boondocks
Well-known member
Had to field-kill our first cow today. She was a pretty friendly cow (age 3) until a few weeks ago, when we tried to run her through the chute (along with the others) for vaccinations. She got flighty and busted out a fence. She was in heat at the time so we were annoyed but figured she'd chill. Tried to catch her a few days ago and she pulled the same trick only worse (busted through one fence, landed in the water tank and broke it, got up and ran through a second fence. Almost took us with her).
Here's the weird thing. 3 guys met me to do the deed early this am. All experienced lifelong hunters; one is a cop (who's butchered every animal known) and one is the actual butcher. It took five (!!!!!) direct shots to the head at point blank range. Butcher said he'd never seen anything like it; so did the cop. She was walking around like it was a Nerf gun after 3 shots, slowed down a bit after the fourth, and fell after 5. They were all slack-jawed.
It didn't bother me that much; mostly I am glad we got her gone before she hurt someone. She left us no choice so my conscience is clean. (So, why do I feel a bit....somber?).
When I went to check on the rest of the herd this eve, they are all watching me very warily (as they witnessed the dirty deed; couldn't be helped). Will this make them more skittish, or will they forget about it? We don't treat them as pets but do spend time around them, breed for temperament and have been complimented several times lately (by folks who are real cow people) on our herd's docility. I really hope this one stupid cow hasn't hosed up just more than herself.....Will they get over witnesssing their herdmate shot right next to them, leaving blood on ground, 5 loud shots etc? If I'd known it would take that many, I might have tried to shoo some of them away. But then again, she might've bolted...When you have to field-cull for disposition, how do you do it without risking "turning" the more easy-going ones into new squirrelly ones?
Here's the weird thing. 3 guys met me to do the deed early this am. All experienced lifelong hunters; one is a cop (who's butchered every animal known) and one is the actual butcher. It took five (!!!!!) direct shots to the head at point blank range. Butcher said he'd never seen anything like it; so did the cop. She was walking around like it was a Nerf gun after 3 shots, slowed down a bit after the fourth, and fell after 5. They were all slack-jawed.
It didn't bother me that much; mostly I am glad we got her gone before she hurt someone. She left us no choice so my conscience is clean. (So, why do I feel a bit....somber?).
When I went to check on the rest of the herd this eve, they are all watching me very warily (as they witnessed the dirty deed; couldn't be helped). Will this make them more skittish, or will they forget about it? We don't treat them as pets but do spend time around them, breed for temperament and have been complimented several times lately (by folks who are real cow people) on our herd's docility. I really hope this one stupid cow hasn't hosed up just more than herself.....Will they get over witnesssing their herdmate shot right next to them, leaving blood on ground, 5 loud shots etc? If I'd known it would take that many, I might have tried to shoo some of them away. But then again, she might've bolted...When you have to field-cull for disposition, how do you do it without risking "turning" the more easy-going ones into new squirrelly ones?