The effect of cattle on deer

[RifleBowPistol]

Where we used to live, the deer did not like the cattle at all. If they heard cows heading their direction, they were gone long before the cows were anywhere close. I have to admit those were the dumbest cattle I have ever been around in my life. I would bet the cattle did dumb stuff, that I never saw happen, that the deer wanted no part of. I really don't know why those deer were afraid of the cattle, but they were very afraid of the cattle.
I have been on many other ranches, were the deer and cattle would eat together. We used to keep track of the cattle, to know what the deer were doing, on most places.
Where we live now, there is a bull that has run wild for years, from what I understand. The doe keep their distance from him, they run a short distance when he shows up, but they don't leave, they come back and keep 15 yards or so between them and him. The other day, the bull was around and a group of four bucks showed up, they were not bothered by the bull at all. I watched two of the bucks eating corn within 10 ft. of the bull, with no concern for him at all.
It seems different cattle and deer have different views on each other. Most places I have been the deer don't seem bothered by cattle much at all. We actually used to make as much noise as possible, such as breaking branches, not walking quietly to try and sound like cattle moving through brush on ranches we knew the deer were not bothered by the cattle at all. It seemed to work at times.

[clayree]

With cows present the deer are not. When the cows mosey on down the path the deer reappear.

[Jerry H]

I have never hunted a place that didn't have cattle on it.

[Big pig]

I fence cows out of my feeders and food plots.
Otherwise, they hang around longer.
My deer will leave if the Cattle come into sight. (Same with a herd of pigs)
On my own property, the neighbor leases the grazing and rotates them out during hunting season.
After reading all the above comments, can you imagine how many deer would prefer to be on your place compared to neighbors if there were no cows, pickups feeding them or 4 wheeler traffic on your place.

[lovemylegacy]

Is fencing my food plots going to be a must?


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Depends on if you want a foodplot or not.

[Cookiemonster1]

I have one cow that tears crap up but she calves every year and is a good momma so can't get rid of her. She tore my sons feed pen and feeder completely up and recently tore mine down also. We have gone exclusively to connected panels and she bent the heck out of one of the panels trying to get to our cotton seed on one of our setups but it held.

[Beargrasstx]

Cows are terrible for deer habitat, growing food plots, and putting out feed. Plus, deer don't care to be around them. Sure you will have deer and can fence your area but you won't have as many as you would.

[jcamp]

So if you guys could choose putting a few head of cattle on a place to keep an exemption or leave an open pasture open to cut hay to keep it that would be the better option for deer? My thought was put cattle which would allow me to thicken that open pasture up.


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[KX500]

I hunted a relatives cattle farm for a few years. About 200 acres of fields & pasture with almost none of it good for deer hunting - just not enough woods. But there was one little corner of the pasture that butted up against some woods that deer moved through all the time. Of the 200 acres, I was literally hunting 2 acres.

If the cattle were anywhere near my 2 acres, I knew it wouldn't be very good. The deer just stayed away. Fortunately, most times the cattle hung out further away.

One morning, the cattle were too close. A young buck came from an adjoining property thru some tall grass. He was just feeding, doing what deer do, but just not seeing the cattle either. Very amusing as I was pretty sure what was going to happen.

That buck fed to about 10 yards away from the closest cow. He finally looked up thru the grass, saw that cow - and absolutely turned himself inside out getting away from that scary beast! Never seen a deer move faster. It was very funny to watch.

But also an event I'll probably never forget. I'm sure some deer in some places are more tolerant, but not the ones I've seen.

[tkusak]

I think it depends on the number of cows you put on the place. I hunt a place that rotates the cattle through the pasture year around. When the cows get moved into a new pasture, the deer leave that pasture no doubt, but if the cattle are in that pasture for a month or so, the deer start to filter back in. If you are going to add cattle to a place, I think you need to do it asap so the deer can get back into a routine with the cows around.

[Mexico]

We have cows, all our neighbors have cows. When our fawns hit the ground I believe the second thing they see after their mother is a cow...they grew up with them and tolerate them. If we have cows walking down a sendero they are on, they just step aside and let them pass... and then pop right back out.

[jcamp]

I appreciate all the replies fellas



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[Buckwheat]

We hunt with cattle and goats(dogs with goats). It has affected us but not enough for us to find a different lease.


“There's more fun in hunting with the handicap of the bow than there is in hunting with the sureness of the gun.” -Fred Bear-

[Bobcat]

So if you guys could choose putting a few head of cattle on a place to keep an exemption or leave an open pasture open to cut hay to keep it that would be the better option for deer? My thought was put cattle which would allow me to thicken that open pasture up.


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Jcamp, there’s nothing wrong with seasonal grazing but the timing and degree of impact is critical. Proper grazing can actually revitalize an area much like a burn. Would you burn your place when it’s most critical to your goals & target species or when the vegetation. Is less apt to recover quickly, no. Just a matter of timing and utilization.

Bigger issue is making sure your plan is documented. Some people will manage a pasture like “a lot” meaning it’s a place the cattle reside and they eat what grows and what’s brought to them. So their impact on the ecosystem is 2nd or 3rd consideration. Result: no grass/forbs 3 to 4 months of the year and overall less than agreeable circumstances for providing preferred “naturally” occurring food, water, and cover.
Range though depends on what is grown so impact is conservative to allow for utility through ongoing rejuvenation. Never collapsing the grazing resource, stocking correctly and moving appropriately to maintain utility for other species that utilize that ecosystem.

[sierracharlie338]

Well i May be poop out of luck on only 19 acres then. May just not see deer


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Not necessarily. Most guys seem to have the same experiences as I have over the years. Deer will share the same properties with cattle but won't come into a feeder if the cattle are around. Definitely fence your feeders because the cattle will rub on and knock over your feeders and probably damage them. make the pens bigger than you think.

Good luck this season!