Partner Up for "Cow" Hunting

By Mark Armbruster - Idaho Fish and Game Hunting female elk is an important part of keeping elk herds healthy. When deciding how many "cow" tags to issue for a particular hunt, biologists look at the number of females compared to the number of males and at the average success rate from previous year's hunts. But hunting cow elk can be a unique challenge. During bull season, it's rather easy to tell one bull elk from another; not so with cows. For the most part, antlerless elk all look alike. That can cause problems when an elk is hit and doesn't go down. It may be difficult to identify the wounded elk, especially if the animals are moving around. An unethical hunter in this situation might shoot and shoot until one finally falls. In the worst case I can remember, once the "hunter" claimed his prize, five other elk on the hillside were wounded. The best way to hunt for female elk is to take a partner with you. Once you get within a comfortable shooting range, decide which animal you want. Make sure your partner knows which animal you are going to shoot at and have him or her watch through a good pair of binoculars. After the shot, have your partner continue to watch the elk you shot at and tell you where it is. If you need to take another shot, make sure you are shooting at the same animal. Wait until you have a clear shot, no matter how long it takes. And remember that you owe it to the animal to make every effort to recover it. Mark Armbruster is a senior conservation officer in the Salmon Region.