Spotted my first wolf yesterday while looking for spring bear. I've seen tracks in this unit and know of another hunter who spotted one a couple years ago. The thing is a week earlier and almost to the hour, I was in exact location and had a nice mule deer buck run right up behind me. Never even looked at me just kept running up the ridge. I knew I hadn't spooked him so I back tracked and found it had been running at least a quarter mile. I lost the tracks in heavy timber so don't know how much further it had ran. The thing I was wondering is, since the wolf was on the same ridge and in fact went into the same patch of rock and brush the deer had, could this wolf be hunting this ridge on a regular basis and, in fact, have been the cause of the deer running so far. Anyway the behavior of this buck was unusual as far as my experience with them goes. They usually don't just keep on running once they feel they are out of danger. Another thing, would a wolf be able to kill a mature mule deer on it's own? I don't think this one was fully grown, about the size of a German Shepard. Hate to see them get started here, but looks like they have. Maybe it'll go back to Idaho, I'm sure that's where it came from.
Oregon wolf
- Thread starter badgerbob
- Start date
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Joe Hulburt
Active Member
A single wolf could kill a mature deer alone but they don't need to operate that way, a buddy will show up and they will get it done. They are very well established in Oregon.
Given how disgustingly liberal Oregon has become we will have to sit back and watch them reduce and or eliminate hunting opportunity and there will not be a dang thing done to stop them. I would bet $1,000 on it!
It's indisputable that a single wolf can, and do, kill adult moose, so a mule deer would be no problem. The only correction to this is; wolves disable and eat animals, the animal dies somewhere along the process of being eaten! Not an easy way to go!
If the wolf you saw is a true loner, it's hard to say if he'll stay in the area. Packs often will revisit previous kill sites. It's possible that he'll be around a while or maybe he's eating his way to Nevada or California??
I believe that some animals are far more afraid of a wolf than they are of a man. I had a cow and calf caribou run almost directly at me, coming within 5 feet, pursued by a large single wolf. The caribou knew I was there. Like a dummy, my rifle was in the tent so I never got a shot at the wolf. He saw me and broke off from the caribou chase and ran away. I howled to him and he stopped and answered but stayed out of my range.
If the wolf you saw is a true loner, it's hard to say if he'll stay in the area. Packs often will revisit previous kill sites. It's possible that he'll be around a while or maybe he's eating his way to Nevada or California??
I believe that some animals are far more afraid of a wolf than they are of a man. I had a cow and calf caribou run almost directly at me, coming within 5 feet, pursued by a large single wolf. The caribou knew I was there. Like a dummy, my rifle was in the tent so I never got a shot at the wolf. He saw me and broke off from the caribou chase and ran away. I howled to him and he stopped and answered but stayed out of my range.
In our great state it is illegal to have a loaded firearm on an ATV, so mine was unloaded in the rack. I would have been hard pressed to get off a round anyway. I thought it was a large coyote at first but when it turned and looked at me it had a huge head and it's ears were more rounded than a coyote. I've never seen a wolf before, but at that point I knew. Looked up "wolf images" and there was a photo of one exactly like what I saw. Another thing, the last 6 to 8 inches of the tail was jet black. I never thought about the deer at the time, but later it seemed like a bit too much of a coincidence, maybe not. CC I knew you would suggest what you did, maybe I'll get another chance..
EOHunter
Member
I carry a loaded firearm with me on my ATV almost all the time in Oregon. The only time I don't have a loaded rifle with me is if we are riding with a group and safety of the people riding around me becomes an issue, but I guarantee my CCW is loaded. I also make sure if I am coming up on another vehicle that my muzzle is pointed away from them. If I was ever given a ticket I would use the 2nd Amendment as my defense, just like ODFW found out they couldn't make it illegal for us to carry a firearm during a big game season if we didn't have a tag. I carry one all the time, not to hunt without a tag but if I see a coyote or badger and I don't risk ruining someones hunt I will shoot it. I understand their intentions with that law, but it was unconstitutional just like the law regarding carrying loaded on an ATV is.
That being said, even a loaded rifle secured on an ATV probably would have taken too long to get out and get a shot off!
That being said, even a loaded rifle secured on an ATV probably would have taken too long to get out and get a shot off!
CCW is different, I don't think they could make a case against you for that. It's not an issue with me carrying the rifle unloaded. I only use the ATV to go from one area to another. I don't road hunt on it. Earlier that day I was checked by a BLM Ranger, so good thing I was legal. And yes, in this case, I would have been hard pressed even if the rifle was loaded and slung on my shoulder, to get off a shot. I get their points on safety issues and curbing road hunting. I don't see the difference between rifle being loaded in my jeep and not on the ATV, that's the part that makes no sense. Everyone on an ATV is not road hunting, so it's really a silly law.
EOHunter
Member
I don't see the difference either as far as loaded rifle in a pickup/jeep or an ATV. I actually see more people road hunting in pickups than I do on ATVs. I have even seen people in lawn chairs in the bed of a pickup with an arrow knocked driving down the road. The majority of ATV users I see are running from one hunt area to another or picking up people.
