Well, I finally got to hunt a piece of property I have been wanting to hunt for a little over a year today, and going in the owner told me to cut off 5 minutes of walking and go thru the cow pasture. So I did...More on that in a minute...I got to where I was told deer are going to be, at 1 PM, and that's when I realized I forgot my book. So there I am on a little oak knole in the middle of a swamp and just birds to look at, and look at birds I did for 4 hrs till 5 PM when a very respectable spike snuck in at 30 yards, and didn't even think of coming closer. The wind was blowing from him to I, but he had other thoughts on his mind, and passed to grow bigger for next year. The trails in that swamp resembled a small city. There were so many intersections that had mud churned up that I have a very good feeling I will be back again.
So there I am, a couple minutes before I need a flashlight walking out of the swamp, and up to the pasture. This is where the beginning of this story picks back up...I go thru the gate to the cow pasture, to cut off 5 minutes of walking (For the simple fact that I'm lazy when it comes to an easier way sometimes) and instantly knew the feeling of being an Indian back 300 years ago. I quickly found out that cows that don't mind you walking thru their pasture during daylight, have a different attitude at dark. All I could hear was hoves coming, and coming quick. If you have never been 50 feet from safety, and having 25 black cows charge you at night when you can't see them, please let me explain the feeling. My pucker factor went from normal to not able to crap a greased needle in about a nano second, then realization that a longbow with 3 cedar arrows and bear razorheads were probably not the best choice to face an angry mob of cows. I never new it was possible, but Carl Lewis had nothing on me tonight. I made that 50 foot run in about 4 steps, and when I reached the gate I had closed, I without knowing how, cleared that gate with a full backpack longbow in hand, and lacross rubber boots on, and I don't remember touching the gate. You see I did somehow remember her telling me not to touch the fence because it was electrified. So, there I am out of the pasture, laying on my belly with my foldup chair, that was on the side of my backpack, now underneath me. I looked back at what had caused me so much greaf, and there they all stood 10 feet from the fence, lined up in a neat little line (shoulder to shoulder) staring at this thing that just tried to enter their territory. Well, I quickly decided that it was a good night for a walk/limp around the farm this evening, and I'll be darned if those cows didn't keep false charging me as I walked the fence back to my truck. I could only imagine what it must have been like to be an Indian on the great plains without having an electric fence to give you that felling of safety.
I have this feeling hunting this property is going to get me in shape, that or I'm going to have to figure out how to get a cow in the back of my truck. Not that that thought had ever crossed my mind, but next time I'll tell someone else to stand their ground just to see what would have happened. Any Takers? LOL
Grape:
years ago my father-in-law's cows followed me through a pasture and then back out after dark everytime I went in there. Happened a bunch of times other places. They really are only trying to figure you out. They do get a bit excited sometimes.....
If you would have stoped they would have done the same.
Could be the begining of a good stalk game called "Cow Tippin" LOL
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Carl Lewis! Lol!
Don`t stand your ground with black cows.
Especially if there is a bull with the group. He has a reputation to uphold. Run...run for your life.
Been there done that. The farmer will say, "they won`t hurt you", but it sure makes you feel small when the ground is shaking.
CLASSIC! I leave you laughing my pucker off!
Thanks for the laugh Mike , I have shared the same kind of experience as a young man with an Angus bull that didnt like me crossing his pasture at any time.
That's Funny. The cows were just curious, they wont bother you, but if you keep running from them, we will always have funny stories such as this to listen to.
i have the same problem here on my farm,we have too drive through the pature too get to the woods.sometimes thats not safe either we have 5 steers and a 1200 lbs.bull that hates me so bad.so i drive my 4x4 ranger and its not safe..but they sure taste good though
All I knew was the ground was trembling, and thunder was coming from them. There is a Black Bull in the group somewhere. She told me to look for the one with the ring in his nose. I can honestly say I didn't even give athought to looking for a ring. My mind was on clearing the fence.
I been there, done that, and got the stains to prove it. Good story, it brings back haunting memories.
Jack
Hunted a farm that had raised prized Red Angus. The lot of them woudl come to the gate as soon as I arrived. They would encircled me tightly and run in and out as I crossed the 200 yard field. Getting the move so I could cross the fence always seemed stressful. They would always catch me at least half way across the field on the way back. I never got accustomed to that experience even after 20 times.
