Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: big wood on July 12, 2016, 08:02:00 PM

Title: Interesting encounter with elk today
Post by: big wood on July 12, 2016, 08:02:00 PM: So heading to work this morning, a cow came on the road with 5 new calves. They seamed spooked but unsure it was from my rig coming toward them but not sure because I was probably 250 yards from them. They scampered across the road in a hurry. When I came to their crossing they were gone and no sign of anymore cows that hadn't crossed yet. I could see down the road a good 500 yards so I don't believe the cows had crossed first. It seemed odd to me that 1 cow was running with 5 calves. I am concerned that maybe someone may be poaching elk. This is in Kapowsin which everyone knows of the elk population. Just wondering of any thoughts.
Title: Re: Interesting encounter with elk today
Post by: KDB on July 12, 2016, 08:28:32 PM: I've seen cows with 3 or 4 calves in the summer before and thought the cow was baby sitting like cattle do at times. J.ust a guess
Title: Re: Interesting encounter with elk today
Post by: Waycott15 on July 12, 2016, 08:29:04 PM: Yeah seems a bit strange. I would just give the game warden a call and let them know they're usually Pretty cool with stuff like that. I've called on a couple things in my area that were suspicious and they actually took the time to look into and contact me back to inform me what they found out. Never know might catch someone ruining it for the rest of us.
Title: Re: Interesting encounter with elk today
Post by: dreamunelk on July 12, 2016, 08:51:35 PM: Something disturbed the group and the calves followed the closest cow. She will take care of them and get them back with the group.
Title: Re: Interesting encounter with elk today
Post by: JimmyHoffa on July 12, 2016, 08:58:00 PM: Yeah, was thinking a nanny cow. Looking to catch up with the herd.
Title: Re: Interesting encounter with elk today
Post by: danderson on July 12, 2016, 09:17:33 PM: That's pretty common cows take on a nursery group of calf's looking after them all the time
Title: Re: Interesting encounter with elk today
Post by: pianoman9701 on July 13, 2016, 06:53:45 AM: I couldn't find the video I saw a few years ago. But it was of a few cows watching the young ones play, like 15 of them, while their mothers were grazing a short distance away.
Title: Re: Interesting encounter with elk today
Post by: Duckslayer89 on July 13, 2016, 06:56:34 AM: Quote from: big wood on July 12, 2016, 08:02:00 PM
So heading to work this morning, a cow came on the road with 5 new calves. They seamed spooked but unsure it was from my rig coming toward them but not sure because I was probably 250 yards from them. They scampered across the road in a hurry. When I came to their crossing they were gone and no sign of anymore cows that hadn't crossed yet. I could see down the road a good 500 yards so I don't believe the cows had crossed first. It seemed odd to me that 1 cow was running with 5 calves. I am concerned that maybe someone may be poaching elk. This is in Kapowsin which everyone knows of the elk population. Just wondering of any thoughts.

I saw a huge cow with 3 calves a few days ago up there
Title: Re: Interesting encounter with elk today
Post by: westside bull on July 13, 2016, 07:30:21 AM: Quote from: KDB on July 12, 2016, 08:28:32 PM
I've seen cows with 3 or 4 calves in the summer before and thought the cow was baby sitting like cattle do at times. Just a guess :yeah:
Title: Re: Interesting encounter with elk today
Post by: Waycott15 on July 13, 2016, 09:40:43 AM: Guess I need to educate myself some more :)
Title: Re: Interesting encounter with elk today
Post by: big wood on July 13, 2016, 09:49:26 PM: Well this info makes me feel better
Title: Re: Interesting encounter with elk today
Post by: 257wbymagkiller on July 13, 2016, 10:02:17 PM: Its been odd for me to im right there in kapowsin and am seeing alot of calfs with only a couple cows :dunno:

Id say 1 cow to 2-3 calfs
Title: Re: Interesting encounter with elk today
Post by: warthog on July 13, 2016, 10:54:56 PM: yep she was babysitting !

deer do the same thing. a few times i've seen 20 -30 deer in a field and a doe at each corner of an imaginary square or rectangle. inside the perimeter would be all the fawns. the rest of the does would be spread out all over the field feeding. sometimes the nannies would be at points of a compass so to speak. was a bit amazed the 1st time i realized what i was seeing.

i can only recall this type of setup where there were big predators about.