I hunt on 100 acres that my wife's grandmother owns. A friend of my wife's cousin has a cattle lease on the property. But for the last 2 years, he hasn't used it. This year, 2 weeks before season, he put 20 or so cows on it. Not only have they broken a feeder, and the mounting hardware on my game camera, but every time I hunt, they are close by. Every time I get here, they are up by the gate, and they follow me to my part of the property. Today I decided to go sit in the brushier area of the place, and they followed me in there, and started eating every kernel of corn I put down. So I went back to my blind. I can currently count 14 cows standing in the field my blind overlooks. I've seen a couple of deer this season, but only on the very rare occasions the cows aren't close by. A feeder pen won't help, my feeder is currently broken anyways, so there isn't any corn on the ground. This is making deer season a lot less enjoyable this year. Rant over.

Yes, welcome to Texas in the hunting season. I chase cows off a few times a season. Some places are worse than others. But 100 acres and 20 head will know everything that comes and goes and be curious.

Bring a couple sacks of range cubes for them. Should buy you a little time.

I think I start feeding them at the gate when I get here. Maybe that will keep them away.

Hay takes them longer to eat than cubes. Take 'em about 4 bales when you go out there and dump it all by the gate.

Cheaper too.

Yep. If they have grazed off all the grass and aren't getting fed regularly, they are hungry. If you have a truck or diesel like the owner that could cause problems too. I've done my fair share of battling cows, I feel your pain.

Good ideas ! Cows have messed out place up this season as well. Last year we had deer every time I went. This year not so much

I've seen more deer on a 150 acre tract that I hunt that has no feeder or food plots and about 30 head of cattle, than another tract that has both a feeder and a food plot and no cows. I'm seeing more deer on the tract that has more acorn trees on it. It's just a matter of finding the routes they use to hit the acorns. The biggest buck I've seen was on the tract with cows.

feeder pen
wrist rocket
sack of marbles at family dollar store

They get fed regularly. I think they are more curious than hungry. And there is still a ton of tall grass all over our place.

I use creep feed it's smaller then range cubes and will keep them there for hours

How much did you pay to hunt the 100 acres?

I will never hunt a property with cows again, or any livestock for that matter.

Zero dollars. Which is why I'm venting to y'all, and not to anybody else. Haha.

Hunting with livestock makes it more.... interesting?

I hunted with a friend of mine this past weekend. It's about a 100 acres with 30-35 cows on it. No feeders or plots. Just hunting trails and funnels. We saw 31 deer in 4 hunts. This is in an area of East Texas where you do not usually see that many deer. Acorns, trails, and some kind of scrubby looking tree with big leaves was the ticket. I do not know yet what kind of tree, but I'm looking to plant some. Almost every deer we saw came to these trees and were eating the leaves as the fell to the ground like candy.

Lol. I have my land leased with cows right now. I don't really mind it that much when I get lease check.

FWIW - T post the feeder legs to keep the cows from messing with it. Turn your spinner on high to throw the corn as far as it will go. Cows usually won't mess with in cause it's too much work to pick up each piece but they will eat a pile of corn in a few minutes. I do that on mine and I get a few cows on the feeder but still get a ton of deer, pigs, and turkey coming to that feeder. Like mentioned above, cows become accustomed to a truck. When I hunt that blind, I park the furthest away and walk in. They will usually stay by the truck for awhile and spread out. Eventually the wildlife will return to the feeder.

I doubt that would be appreciated!

Feeder pen.

By the cows? I don't think he was planning on hitting the owners.

When I bought my place in 2004, I refused to lease it for cattle despite many offers. Best decision I ever made.

Cattle Trump Deer...


End of Conversation

Like others have said - a couple sacks of range cubes - but don't do it right at the gate. Otherwise you're going to have cows crowding the gate every time you pull up and that becomes a PITA. Also, don't dump them in one pile. Walk and dump them in a long line - that will keep them all busy a little longer.