Another farm I hunted had cagey honery bull that would not let me cross the field. I had to drive the truck across the field and park as close to gate as possible. This worked fine for a while until the bull figured me out. He then would lay each time I hunted along side the truck to wait on me. NO FUN!. Thank goodness the farmer got tired of this mean ole cuss.
"My pucker factor went from normal to not able to crap a greased needle"
Gotta love it. Not laughing at you, just with you. Well, maybe at you a little bit. Great story Grapes.
if you cross a pasture don't use a white lite, even calm cattle will come to it. I walk through our pasture to hunt, a green lite works best for me.
been around cattle all my life, if you will yell at them they will (usually ) stop and leave you alone.bulls don't bother me as much as a cow with a calf. almost ran over before by them. off the top of my head thought i was done for twice!maybe wear your "keds" and carry your boots
Thanks for the laugh! I've been chased by things big and hairy (besides my ex-wife) and it is always good for an adrenaline rush!
funny story.i am glad you are ok,steve
Thanks for the story, I read it to my wife and we both had a laugh. I had a simular experience while coon hunting years ago as a teen. I can relate about the bull.
Thanks again!
Grapes..........Let me guess? You weren't raised on a farm? LOL.
Thanks for the story!
BCWV, I also had a few encounters with bull while coon hunting 35+ years ago.
Thanks. That's funny. If you'd have hit hte electric fence you;d have been between a rock & hard place.
I love cows..........
That had me chuckling something fierce. Thank you for sharing the tale. Is this a new meaning for "Mad Cow"?
Butch L
Imagine the funny story the cows are tellin' each other..... :)
I can relate. We raised black angus when I was young, and they made crossing our pasture at night an adventure. However, even our bull was a big teddy bear compared to my neighbor's bison, when I lived in Washington. One time, I had to save a couple of kids from being ground into paste by them. The cows had overturned a fourwheeler and had chased the kids up a wispy little apple tree. Those buffalo were literally foaming at the mouth and pawing the ground. It was a terrifying scene. I chased them off with a couple of shots of my .45, but they didn't go far. Somehow, I made it back to the fence with a couple of 11 year olds clinging to me like grim death. The buffalo charged at us several times and the big male bent up the gate. I was puckered up real good for a while.
Hehehe...
I've had a few run in's - one particularly mean bull with tag B-52 - had all of us kids who used to holiday on the farm terrified. We still cut through his paddock though as it was a huge shortcut - brave or lazy?
Great job on the visualization through words.
Caused me to openly chuckle.
Thanks for sharing.
Grapes,
I read this post and then just saw your " Ever had the feeling" post a few threads down.
........ This must have been the feeling.
Outstanding. As Patrick McManus says, there are only two types of cows, fast mean cows and slow mean cows. You apparently ran into the fast mean ones.
That's a great story. You made me laugh too. They sound like a bunch of yearling heifers the way they were acting.
QuoteOriginally posted by Milk River Stickman:
That's a great story. You made me laugh too. They sound like a bunch of yearling heifers the way they were acting.
No, I stopped and talked to the owner tonight. She told me they are all pregnant cows in the pasture and one bull. Tonight was uneventful, and it was a good night to walk around the pasture this time. I just know that when they were staring me down tonight on my way in, they were doing that little cow laugh they do everytime my limp, from yesterday, showed.
Grapes,
I thought I was the only one this has ever happened to...I felt as if I was in Africa and the cape Buffalo herd was cirleling me...I made it to the lane in time as well and learned to stay very close to the fence when going back...It's very hard to see Black Angus in the black of night and even harder to determine which one is the Bull...Next time just tell the cows you eat chicken... :laughing:
Great story! Made me laugh.
:D That was a good one.I am sure a few sweat beads appeared on your forhead also.
Great job of exiting stage right. We used to have a few black angus cattle for the kids for 4-H and our own consumption. Although a fairly timid animal a cow with calf you had to watch your back.
Been there before...I have cleared a lot of fences with one leap. I grew up on a farm with cows so I know how they can be.