The other thread, "effect of cattle on deer", got me thinking of another very memorable morning hunt.
I was hunting a very productive spot near a good sized pasture full of cattle. A coyote comes by and I put an arrow into just the right spot and he runs off but dies in the pasture. I think he even gave just a slight, short howl a few seconds before he was done.
Of course it was an exciting event by itself. As I started to calm down I noticed the cattle in the pasture. Every single animal was standing as still as possible, all looking at that dead coyote (or at least in his direction - really not sure how good of eyesight they have). I don't think a single one moved for a full minute or more.
After a little while, the cows closest to the dead coyote very slowly & with great caution, started to work their way towards him. It took the first cow quite a while to finally reach that dead coyote. And then there was a whole lot of sniffing and examining.
I think the most amusing part was that every animal in that field had to come see that coyote. More than one had to touch it with a hoof or give it just a light kick/tap with the hoof, which was followed by a very brief jerk away from the coyote, since I'm sure they half way thought he was getting back up.
They all took turns, but it probably took an hour for them all to check out that dead coyote. None could resist. But then, I imagine life in a pasture could be kind of boring.
Still, very amusing to see.
I was hunting a very productive spot near a good sized pasture full of cattle. A coyote comes by and I put an arrow into just the right spot and he runs off but dies in the pasture. I think he even gave just a slight, short howl a few seconds before he was done.
Of course it was an exciting event by itself. As I started to calm down I noticed the cattle in the pasture. Every single animal was standing as still as possible, all looking at that dead coyote (or at least in his direction - really not sure how good of eyesight they have). I don't think a single one moved for a full minute or more.
After a little while, the cows closest to the dead coyote very slowly & with great caution, started to work their way towards him. It took the first cow quite a while to finally reach that dead coyote. And then there was a whole lot of sniffing and examining.
I think the most amusing part was that every animal in that field had to come see that coyote. More than one had to touch it with a hoof or give it just a light kick/tap with the hoof, which was followed by a very brief jerk away from the coyote, since I'm sure they half way thought he was getting back up.
They all took turns, but it probably took an hour for them all to check out that dead coyote. None could resist. But then, I imagine life in a pasture could be kind of boring.
Still, very amusing to see.
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