Unusual cow call

[Band]

While scouting over the weekend we herd an unusual noise several times that we followed to its source.  It was a quick, single note, very low tone bark that we knew had to be a large animal.  Buddy was thinking elk but I was thinking bear simply because it was an unfamiliar sound and with such a deep tone.  Turns out it was a 1.5 year old cow that was pacing up and down a clearing while stopping to eat frequently and making this call down into the woods intermittently.  it kept on making the noise every couple of minutes while we watched it for about 20 minutes.  Finally it walked up to the top of the clearing about 200 yards away where it re-joined a large herd that was browsing around.

The way it was acting I guessed that it had a connection to another specific animal in the herd that had been left behind, perhaps taken by a predator, and was trying to get that animal to catch up to the herd.  What puzzles me is the single-note, deep tone it was making rather than a typical 2-note, high-pitched "cow call".  Anyone experienced this type of call?  Any ideas what might have been going on?

[pianoman9701]

Do cows make a nervous bark like bulls? Was she doing it in your direction?

[7mmfan]

Cows most definitely bark, and it can be startling if you've never heard it before. In my experience, it tends to be a warning call, signaling that there is trouble around.

[kentrek]

you should record yourself attempting to recreate the noise an post it 

all jokes aside it wouldn't surprise me if elk could speak more words than the English language....pretty interesting the things that come out of there mouth at times

[RadSav]

Unfortunately I have heard that noise more than once   Usually about the same time the wind hits the back of my neck

[Elknut1]

Did the sounds you hear sound like any of these! (grin)

  ElkNut1

[JPhelps]

It sounds like that Cow had winded you guys.
Cows will bark (alarm) when they know something isn't right.

[Band]

I shouldn't have used the term "bark" - it was not the bark they make when they are alarmed and they're telling the herd to pack up and head for the hills.  This sound was much lower in tone and did not carry the "alarm" that a bark carries.  This cow was not aware of our presence and was focusing these sounds about 120 degrees away from our position.  She didn't want to get too far from the rest of the herd but she obviously wanted to call something to her from below.  That was apparent from her behavior.

We did eventually get the bark but not until we watched the herd graze for a long period of time from 60 yards and the wind swirled and gave us away.

Elknut, I need to get out your CD and see if you mention the kind of call I heard.  Just thought someone might be familiar with what was a new sound to me.

[Elknut1]

Band, the sound you most likely heard is posted in my above post? Look right under my handle ElkNut1 & click on the paper-clip.

  ElkNut1
 

[Band]

Band, the sound you most likely heard is posted in my above post? Look right under my handle ElkNut1 & click on the paper-clip.

  ElkNut1
 

Already did.  Those noises were all warning barks, correct?  The noise this gal was making was much more of a calm, "longing" sound.  Definitely not a warning bark.

[JPhelps]

I swear cow elk have the ability to make any sound they want (within their capability).

Last year on two different "call ins" the cows were making every noise in the book.  long drawn out cow calls, short abrupt cow calls, low pitched and high pitched.

Band, did the call sound like it missed the high note and started out and "waved" the low note?

[Band]

Band, did the call sound like it missed the high note and started out and "waved" the low note?

No.  This call was far lower than the low note that ends the typical cow call.  Like I said, I thought it might have been a bear because it seemed unimaginable that it could have been an elk with such a low note.

[Elknut1]

Yes, I agree with Jason that cows will make many sounds, thing is cows can make every sound a bull does & vice versa. This includes bugling, grunts & chuckles as they so desire.

  The sound you heard was most likely one as you described as an "in search of" it was not spooked by you or giving the sound because of you instead it was looking for the location of a specific elk or the herd itself. I've watched cows use a buzz at the end of a call or the buzz on its own as it encouraged other elk to come their way, this sound can be extremely deep by a cow as it can denote urgency in its tone. The more more urgent the more frequent the calling until satisfied. In your case it doesn't sound like it was an urgent matter, it was just wanting a location of this elk or the other elk? It was a form of the nervous grunt on low intensity as this sound can ask "where are you" or "show yourself to other elk" to other elk.

  The clip I shared just shows the normal or more exaggerated form of this nervous/popping grunt. Was the sound you heard similar to any sound on the audio clip just down sized?

  ElkNut1

[Band]

Was the sound you heard similar to any sound on the audio clip just down sized?

No, not really.  The calls on your clip had a sharp nature to them whereas this cow sounded sort of (I hate to say it) like Chewbacca of Star Wars fame or like that deep-toned horn you sometimes hear people blow at a sporting event.