cows and wallows

[Instinct]

Im just curious does cows use wallows just as much as the bulls do? When it cools down like last years sept, they dont use em as much im assuming. Im asking because im reading the book "elk talk" and they mention a lot about bulls in the wallows but nothing about cows useing them.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I have seen cows/calves in and around wallows, but nothing like what a bull does in them.
They might play and splash a little, but a bull flat out enjoys himself, peeing rolling thrashing with his antlers etc..
but in my experience,.. you can never really say what an elk is going to do, one always comes along and shows me something different.

[Instinct]

So would it be worth sitting by, have a lil ground blinde?

[Pathfinder101]

So would it be worth sitting by, have a lil ground blinde?

If you are asking about Eastern Wa Elk, then if the weather is hot and dry, yes.  If it rains though, probably not.  Seems to me the wetter the weather is, the less they use them.  As was stated before though, as soon as you make a rule about elk, they come along and make you a liar...
Whether or not cows and calves use them depends on if they are big enough to drink out of.  If it's just a mud pit, then no.  If there is a good amount of standing water in them, then possibly, but only if it is hot and dry...see above disclaimer...

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Depends on if it is active.
check and see if the water is cloudy, and if there are wet mud splatters (drops on surrounding vegetation)
if it is being used, see if you can figure out what way they are coming in, and which direction they are leaving. (usually a mud trail on exit route)
number of tracks will show how many are visiting, usually a bull along with his cows, set up on the downwind side of approach, make youself confortable (expect mosquitos) and wait....   

[BLUEBULLS]

So would it be worth sitting by, have a lil ground blinde?

If you are asking about Eastern Wa Elk, then if the weather is hot and dry, yes.  If it rains though, probably not.  Seems to me the wetter the weather is, the less they use them.  As was stated before though, as soon as you make a rule about elk, they come along and make you a liar...
Whether or not cows and calves use them depends on if they are big enough to drink out of.  If it's just a mud pit, then no.  If there is a good amount of standing water in them, then possibly, but only if it is hot and dry...see above disclaimer...

 

[Instinct]

Ya its eastern wa, i was just curious because last year it was rainy/windy n lot cooler compaired to 2yrs ago.

[gasman]

All good advise so far 

A wallow that has activity is the most important thing to look for 

[Instinct]

Ya i found one on fifes ridge last year, god was a pain to get up there and it looked like it was heavily used.

Hey sorry i didnt make it up to ur camp there gasman i just stayed in the wenas the entire time. Hope u and ur fam had a good time this last weekend!

[flinger]

This is from a couple years ago E.Wa up the nile area. 85+ daytime temps not sure if the cows used it but i'm pretty sure there was activity here every night,not too much daytime use just a couple predators and some birds.
Elk use alot more energy to keep cool when it is hot than they do to keep warm when it is cold
so if ya find a good wallow in a cool area i say set something up with a good vantage point and lots of lanes pack a book and your patience .Don't be surprised if ya finish a chapter look up and OH S##T friggn elk right there

[Instinct]

Creepy eyes 

[Elknut1]

Instinct, absolutely not! No cows do not use a wallow like a bull would! This does not mean you will not find cows around them or the group following the herd bull to one but as far as use goes cows will generally focus their romping around at waterholes instead!

  Trick is knowing what the difference is between a wallow & a waterhole or source, many hunters cannot tell the difference between the two at times. Yes, some waterholes are obvious as to what they are but others are not. It's important to know the differences because wallows are generally used & focused on by the bulls where waterholes are used by all elk, this means your chances of seeing/killing an elk are much greater at a water source over a wallow!

    For instance what would you say this is? Just food for thought.

  ElkNut1

[Instinct]

Wallow because of the mud flinged on the grasses

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I would call that a "water hole" because even though there is mud around it, the wallows I see have larger chunks from the bull sticking his antlers in the mud and throwing it around.
When I have watched bulls in wallows, they really tear the place up, sometimes digging pretty deep holes, getting mud all over themselves and just wrecking the place.
The ones I see in my area have green grass around "water holes", and beat up bushes around "wallows" from the bull thrashing the shrubbery after his bath also, 

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

bull elk wallowing Not my video, but see the large chunks, even a log! Bull at wallow