Shooting cow with calf

[Practical Approach]

I just finished dinner.  Calf elk steaks that I killed 10 days ago.  Tender as a ....babies butt.....

I hope that anyone with moral or ethical issues when shooting a LEGAL calf also does not eat chicken or pork from the store.  Chicken are on average 5 WEEKS old when killed.  Hogs are on average about 6 months old. 

Just don't put in for an antlerless unit if you have a problem with it.  Hunt for and hopefully shoot an older legal bull.

44

Not sure what to think about a comment referring to the tenderness of a babies butt???   However, I hope I never find myself in a situation where I feel the need to shoot a calf.  I like the idea of letting them grow up a bit and put on some weight to fill a freezer.   But then again, if I truly needed the meat for my family I would have no trouble doing it.  Fortunatly I haven't had to go down that road.  I can still buy my baby chickens, adolescent pigs and unborn chicken eggs to keep me and my family fed while I keep searching for that bull or buck.  People should do what they feel is right and not try to sway others unless it is illegal.

 

[Bob33]

Where is Ted Nugent when we need him?

[Seabeckian]

Moral issues for shooting a calf?  Really?  So is it ok to shoot a 1 1/2 year old?  Or a 2 1/2 year old?  Or does it need to be over 5 1/2 years old before you shoot it?  When is it not a moral issue any more?  If you have moral issues for shooting a legal calf elk, you really should think about why you are hunting.

Even with all the slamming of both sides, this still surprised me the most (Just caught up on the whole thread.) I wouldn't shoot one personally, but as said... that is my personal choice. But to say that maybe I should reconsider my hunting career because I would rather continue my hunt and pass on an animal that doesn't meet my personal standards... not sure I agree with your logic.

[deerslyr]

lol this thread is great. 

[longknife]

Only bad thing about calves, is it might be a bull calf, wich is illegal. But why not take a calf, the cow will produce more.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Bull calf is not illegal, in antlerless areas.

[Practical Approach]

I think it is funny that there is so much dialogue regarding shooting a calf. (including my own dialogue).. One would think there is a large number of us hunters that are buying our tags in anticipation of killing ourselves a juicy elk calf each year.  Isn't a calf something you might consider shooting the last day of the season if you need a little elk meat.  Well, I guess that is how I would look at it. 

[bobcat]

Bull calf is not illegal, in antlerless areas.

   An antlerless elk is an antlerless elk, simple as that. Doesn't make a difference what sex it is.

[longknife]

Bull calf is not illegal, in antlerless areas.

 
Was under the impression the bull calves were not legal by the definition in the big game rules, but understand it now
Any buck/bull, ilegal to posses bull /buck calves

[longknife]

Bull calf is not illegal, in antlerless areas.

 
Was under the impression the bull calves were not legal by the definition in the big game rules, but understand it now
Any buck/bull, ilegal to posses bull /buck calves

Calm down there bobcat, just thought it written the wrong way!

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I pack in the wilderness 11 miles for my elk hunt and on the average see about 20 cows and 2 or 3 bulls (1 usually dies) in 9 days. when I got home there was a herd of 42 cows and 7 bulls in my lower pasture. I would like to see those numbers or more in the mountains thats all i'm saying

Man, if you pack in that far, and that is all you are seeing, you need to quit looking at your feet.
all I am saying.

[funkster]

JLS-Wow, what about the trophy buck? would you shoot it? I am assuming you would. I would just as you have said. Does that mean that I ruined the gene pool? no. It is a complete different theory .

A MATURE buck has already passed his genes, shoot away!

I hope that anyone with moral or ethical issues when shooting a LEGAL calf also does not eat chicken or pork from the store.  Chicken are on average 5 WEEKS old when killed.  Hogs are on average about 6 months old. 

Just don't put in for an antlerless unit if you have a problem with it.  Hunt for and hopefully shoot an older legal bull.

44

Again, lets compare apples with apples. Chickens and hogs are breed for the sole purpose of mass consumption,elk are not. You cannot compare wild elk with farm raised chickens and hogs. Antlerless hunts are a big part of conservation, this is a must to keep the bull/cow ratio in check.

[bobcat]

Well, if a person wants to "conserve" elk, the logical choice would be to shoot a calf rather than a cow. Kill a calf and you have only taken one elk, kill a cow and you've taken out two.

[Practical Approach]

Well, if a person wants to "conserve" elk, the logical choice would be to shoot a calf rather than a cow. Kill a calf and you have only taken one elk, kill a cow and you've taken out two.

I agree, not to mention the likelyhood of a calf survinving the winter is lower anyway.

[funkster]

Well, if a person wants to "conserve" elk, the logical choice would be to shoot a calf rather than a cow. Kill a calf and you have only taken one elk, kill a cow and you've taken out two.

IMPO taking out an old mature cow is conservation, she has served her purpose and has reproduce more than 1 calf.