Not a bull. Decent sized cow. No calf with her and turned out to be dry. While I wouldn't turn down a nice bull I've always been primarily a meat hunter.
You're right on the condition from animal to animal. I've seen the same thing. Two buddies and I killed three cows on a mid October hunt several years ago. All three were dropped withing 50 yards of each other. Two were thick with fat and one fairly lean although all three were nearly identical in body size.
