooting starts. The distance they stay away depends on how skittish they are.
They're not going to bother the blind or decoys as long as you're around. Pigs would probably be in the decoys eating dead crows, cattle won't.
I'd say you'll be able to get where you need to be to put the hurt on 'em.
Randy