Post by: Justin7mm on August 14, 2013, 06:23:38 PM
Post by: Dbax129 on August 14, 2013, 06:27:00 PM
Post by: buckfvr on August 14, 2013, 06:29:58 PM
Post by: blacktailcody on August 14, 2013, 06:30:19 PM
Post by: TommyH on August 14, 2013, 06:34:50 PM
Depends on where you're talkin..........calf recruitment is poor at best here in n.e. wa, not many make it the first month.....me...dry cows only.........
:yeah:
Post by: washelkhunter on August 14, 2013, 06:42:03 PM
Post by: furbearer365 on August 14, 2013, 06:55:48 PM
Post by: wildweeds on August 14, 2013, 07:10:06 PM
Post by: Coastal_native on August 14, 2013, 07:17:41 PM
Post by: Bullkllr on August 14, 2013, 07:27:30 PM
Calves are grazing and actively fending for themselves 1 month after birth and fully weaned by Oct. Elk are herd animals and the calf will rejoin with them. I wouldnt worry about it. However it does make you feel like a total @#$%&*-+ to be gutting momma out whilst baby is nuzzling her face. :(
What you're saying may be generally true, but I have seen calves nursing in Late November/December.
In September there are plenty of cow/calf pairs not attached to a herd yet. I think if you take the mama in that situation, survival chances for the calf are slim to none.
Post by: Kain on August 14, 2013, 07:27:41 PM
Edit: I have seen some pretty young spotted calves early season but not often.
Post by: TheHunt on August 14, 2013, 07:38:40 PM
Post by: Kain on August 14, 2013, 07:41:50 PM
A buddy shot a calf many years ago. I had the opportunity to eat one of the steaks. It was fantastic...
Oh shooting the calf? :tup: I hunt with my dad...we got two tags. :chuckle:
Post by: Coastal_native on August 14, 2013, 07:44:15 PM
A buddy shot a calf many years ago. I had the opportunity to eat one of the steaks. It was fantastic...
So...if you're worried about leaving a calf stranded, shoot the calf and let momma go. Problem solved. :chuckle:
Post by: coachcw on August 14, 2013, 08:49:14 PM
Post by: Justin7mm on August 14, 2013, 11:15:56 PM
Post by: buglebuster on August 15, 2013, 12:18:01 AM
Post by: RoyBoy on August 15, 2013, 01:56:48 AM
Shoot the CALF they're delicious.
I'd smoke the first cow i see and not even think about it
A buddy shot a calf many years ago. I had the opportunity to eat one of the steaks. It was fantastic...
So...if you're worried about leaving a calf stranded, shoot the calf and let momma go. Problem solved. :chuckle:
I'd smoke the first cow i see and not even think about it
:yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: you gotta think about it a calf elk is the size of a Big deer and taste AMAZING! look at this for example
Post by: deerslyr on August 15, 2013, 04:20:59 AM
Post by: Justin7mm on August 15, 2013, 07:50:23 AM
Post by: MIKEXRAY on August 15, 2013, 07:57:04 AM
Post by: Button Nubbs on August 15, 2013, 08:07:38 AM
Post by: D-Rock425 on August 15, 2013, 08:17:57 AM
Its September, wait for the bull...what if you can't shoot bulls.
Post by: Button Nubbs on August 15, 2013, 08:22:14 AM
Then I would find an area where you can. :chuckle:Its September, wait for the bull...what if you can't shoot bulls.
Post by: turkeyfeather on August 15, 2013, 08:25:57 AM
Post by: wildmanoutdoors on August 15, 2013, 08:44:01 AM
But if Im alone and see a Cow in range Im shooting it no matter.
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on August 15, 2013, 08:48:40 AM
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.
Post by: 6x6in6 on August 15, 2013, 08:52:16 AM
Just one of many reasons he's a former....
If they ain't got legal bones sticking out of their head, they live. But that's just me. :)
Post by: JLS on August 15, 2013, 08:56:13 AM
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.
Post by: MLBowhunting on August 15, 2013, 09:02:39 AM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on August 15, 2013, 04:03:09 PM
In Wyoming it is illegal to knowingly shoot cow moose with calf. All other species it is legal.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.
Post by: bowguy on August 15, 2013, 05:35:39 PM
Post by: JLS on August 15, 2013, 09:20:32 PM
In Wyoming it is illegal to knowingly shoot cow moose with calf. All other species it is legal.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.
Given the solitary nature of moose, that's not surprising.