"Cows" or "Coos"?

bullskin · Jun 20, 2023

I have heard it pronounced both ways, so what do the locals who actually hunt Coues deer call them? Any help here, Captain? (Asking for a guy who calls L.A. "Las" Angeles...)

Joe2Kool · Jun 20, 2023

L.A. is Lower Alabama where I'm from!

Regarding the pronunciation, I thought it was coos. But then I heard cows. But, I'm a southern boy so I don't really know!

Steve Oz · Jun 20, 2023

The correct pronunciation is cows. Everyone who is anyone, even the biologists in charge of them say coos. You will fit in better saying coos.

nfh · Jun 20, 2023

Homer · Jun 20, 2023

Steve Oz said:
The correct pronunciation is cows. Everyone who is anyone, even the biologists in charge of them say coos. You will fit in better saying coos.

the guy they were named for pronounced his name..."cows"

Pre-64 · Jun 20, 2023

In one of O’Connor’s books he stated the correct way is ”cows”, I’ll see if I can find what book it is in.

roadrunner · Jun 20, 2023

Coos.

Otherwise you'll sound like a Utahn trying to pronounce Jicarilla.

bullskin · Jun 20, 2023

Joe2Kool said:
L.A. is Lower Alabama where I'm from!

Regarding the pronunciation, I thought it was coos. But then I heard cows. But, I'm a southern boy so I don't really know!

I definitely prefer your version...

WHT_MTNMAN · Jun 21, 2023

Well my father was a stickler for correct pronunciation so I was taught growing up it was COWS, almost everyone else says COOS so I quickly changed my pronunciation as to not sound condescending or superior. Over the years of asking French speakers and looking at french pronunciations, I'm fairly certain that Elliot Coues did not pronounce his name COWS but COUSE as in HOUSE. (who knows for sure) But alas I still say COOS most of the time.
I do have a few of them.

Captain_coues · Jun 21, 2023

“Cows” is correct. Everyone I know calls them “Coos”. I think “Coos” sounds better than “Cows”. Cows means a lot of things and “Coos” can only mean one thing, Deer. It’s the one thing that’s acceptable to say wrong with me.

roadrunner · Jun 21, 2023

So, should it be pronounced Cari-bow instead of Cari-boo???

AZGuy · Jun 21, 2023

Coos, or youl’ll sound like a Homer.

Old_Cohntr6 · Jul 18, 2023

LOL +1AZguy
Most locals just call them whitetail. LOL

dihardhunter · Jul 21, 2023

Coos sounds right but guessing the guy they are named after would probably have expected them to be pronounced like his name.

Homer · Jul 21, 2023

"Elliot Coues did not pronounce his name COWS but COUSE as in HOUSE. (who knows for sure) But alas I still say COOS most of the time."

....I'm betting this is correct....^^

azbow · Aug 4, 2023

WHT_MTNMAN said:
Well my father was a stickler for correct pronunciation so I was taught growing up it was COWS, almost everyone else says COOS so I quickly changed my pronunciation as to not sound condescending or superior. Over the years of asking French speakers and looking at french pronunciations, I'm fairly certain that Elliot Coues did not pronounce his name COWS but COUSE as in HOUSE. (who knows for sure) But alas I still say COOS most of the time.
I do have a few of them.

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Amazing wall!

100%DIYAZCOUES · Sep 22, 2023

It’s technically couse, but EVERYONE calls them coos… you’d definitely label yourself an out of stater or new hunter calling them cows….if the matching set of designer camo didn’t give it away first!

lex · Sep 22, 2023

Pre-64 said:
In one of O’Connor’s books he stated the correct way is ”cows”, I’ll see if I can find what book it is in.

One place he states it is in 'Hunting on Three Continents Vol. 1' (pg. 150 in my copy).

I stick with 'coos' in polite society, but if the language police on MM want to start a 'cows' movement then I'm game

LIK2HNT · Sep 22, 2023

WHT_MTNMAN said:
Well my father was a stickler for correct pronunciation so I was taught growing up it was COWS, almost everyone else says COOS so I quickly changed my pronunciation as to not sound condescending or superior. Over the years of asking French speakers and looking at french pronunciations, I'm fairly certain that Elliot Coues did not pronounce his name COWS but COUSE as in HOUSE. (who knows for sure) But alas I still say COOS most of the time.
I do have a few of them.

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And some damn nice ones at that!!

Largebull · Sep 27, 2023

That Is as Good of a Coues wall as you will see. Fantastic. You have worn out some boots and used lottsa Glass. Congrats on the hard work!...................BULL!

2lumpy · Oct 4, 2023

WHT_MTNMAN said:
Well my father was a stickler for correct pronunciation so I was taught growing up it was COWS, almost everyone else says COOS so I quickly changed my pronunciation as to not sound condescending or superior. Over the years of asking French speakers and looking at french pronunciations, I'm fairly certain that Elliot Coues did not pronounce his name COWS but COUSE as in HOUSE. (who knows for sure) But alas I still say COOS most of the time.
I do have a few of them.

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Plane as day. No cows on that wall.

Blank · Oct 10, 2023

I solved my pronunciation dilemma years ago when I started hunting them by just calling them whitetails, like everybody else in southern AZ !!!

Homer · Oct 26, 2023

whatever they are called.....they are by far the best tablefare venison.....

Tikka · Dec 13, 2023

Homer said:
whatever they are called.....they are by far the best tablefare venison.....

I would have to agree, Kodiak blacktails are a close second….

COAltitude · Tuesday at 9:04 PM

Steve Oz said:
The correct pronunciation is cows. Everyone who is anyone, even the biologists in charge of them say coos. You will fit in better saying coos.

That's correct. I tried to change the way people say it and they correct me lol

grizzly · Tuesday at 10:59 PM

K. Now is it Stone Sheep or Stone's Sheep?

COAltitude · Tuesday at 11:14 PM

grizzly said:
K. Now is it Stone Sheep or Stone's Sheep?

Definitely Stone.

Bluehair · Wednesday at 6:48 AM

grizzly said:
K. Now is it Stone Sheep or Stone's Sheep?

For a lot of us 3/4 guys, it’s pronounced “Uni-corn”.

HntHrdr · Wednesday at 7:16 AM

WHT_MTNMAN said:
Well my father was a stickler for correct pronunciation so I was taught growing up it was COWS, almost everyone else says COOS so I quickly changed my pronunciation as to not sound condescending or superior. Over the years of asking French speakers and looking at french pronunciations, I'm fairly certain that Elliot Coues did not pronounce his name COWS but COUSE as in HOUSE. (who knows for sure) But alas I still say COOS most of the time.
I do have a few of them.

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Amazing collection of them!