Domestic Cattle (Bos taurus) is in the Bovids family (Bovidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,113 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Domestic Cattle: observations by month (U.S.)
About Domestic Cattle
Cattle—colloquially cows—are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos taurus.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Domestic Cattle by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 195 | July | Mar–Jul |
| Texas | 138 | April | Aug–Jun |
| Utah | 85 | July | Mar–Sep |
| Nevada | 81 | May | Apr–Sep |
| New Mexico | 57 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Oregon | 50 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Colorado | 48 | August | Aug–Oct |
| Hawaii | 44 | July | Dec–Jul |
| Florida | 35 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Idaho | 35 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Wyoming | 34 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Arizona | 29 | August | Mar–Oct |
| Washington | 26 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Montana | 24 | July | May–Sep |
| California | 20 | May | May–Jun |
| Georgia | 16 | February | Jan–Feb |
| North Dakota | 15 | July | Apr–Aug |
| Alabama | 14 | February | Nov–May |
| Nebraska | 14 | February | Feb–Aug |
| South Dakota | 13 | June | May–Aug |
| Alaska | 11 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Arkansas | 11 | April | Apr–Apr |
| North Carolina | 11 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Kansas | 9 | March | Feb–Jun |
| Mississippi | 9 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Tennessee | 9 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kentucky | 8 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Virginia | 8 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 8 | May | May–May |
| New Hampshire | 6 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Pennsylvania | 6 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Massachusetts | 5 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Minnesota | 5 | June | Jun–Jun |
| West Virginia | 5 | July | Jul–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Bovids)
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Domestic Cattle?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from February to December.
Where is Domestic Cattle most often seen?
The most observations come from Oklahoma, Texas, Utah.