How can you be stupid enough to shoot a cow? Most cows weigh at least 950 lbs. Calves only weigh less than 200 for about a month. Besides the fact the way a calf walks is completely different from the way a deer walks. When I amchecking cows late in the afternoon,I carry a gun during deer season. I have never even had to look twice to know whether or not it is a deer or just a calf separated from the group.