NAV Report post Posted November 7, 2022 So as I'm approach my COW hunt on 11/11/22, I'm wondering if anyone can help with tips to ID a COW ELK at 200-400 yards as opposed to a antlerless ELK... I'm just worried about mistaking a COW with an male ELK with nubs...don't want to make that mistake... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
5guyshunting Report post Posted November 7, 2022 My son killed a 7 or 8 month old bull with no nubs. I think by the next antler cycle he would have been a spike. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stanley Report post Posted November 7, 2022 35 minutes ago, NAV said: So as I'm approach my COW hunt on 11/11/22, I'm wondering if anyone can help with tips to ID a COW ELK at 200-400 yards as opposed to a antlerless ELK... I'm just worried about mistaking a COW with an male ELK with nubs...don't want to make that mistake... From the regulations: "Legal Animal Definition Bull elk means an antlered elk. Antlered means having an antler fully erupted through the skin and capable of being shed. Antlerless means any elk, any age, without antlers." I don't think 'nubs' shed. Either way, I can't imagine a G&F officer would issue a citation for killing one with nubs. (Plus, the likelihood of running into a G&F officer to even get checked is VERY low, IMO....) Kill one with nubs and walk with a clear conscience! S. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues247 Report post Posted November 8, 2022 I've seen several hunters shoot yearling bulls on an antlerless hunt. Therefore the reasoning of an antlerless hunt vs a cow hunt. If it were a "cow" hunt there would be a lot of illegal kills every year. Nubs can't be shed, therefore they are antlerless. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NAV Report post Posted November 8, 2022 Good morning and thanks for the replies, the reason I'm worried about it is because hearing camp stories...one of my hunting buddies told me that in one of his elk hunts "they" shot a "cow" at about 200 yards and by the time they got to it "she" had like an inch nubs or I guess spikes...supposably they called G&F and they were not fined(cut them a break I guess for the accidental/mistake kill), but were "given the option" to donate the meat to food bank in flagstaff...nice break, but their hunt was ruined...and I'm just trying to be as careful as I can, not expecting/planning to shoot past 250 yards, but just worried about the "nubs". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NAV Report post Posted November 8, 2022 16 hours ago, stanley said: From the regulations: "Legal Animal Definition Bull elk means an antlered elk. Antlered means having an antler fully erupted through the skin and capable of being shed. Antlerless means any elk, any age, without antlers." I don't think 'nubs' shed. Either way, I can't imagine a G&F officer would issue a citation for killing one with nubs. (Plus, the likelihood of running into a G&F officer to even get checked is VERY low, IMO....) Kill one with nubs and walk with a clear conscience! S. Got you... not a COW hunt, it is an antlerless hunt... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CatfishKev Report post Posted November 8, 2022 At 200-400 you should be able to see if it's a spike through your binos. Just look close you will be fine. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Northern Pintail Report post Posted November 12, 2022 It’s antlerless. If for some reason a bull would shed his antlers during a hunt and you shot him it would be legal because he didn’t have antlers. The tag is not for a specific sex, it’s for antlers or no shedable antlers. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigorange Report post Posted November 12, 2022 I think you’re overthinking this. A bull with spikes that you couldn’t easily see at 200-400 yds seems very uncommon. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
