Sport Killing

buckbull · Mar 26, 2016

Story is making national headlines now....

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/03/25/wolf-pack-kills-19-wyoming-elk-in-one-night.html?intcmp=hpbt4

go_deep · Mar 26, 2016

buckbull said:
Story is making national headlines now....

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/03/25/wolf-pack-kills-19-wyoming-elk-in-one-night.html?intcmp=hpbt4

MSN even had the story, and they didn't even put a twist to it.
I don't think anyone can disagree anymore, we need to be able to manage the wolf.

buckbull · Mar 26, 2016

Horsenhike said:
Can you explain this a little, please?

Wyoming decided to go a different route than Idaho and Montana. Wyoming wanted to treat the wolf like they do the coyote, which i believe allows hunting them year round, no quotas, ect. Idaho and Montana established seasons and quotas for wolf management which I believe was required by USFS for the ability to shoot them. I know others have much better details they can provide but thats pretty much the jist of it.

Mule3006Elk · Mar 26, 2016

I'm past the point of complaining about wolf reintroduction. The Feds are never going to support the elimination of this species. It is what it is and wolves are continually expanding their range. They are part of the biological ecosystem whether one likes it or not. It's very frustrating when we hear about sport killing especially pertaining to majestic animals which most of us here highly appreciate and respect. The only solution is widespread management of these predators via wolf harvest and aerial management if needed. Wolf management for rifle hunters and trappers MUST include generous take seasons as well as an expanded take season in areas where wolves are hitting local herds or livestock harder. Since these animals are so elusive trapping is a more reliable means of management when compared to rifle hunting. If an expanded take season fails then aerial management is required to protect local herds. Wolves are very intelligent and not easily hunted or patterned due to their large home range. In fact, I read an interesting article which states the only established predator to wolves is wolves themselves due to an innate need to protect their home range. The will kill adjacent pack members which trespass in their territory. However, this mostly happens once wolves have established packs in the entire territory (Idaho for example) and is less likely to happen in newly colonized states such as CA, OR, and WA. I always have a Wolf tag at hand here in ID. However, I've seen sign and heard them many times but I've never laid my eyes on one in the backcountry.

Horsenhike · Mar 26, 2016

Thanks. At least I know a little about what's going on now.

WapitiBob · Mar 26, 2016

MT and ID were included in the Simpson/Tester Rider to the national budget bill that had to be passed, and that rider included a provision that prevented any court challenge to the originally approved recovery plans of those two states. Wyoming decided to go it alone with a different recovery plan, and even though their recovery plan was approved, they have no court protections. As a result they were sued after their first Wolf season and the court imposed an injunction. WY will not be hunting wolves for a long time.

The Grizzly Bear recovery will go the same direction; approved recovery plan in a number of years, then court challenges, and again, no hunting in the foreseeable future.

IDELKFVR · Mar 26, 2016

I feel for the hunters of wyoming not being able to hunt the wolf. I live in idaho and am glad we have a season for them to help manage them. But lets make no mistake here when they were introduced in idaho they said they wanted to delist them for hunting as soon as they had a certian amount of breading pairs. When they reached that number it got tied up in court with the anti hunter not wanting them delisted. So years went buy.We can now hunt them but that number of breading pairs is way above what they wanted for delisting. I dont think anyone has a good idea about how many are in idaho when you consider one female could have as many as six or eight pups if not more every year it doesnt take long for them to get out of hand and a few that get killed by hunters every fall doesnt make a dent in the population. Some of the wolfs that have been caught by fish and game and collard are showing up in oregon and washington.So its not just a idaho montana or wyoming problem its a north west problem and its effecting evryone.We have to live with the problem now.SLUGZ right there is a reason why the home steaders got ride of them many moons ago and it wasnt just hunting them they were poisned, trapped, shot,and killed any way possible to get rid of them. But they sure are pretty lol.

Musket Man · Mar 26, 2016

Its not recovery because Canadian wolves are not native. Wyoming got it right sticking to what they want and not settling for less. Its to bad Idaho and Montana didnt join them. I know it looks better for Id and Mt rightnow but eventually Wy will get what they want and they will be better off in the long run.

