Beef cows and elk during the rut

[Itsbeef]

Hey all,
I’ve got a spot in Montana I’ve been scouting for elk this summer come September. There is a heard of beef cows in the area that stay until the end of September. I’ve heard mixed opinions on if they all hang out around each and tolerate eachother or if the elk stay away from them during the rut. In my experience if there is a herd of cows grazing an area for the summer I’ve never seen elk around them.
Thoughts?

 

[GrantK]

I think it varies a little depending on where you are but in my experience elk and cows have zero effect on the other, I've shot elk in archery season in the middle of herds of cattle on more than one occasion.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Think it depends on feed more than direcr adjacency.

If the cattle ate the forage in the drainage to the dirt, probably not going to be elk there.

 

[Elky Welky]

Hey all,
I’ve got a spot in Montana I’ve been scouting for elk this summer come September. There is a heard of beef cows in the area that stay until the end of September. I’ve heard mixed opinions on if they all hang out around each and tolerate eachother or if the elk stay away from them during the rut. In my experience if there is a herd of cows grazing an area for the summer I’ve never seen elk around them.
Thoughts?

I've used cattle herds to mask my sound to get in close to elk during archery, but that's in high country with grazing leases mixed with FS. If it's elk habitat and there's enough feed, they will be there. If the cattle have mowed everything down or you are at lower elevation, they probably won't. Good luck!

 

[belshawelk]

On my property elk could care less. i have camera pics of moo cows and elk in the same pic. BUT, more food than a 1000 head could eat and water galore.

 

[Dakota79]

I don't know if you see them it or not in the picture but there's about 70 elk with these cows. On our place at least they tolerate each other but aren't best buddies.

 

[Horseman]

Hey all,
I’ve got a spot in Montana I’ve been scouting for elk this summer come September. There is a heard of beef cows in the area that stay until the end of September. I’ve heard mixed opinions on if they all hang out around each and tolerate eachother or if the elk stay away from them during the rut. In my experience if there is a herd of cows grazing an area for the summer I’ve never seen elk around them.
Thoughts?

 

[Horseman]

I haven’t had good hunting amongst summer moo cows on public land during the rut. Found lots of good hunting predictably, immediately on the other side of the rotation fence where the grass has not been grazed.

 

[cohunter14]

I have also seen elk in the same areas as cattle, within a hundred yards of each other. I don't allow cattle to deter me from hunting an area or thinking elk are possibly there.

 

[Straight Arrow]

I don't allow cattle to deter me from hunting an area or thinking elk are possibly there.

Nor do I, but it emphazes the basic rule, "know your target and beyond!"

 

[manitou1]

Shoot the cows. You get rid of invasive species and have really good table fare!!!