I finally drew an elk (cow) tag for South Dakota's black hills. I will be using a black widow, not worried about my equipment too much. However, I have never hunted for a Cow elk before, and I'm having a difficult time finding Cow elk specific information. I would appreciate any tips or direction to find information. Or even better, someone with experience who would share. Thanks in advance!

https://gfp.sd.gov/elk/

Also, click on the Bowsite tab above and then navigate to the state forum.

If it is hot, hunt high. If it is wet, lots of rain, They may be lower. Dry, hunt the north slopes near water holes. Learn to Cow call and depend less on bugling.Play the thermals and zig zag up and down the mountain. Never rule out using a climber to hunt wallows. Shalom

All of the above!

By the time season opens some of the cows have lost their calves. They are very susceptible to a calf distress call.

Just like satellite bulls, try to pick the one off that's off on her own, not buried in the middle of the group...no matter how bad you want that great big fat cow laying in the middle of all the others. They'll pick you off every time! Take the first one you get a chance at and be happy. Other than that, don't pressure them. Stay back and observe the herd for a day or two, learn their patterns, as they're quite predictable and follow the same habits from day to day if they're not pressured. See what trails they're using and set up only after you have them patterned...you might only get one chance. If it's hot and dry look for them buried in the willows along little streams; those willow flats can hold a ton of hidden elk even though they don't look like typical elk habitat. Lastly, the less noise you make, even calling, the further ahead you are I believe. Be a ninja and don't let 'em have the slightest hint you're around. Cows more than bulls won't tolerate pressure, so the less you make yourself known the better off you'll be.

hoochie mama

It is pretty humid here in upstate New York and I may not be firing on all cylinders. I was confused. Tips? Antler tips? Cows don't have antler tips.

Have an excellent trip, best wishes from here.

Hunt them like you would elk, period. Spend time glassing and seeing what's there and where. Find waterholes, run cameras on trails. You can call cows in just like you can a bull with cow calls. And sometimes they come running into cow and calve calls. It's not as hard as most guys think or believe.

If it’s anything like Kentucky elk I’d watch the food sources and plan an ambush on there way in or out.

If you run into a sheep herder up high, a bottle of Whiskey and he will tell you where they are. Shalom

LOL Sam, yep the sheep herders definitely know where the elk are. Ain’t they supposed to be gone by Aug. 30?

Cows are allot easier to call in early season. Like lamb suggested, hoochi mama is a great option for an inexperienced hunter, they sound great..

I have had 4 cow tags in the black hills. Killed 3. Like above post, I like distr ess call. Sparingly. Tree stand water hole in eve. With calf distress every 30 min. Thirdly I hunt the bulls by sound. They will be downwind many times. They know where the cows are. Hunt the bulls. Shoot the cow.

Good luck

This is from a commercial site, but very true.

Hmmmm... I have bought some of that stuff in the past few weeks! 8^)

ya me too! lol

Thanks for the information. I definetly wont be picky on what elk provides me the best oppertunity. Hopefully in 2 months I'll be posting photos!

Just remember One Thing:

A calf Elk is still one Very Big deer!

It’s all good....

With the exception of running cameras we hunt like Buglmin. Find any elk and you will find cows hopefully before the one hidden cow finds you. BARK! With point creep I'll probably spend the rest of my life hunting cows.

Cows can be very vocal. Get a good cow call and practice with it. I have cow called near a water hole in the afternoon without an elk in sight. The hill came alive with cows answering back and then they proceeded to move right towards the watering hole. Maybe they felt more secure thinking another animal was already at the water hole. Have fun and good shooting.

if you're gonna walk/stalk be in GREAT shape... more miles = more opportunity to come across your cow. If you're gonna stand hunt... you still have to hunt hard. My guide told me once... "don't be moving around in that stand... those elk have nothing to do all day long except decide if they want to drink out of that water hole. It's nothing for them to stand just out of eye-shot and just "decide" for hours." Good luck.

I have shot 5 bulls,,, that is enough for me,,, all DIY bust your ass hunts

I now shoot only cows, since I love eating elk meat,,,,,

this year I will be in a Utah unit, for cows or spikes best deal out there

what gets the cows going, is if I have to use a call a hand call rabbit distress call works well

I'd sit on a waterhole

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here