How does grazing cows affect your hunting area

[Ride Red]

Not sure what you farmed but it wasn't cattle .... cows love thistles . You are right about a lot of seeds being transferred by sticking to hides etc .
As far as hunting where cows graze .... it's awesum because they mask your scent and any bush noise . I have walked up to numerous bucks at very close range when cows are in the area .

Do you know what a thistle looks like or a cow for that matter? They are sharp/prickly and cows don't like them. My inlaws have 3000 acres in the Chilcotin with one very distinct patch of thistle in which everything around has be grazed on but every single thistle is still in tact. When we fed hay that had the odd thistle in the bale, it was the only thing left behind.

[Ride Red]

Cattle are transported to varying ranges throughout this province by a transport when sold at auction or from private ranches.

I'd also suggest you re-think your statement that they not eat weeds. I live in ranch country and have cattle grazing on my property during the summer/fall. Here in the Okanagan this is a common method of transfer. Certainly they don't eat every kind of weed but they do eat some.

Do they eat thistle as you stated previously?

[Ride Red]

overgrazing allows room for the non grazed invasives to spread at a quicker rate..cows move alot of burdock and thistle around for sure.

I won't dispute this as cattle aren't grazing on them which allows these plants to go to seed, thus spreading themselves out.

[labguy]

Do they eat thistle as you stated previously?

I did not state that previously. I stated they eat weeds and poop out the seeds, I also states they don't eat all weeds. Grasping at straws here?

[adriaticum]

Here is a manual on how to train cattle to eat thistle.
From BC cattlemen's association.

https://www.cattlemen.bc.ca/docs/pre...4904173555.pdf

[Ride Red]

I did not state that previously. I stated they eat weeds and poop out the seeds, I also states they don't eat all weeds. Grasping at straws here?

spread of noxious weeds: Anyone who has even an elementary knowlege of what constitutes "noxious" weeds can see that cattle are a major contributor to their spread. Knappweed, Canada thistle, Russian thistle, sulphur sancfoil. Milk thistle, and a host of others are now commonplace throughout most of the province. These weeds are introduced to new ranges through seeds attaching themselves to the coats on cattle or through their excrement.

[Ride Red]

Here is a manual on how to train cattle to eat thistle.
From BC cattlemen's association.

https://www.cattlemen.bc.ca/docs/pre...4904173555.pdf

Very interesting; Thanks for the link.

[willyqbc]

Probably the biggest mule deer ive personally laid my hands on....a big 9x9....was shot feeding in amongst some cows. Almost wonder if the smart ones use a bunch of cows as "sentries"?

[Mudsey]

I was stalking a bull elk in a rolling field and when out of sight started jogging to cover ground. There were cattle there and they started running along with me, I slowed down and the cows lost interested and I stalked the rest of the way up the hill finishing by belly crawling until in range of my bull.

[Dannybuoy]

Very interesting; Thanks for the link.

Apology accepted .... maybe you had a few finicky cows ....