Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: milksnake12 on August 12, 2015, 11:36:06 AM

Title: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: milksnake12 on August 12, 2015, 11:36:06 AM: I've had a game cam up in one of my spots for over a month that's getting tons of cows on a daily biases (salt lick and apples). I had one small spike show up one day, but that was it for bulls.

Should I give up on this location and look specifically for bulls, or stick with this location hoping that the bulls will show up in September?

Sorry if this is a basic question. New to elk hunting and didn't find an answer looking on Google.
Title: Re: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: coop2424 on August 12, 2015, 11:37:48 AM: I personally am looking for cows on cam now more than Bulls.. Bulls are nice since that is what we are hunting but the Bulls will come to the cows.. I personally would leave it where it is.
Title: Re: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: MLBowhunting on August 12, 2015, 11:39:41 AM: Where you find the cows you will have bulls come closer to the rut..
Title: Re: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: vandeman17 on August 12, 2015, 11:48:27 AM: Quote from: MLBowhunting on August 12, 2015, 11:39:41 AM
Where you find the cows you will have bulls come closer to the rut..

Agreed. If you have a bull tag or in a bull unit, go to where the ladies are and the boys will show up when its time to party
Title: Re: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: Gringo31 on August 12, 2015, 11:51:24 AM: Welcome Milkshake!
Title: Re: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: Skyvalhunter on August 12, 2015, 11:52:47 AM: Take a cow they have really good meat I heard.
Title: Re: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: milksnake12 on August 12, 2015, 11:53:12 AM: That's what I was thinking. Just wanted a more experienced opinion.

Is there a good chance the cows will still be in the area in a month? They've been there a month already?
Title: Re: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: vandeman17 on August 12, 2015, 11:55:37 AM: Quote from: milksnake12 on August 12, 2015, 11:53:12 AM
That's what I was thinking. Just wanted a more experienced opinion.

Is there a good chance the cows will still be in the area in a month? They've been there a month already?

Tough to say for sure but I have had cows stay on my cams all summer and through hunting season
Title: Re: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: Skyvalhunter on August 12, 2015, 11:56:11 AM: From my experience yes as long as people don't start visiting the area. They have a tendency to chase them out of the area.
Title: Re: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: milksnake12 on August 12, 2015, 11:59:06 AM: I'll stick it out. Thanks for all the fast replies!
Title: Re: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: Dhoey07 on August 12, 2015, 12:07:46 PM: Are you in an Any Elk area? If you are new to elk hunting, maybe you want to shoot a cow. Aint nothing wrong with meat in the freezer :twocents:
Title: Re: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: milksnake12 on August 12, 2015, 12:11:27 PM: I'm in an any elk area. I hunt to provide meat for my family so taking a cow would be fine. The only reason I would prefer to take a bull is to keep the baby makers alive for future hunts.

But if a cow walks in front of me, It will most likely end up in the freezer :)
Title: Re: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: PlateauNDN on August 12, 2015, 12:27:14 PM: Stay, think of it as a bar. If your single hanging with your friends and you guys go out, you go looking for the ladies. You have the ladies so wait for the guys to come to you. :chuckle: :tup:
Title: Re: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on August 12, 2015, 12:32:25 PM: I'd stay. Welcome to the site! :tup: :hello:
Title: Re: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: 4fletch on August 12, 2015, 01:01:03 PM: Bulls have been documented to travel 20 miles or more to getsum.
Title: Re: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: RadSav on August 12, 2015, 01:01:53 PM: I am a little different than most it seems. I see July and early August cows, in most areas, as nurseries. Especially if you have a lot of calves with spots. Except in resident herd locations these cows move up toward the bulls mid August. So while I wouldn't necessarily abandon this location I would certainly start looking for bulls. Just as I wouldn't stay put hunting wintering areas come early archery season.

They are not deer or bear. They are elk! Very different travel routines, nursing routines and rut behavior.
Title: Re: Only cows on game cam. Stay or go?
Post by: LeviD1 on August 14, 2015, 09:46:34 AM: Dang! Nice pic. I would stay. I would also recommend taking someone else to shoot one as well. Who has two thumbs and is in spokane :tup: (this guy) haha