Repelling Cows

maceo · May 10, 2012

In one of the fields I fish there is often a large herd of cows.

I'm not bothered by them or anything like that. I grew up in areas sufficiently suburban to be used to them......but...

These ones creep up on you. One minute they're right over the other side of the field with their backs to you, then the next time you happen to glance over your shoulder they're in a steadily decreasing semi-circle closing in on you ominously.

Does anyone have good methods for getting them to move along. A method that doesn't involve jumping around and waving your arms or swishing a landing net handle at them and scaring every fish away for miles in the process?

Even when you do scare them away a short distance like that, they're back doing the same thing again as soon as your back is turned. About 30 of 'em slowly closing in on the bait and tackle.

As a responsible angler, I obviously don't want to do anything that will hurt the cows and upset the farmer.

I must admit that I have resorted to firing little chunks of dried mud at them sometimes with the catapult. Although that seems to work, I'm worried about popping one of them in their eye or something and what can you do when it's wet and muddy and there's no dry mud lumps?

There must be a better way that someone's discovered.

steph mckenzie · May 10, 2012

Just give them back their Cravendale

On a more serious note -: Health and Safety Executive figures show that such attacks are rare. Excluding the recent deaths, 18 people have been killed and 481 injured by cows in the past eight years.

The best way to repel a cow is to stay out of it's way.

peter crabtree · May 10, 2012

Appleford on Thames maybe?
A few years ago I was on the pole down there and suddenly I was surrounded by cattle. I only noticed them close behind me when my pole got nudged, and then shipping out, the butt was covered with cow gob.
Every time I shipped back the bu88ers kept licking it.
I put it down to the salt in my groundbait as they like a salt lick innit..

sam vimes · May 10, 2012

I've failed miserably in every attempt to repel cows. Fortunately, I've successfully avoided marrying one of them.

mick b · May 10, 2012

Hi maceo,
In answer to your question, yes there is a (far) better way.

I assume you would like to fish the 'cow' stretch quite often?
If so you need to ask yourself if you are prepared to approach the cows directly, that is to walk right up to them (unarmed) when they are standing around you.
If the answers to these two questions is yes then pm me and I will tell you how to handle your new admirers!

Whatever you do...... DO NOT fire anything at them with a catapult, cows are worth a lot of money these days and if the farmer saw you all hell would break loose and you would certainly not be fishing there again.

maceo · May 10, 2012

Hi Mick - yes I'll pm you.

I do fish there regularly and no, I'm not worried about walking up to them at all.

barbelboi · May 10, 2012

Just a thought, you don't happen to take a bucket and stool with you by any chance?

Jerry

little oik · May 11, 2012

Its nigh on impossible .Just ignore them and they will go away eventually .
The worst thing you can do is have a bucket (with rattlely stuff ) plastic bag with you . n The farmers over here use both those methods to attract them as they carry calf nuts or something like that to feed them and to entice them.
Have walked into what looks like a clear field to prebait with flaked maize and calf or sheep nuts ground up as a mix . Just about get to the waters edge when you hear a stampede behind you as they can smell the food ,not something I enjoy .
The thing to watch out for is if you have your kit spread out on the bank .I have heard a few sorry tales of rods and kit being trampled on.

tzetze · May 11, 2012

A territorial terrier (capt. obvious) tethered by 15ft. of rope to a secure bankstick does the trick.

chub_on_the_block · May 11, 2012

I had this happen too. I felt like Ivan Marks with the crowd behind me. Coughing and snorting, moving around quietly. But he hidnt have to contend with litres of slobber on his rod bag and net pole.

waggy · May 11, 2012

You've just entered their territory, remember, Maceo, so they've every right to inspect you. When that's done, they soon get bored and move off, usually. The advice about not taking a bucket is sound. Another thing you can do is to take some short bamboos and white cord or tape to set out your own territorial cordon about 10ft around your gear.

barbelboi · May 11, 2012

I tend to be in close proximity to a fair few quite often in a field by a stretch of river I fish. No problem - just be wary when sitting that they don't creep up and give you a pat on the back.
Jerry

watatoad · May 11, 2012

Short of carrying a small portable electric fence I know of no way to keep them away and I fish a lot surrounded by cows who although curious are not as crazy as most of the half insane horses that are around.

mark brailsford 2 · May 11, 2012

maceo said:
In one of the fields I fish there is often a large herd of cows.

I'm not bothered by them or anything like that. I grew up in areas sufficiently suburban to be used to them......but...

These ones creep up on you. One minute they're right over the other side of the field with their backs to you, then the next time you happen to glance over your shoulder they're in a steadily decreasing semi-circle closing in on you ominously.

Does anyone have good methods for getting them to move along. A method that doesn't involve jumping around and waving your arms or swishing a landing net handle at them and scaring every fish away for miles in the process?

Even when you do scare them away a short distance like that, they're back doing the same thing again as soon as your back is turned. About 30 of 'em slowly closing in on the bait and tackle.

As a responsible angler, I obviously don't want to do anything that will hurt the cows and upset the farmer.

I must admit that I have resorted to firing little chunks of dried mud at them sometimes with the catapult. Although that seems to work, I'm worried about popping one of them in their eye or something and what can you do when it's wet and muddy and there's no dry mud lumps?

There must be a better way that someone's discovered.

Ignore the little buggers, they are usually just being nosy and will soon be on there way again.
Reminds me of a sign on a gate in the peak park, ''ENTRY TO THIS FIELD IS FREE, THE BULL WILL CHARGE LATER!

Repelling Cows

maceo

Well-known member

steph mckenzie

Well-known member

peter crabtree

AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)

sam vimes

Well-known member

mick b

Well-known member

maceo

Well-known member

barbelboi

Well-known member

little oik

Well-known member

tzetze

Member

chub_on_the_block

Well-known member

waggy

Well-known member

barbelboi

Well-known member

watatoad

Well-known member

mark brailsford 2

Banned