One of them is the lead cow. She got the job by being the meanest, raunchiest old bitch in the herd. They have a pecking order and cows spar all the time as they try to move up in the order. They're also very alert. If one sees or smells something suspicious, she'll trigger the rest to come to full alert and to be ready to move out. OTOH, sometimes it seems like they think there's safety in numbers. A couple times I've stumbled right into a large herd and had them just stand and look at me from less than 50 yds. One time I ran into a herd in black timber. I had several just stand and look at me from 10 yds. That time I had a bull tag and there wasn't a bull to be found.
