West side cow tag first timer how to choose?

[bod]

I drew a cow tag what do I look for in choosing the right animal.

[PA BEN]

W/a meat hunt I would choose one close to a road and a head shot.

[MADMAX]

X-1 above

[HntnFsh]

If its a late tag I would shoot one of last years calves so you dont shoot a pregnant cow.Not fun gutting a cow and finding a fetus in it.

[bobcat]

This is a great topic for discussion.

What about for an August hunt? (or September)

[blacktail luv]

In my opinion cow tags should be given out in the early season so you aren't killing a bunch of pregnant cows.  I'm not sure how anyone could get excited about shooting a cow with a two or three month old fetus in it.  Makes me sick thinking about it. 

[cannon-master]

i got lucky with my cow last year an old broad no fetus inside

[Hunterman]

In my opinion cow tags should be given out in the early season so you aren't killing a bunch of pregnant cows.  I'm not sure how anyone could get excited about shooting a cow with a two or three month old fetus in it.  Makes me sick thinking about it. 

So if you kill a cow in the early season your not kill a calf too?? But wait,,if you kill a breeding  bull,,how many calfs are you killing??? But what the hell do I know about herd control..

Kill the first barren cow you see..

Hunterman(Tony)

[blacktail luv]

I was just stating my opinion.  I am not a cow killer and never will be,  but to each there own.   .  Sorry if I offended anyone.

[rock]

In the early season the biggest one you see!
Late season. If you happen to find a cow in estrus that one or a big calf. 

[rebal69972]

choosing the right animal. thats kinda easy its a meat hunt if it brown its down. 

[jackelope]

Interesting topic.
I think there's mostly too many cows and not enough bulls in most units so killing a cow before she's been bred is not a concern to me. Getting rid of a few cows will likely help the herd, but.... honestly I do not want to field dress a cow or a doe and find a fetus inside. Call me a sissy but I don't want to think about a dead elk fetus every time I have an elk steak for the next 12 months. I would not shoot a cow in the late season, or a doe, for that reason. I don't have a problem shooting a doe in the general season if the rules or permit allows but there's little to no risk that there's a fetus in them at that point. I also wouldn't shoot a doe if a youngster was running with her. I do not apply for cow tags. I have been putting in for points only for a few years although I don't know what I will do with them.

[boneaddict]

Shouldn't offend anyone Blacktail.   I rarely have ever agreed on a DOE or Cow hunt except for population control, and at this current time, not sure any of the populations are at max and need that control.  I believe its also a currentway for revenue and to keep non drawing permit guys HAPPY

Hunterman.....the big difference is one bull can breed a 100 cows.  They generally aren't the ones limiting the population.   Kill a cow or doe and thats potentially many future animals.

I won't look down on someone that is killing one for meat though I have never done it or have desire for it.

It is a good question and you can sort of tell barren critters if you spend alot of time out there.  Some will give you advice to shootthe younger as they taste better.  Some will say shoot the old barren ones as they won't hurt the population then. 

[blacktail luv]

I agree with bone on this one.  I can understand a doe or cow hunt if the habitat is at it's maximum carrying capacity but I doubt that that is the case anywhere in the state.  It's all about the $ to the state, if they can make some $ by giving out thousands of cow tags then great, but I wish they would consider the animal populations over money.  Maybe someday common sense will over ride the $ but I doubt it.
Anyway back to the original question, I guess I would look for a yearling cow, they are the best eating with no calves and won't be pregnant, good luck on your hunt.

[bobcat]

Elk around St. Helens are overpopulated, as the winter kill every year proves. But I don't think everywhere that's considered the Mt St Helens elk herd is over carrying capacity, so I really do question the number of cow permits they put out this year. They added some where there weren't any before, and the hunts that already existed they doubled to quadrupled permit numbers. Just seems a little excessive but I'm hoping they really are going by good scientific data rather than just doing it for revenue (which wouldn't surprise me).