Shooting cows with calfs

[DOUBLELUNG]

Elk calf survival is fairly high for calves orphaned in September or later.  Same for whitetails and mule deer, though orphans do have lower survival (normal winter mule deer fawn mortality is around 50%).  Killing a cow moose with a calf or calves is a death sentence for those moose calves.

If you are really concerned about the fate of the juveniles, and have to shoot, you can kill the calf or fawn with a clear conscience.  I deliberately killed a calf elk years ago (standing next to its mom), it yielded 76 pounds of the most amazing, tender delicious meat ever.  I'd do it again in a heartbeat.  When I lived in Wyoming and doe/fawn tags were plentiful and cheap, I several times deliberately killed whitetail and antelope fawns in alfalfa fields that had already been orphaned.  Not as a kindness measure, but because they are so amazing to eat.  I have not done the same in Washington, only because tags are so much scarcer; however, I'd still whack the calf where antlerless is legal.

I agree.  Calves are great eating.  Orphaned calves will very likely survive.  If it was that big of a concern, I imagine you'd find a state where it's illegal to shoot a doe/cow with a fawn/calf.  I'm not aware of any.

In Wyoming it is illegal to knowingly shoot cow moose with calf.  All other species it is legal.

[bowguy]

Like wildmanoutdoors, my hunting partners and I are the same by staying in touch. Shoot the cow and get ahold of the other to try and get the calf. When the season is all said and done its tags filled and elk meat in the freezer.

[JLS]

Elk calf survival is fairly high for calves orphaned in September or later.  Same for whitetails and mule deer, though orphans do have lower survival (normal winter mule deer fawn mortality is around 50%).  Killing a cow moose with a calf or calves is a death sentence for those moose calves.

If you are really concerned about the fate of the juveniles, and have to shoot, you can kill the calf or fawn with a clear conscience.  I deliberately killed a calf elk years ago (standing next to its mom), it yielded 76 pounds of the most amazing, tender delicious meat ever.  I'd do it again in a heartbeat.  When I lived in Wyoming and doe/fawn tags were plentiful and cheap, I several times deliberately killed whitetail and antelope fawns in alfalfa fields that had already been orphaned.  Not as a kindness measure, but because they are so amazing to eat.  I have not done the same in Washington, only because tags are so much scarcer; however, I'd still whack the calf where antlerless is legal.

I agree.  Calves are great eating.  Orphaned calves will very likely survive.  If it was that big of a concern, I imagine you'd find a state where it's illegal to shoot a doe/cow with a fawn/calf.  I'm not aware of any.

In Wyoming it is illegal to knowingly shoot cow moose with calf.  All other species it is legal.

Given the solitary nature of moose, that's not surprising.