A few times this year the field near the river where we fish has had large numbers of Cows, Bulls or Bullocks (I dont know the difference) roaming around in large numbers. I find them quite intimidating as they dont move when you walk towards them and even move towards you. I may be paranoid but are there any top tips about moving through large numbers of Cows, Bulls or Bullocks? I know it may sound pathetic to real country folk.

they will pose no threat

people with dogs have problems as the cows will perceive them as threatening and cows with young calves may not like you getting in between them.

cows are entirely familiar with people, they may even come towards you s they will associate a person with feed....but they are harmless, I have been around them for many years from a young child and never had a problem


the recent deaths were all associated with dog walkers.

I cant really offer any advice on how to deal with them as I just go about my normal business around them...just act normally, no need to run at them or shout at them, startled animals can run, but not always in the direction you might want them to. you can always go round them and if you are already in place its entirely possible they are just curious, or think you are there to feed them.

Good advice there. They are very intimadating thats for sure though, but just ignore them.

One time back in my coarse fishing past I was fishing a small pond for rudd. It was very warm, and I was dozing slightly, sitting on my seat box. Awoke with a start when a cow licked the back of my neck!!!!!!
Nearly did a forward roll into the pond!!!

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It is in truth not glory,nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting,but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with his life.(Declaration of Arbroath, 1320)

As Ginger says, domestic cattle are used to people and pose absolutely no threat under normal circumstances.If they come towards you (and they probably will) it is because they think you are the farmer coming to feed them.

I fish a river that often has cows next to it in the fields and have not had any problems. They are often curious and will some times come close up and seem to be watching you but eventually they move off and continue grazing.

However if I see a sign saying beware of the bull or I know that there is a bull in the field I am very cautious and often don't bother with that stretch of river. Where as cows are docile a bull can be agressive, I had a bad experience with a bull when checking out a beat on the River Earn in Perthshire several years ago. Luckily as I was just looking and not fishing I was carrying no gear and being several years younger than I am now I was a bit fitter and could run faster.

I didn't bother getting a ticket to fish that beat!

Best advice is just to be a bit wary when cattle are about and have an escape route.

Agree with the above but you should make it your business to be able to identify bulls. Have a look online or get someone to show you the differences. Bulls are to be treated with extreme caution.
Part of the beat I fish has cattle on it, they love to crowd around to snuff and lick at everything and are a right nuisance tbh. Had a close one earlier this year while sitting changing fly, one of the buggers had just got the tip section of my Scott in its mouth for a good chew when i noticed just in time.

I think as with most animals do not trust it 100% not to give you trouble, always keep a eye on them and their movements.

If your fishing a river alongside their field with a high banking and your fishing from a flat area you may be in their only drinking spot. You might get a few trying to nudge you out of the way.

Watch especially on the backcast that you don't indvertently hook one, nothing worse that seeing a 1 ton cow flying through the air on your flyline. Won't do the rod any good.

Firstly, if you don't know the difference, it's very important that you learn to differentiate between the cows, bullocks (!) and bulls because in normal circumstances only bulls pose a real threat.

Simply....cows have udders with four tits!!! you will see these no problem and cows form no threat!

Bullocks don't have anything (their bal*s have been cut off when they were young because the farmer didn't want a bull) Bullocks are much bolder than cows and will follow you ....very closely at times but will not harm you unless you make them jumpy i.e. behave like an idot or like you are scared...even then just think of them as being very very curious. Ignore the slabbers and heavy breathing!!

Bulls (you'll notice large dangling bal*s...sound familiar??) and need serious respect, especially in the autumn when they are put in the field to do the business, if you get my drift. Personally, I wouldn't enter a field with a bull in it.....some are docile, even pet like, but others can be blo*dy dangerous, and you don't know what sort they are until it's too late. Most are untrustworth at the best of times, depending on the breed...Freisians (can't spell that) can be total bast**ds....the black and white ones. Another thing, a bull can be in a field with say twenty cows or more, so check carefully.

Lastly.....and very importantly....don't be an idiot and take a dog with you....all of the above don't like that and you are placing yourself in real danger....cows will surround you and appear aggressive, bullocks will do the same only more so and may well attack and bulls may just kill it or you or both..they don't care. As someone rightly said earlier, most deaths are due to the presence of a dog.

Went on longer that I expected, but I hope this helps......I lived in the countryside most of my life and know the form, and I recognise it isn't easy for a town dweller to have any knowledge of this...take care .....

They are intimidating i must admit , a small river in shropshire i fish has cows in it and bull and bullocks , i find the young bullocks seem to come towards you , I have in the past got in the river to pass them but this year braved it and walked slowly through the heard .but I kept distance from the bull , he looked slow but he was big!

hi if you dont bother them they wont bother you as previously said cattle and dogs dont mix they might want to check you out thats all just try not to be intimadated and you will be ok.