Matthoek21 · Mar 27, 2016

I've got a question. The one thing I rarely see or hear about is wolves being taken while hunting in ID and MT. I would like for someone to start a "Wolf Down" thread and every time somebody shoots one we post it on this thread. It just seems like some have stated that very few are taken by modern weapon. Can some of you western boys that have success start a "Wolf Down" thread? I would like to hear details and general area of state where killed. What do y'all think? This would kind of give an idea of how rare it is to actually shoot one. May result in other methods of control like trapping. Whatever means necessary to control this out of control problem. Thanks and happy wolf hunting...oh and Happy Easter.

ivorytip · Mar 27, 2016

Matthoek21 said:
I've got a question. The one thing I rarely see or hear about is wolves being taken while hunting in ID and MT. I would like for someone to start a "Wolf Down" thread and every time somebody shoots one we post it on this thread. It just seems like some have stated that very few are taken by modern weapon. Can some of you western boys that have success start a "Wolf Down" thread? I would like to hear details and general area of state where killed. What do y'all think? This would kind of give an idea of how rare it is to actually shoot one. May result in other methods of control like trapping. Whatever means necessary to control this out of control problem. Thanks and happy wolf hunting...oh and Happy Easter.

I like this idea. I assure you that there are several shot that wont be talked about though

I seen a white one a 5 years back that I wanted to shoot so bad! was the eve before elk rifle opener and was in a basin weve been watching elk in last two days prior, so decided not to shoot being how it looked to be alone. we got a nice bull the next morning but I wish I woulda taken the wolf. I even had a tag that time!!! I see lots of sign but cant say ive seen a lot of actual wolves. would be worth, I think to devote a fall hunting them and sacrifice my elk hunt, but still have elk tag just incase ofcourse

brdhuntr · Mar 27, 2016

So far in Idaho we have reported 242 wolf kills by trapping and hunting. The season closes on March 31st. i'm sure there are more kills to add,for hunters that don't report when they kill one. I buy a wolf tag every year,and we can buy up to 5-tags,and all i have ever seen are tracks, they are a very elusive critter. I would have shot that wolf in a heart beat,first because the chance doesn't come very often,and secondly it would have saved a lot of elk!!

ivorytip · Mar 27, 2016

totally agreed

IDELKFVR · Mar 27, 2016

As the bumper sticker states save a hundred elk kill a wolf.

Slugz · Mar 27, 2016

ceby7 said:
Those same homesteaders also damn near eliminated all the buffalo, grizzlies, elk, deer and antelope. There was a lot of wrong done in those days that we've been trying to fix for decades. Everything has its place and it's OUR responsibility to make sure we manage the resource not only for our interests but future generations as well; with an emphasis on the future.

Buffalo, grizzlies, elk, deer and antelope are not Keystone "predators" in my opinion and the data would support that. Now I would agree with defining a grizzly as a Keystone "species" though. I agree the homesteaders messed those up you mention during our Nations history. However, apples and oranges and each need managed separately.

WRT the use of the word "Keystone" when discussing species or predators......just recently were wolves all of a sudden listed as a Keystone "species".......when reviewing the past 200 years of wolves specifically I think any one would be hard pressed to produce a good argument based off of facts, data and no emotion.

Lastly that's the major problem when discussions are had IMO..... the presenters usually put forth data based upon a 10-15 year block....when questioned then for comparison data on either side of the block of data......I usually get a dumbfounded look followed by a "why". All the best.

Mule3006Elk · Mar 27, 2016

WY ME said:
Man is also part of the part of the biological system whether you like it or not and we are being pushed out of it by liberal anti-hunting agendas. If you want to label the sport killing done by wolves with a more pc term that makes you feel better go for it. It is what it is. Their decimation of our big game, moose in particular, is not something I'm not gonna sit back and watch without saying something about it. I don't have a pen and a phone that I can change it with but I'll damn sure not remain silent.

100% agree but don't take 2 sentences of my response and make a generalization. I didn't label it sport killing nor give it a PC term. Franky, it pisses my family off. I was responding to an article as we all are. Wolves are here and expanding their range and I don't see that changing anytime soon. If you know something I don't please share. I fully support Big Game and we all need to make our voices heard regarding wolves. I'm glad you're not going to remain silent and I hope none of us do. Here in ID I prefer to put my energy into wolf management. I believe this is our only option, management via hunting/trapping/aerial management, and keeping the numbers as low as possible thus minimizing impact on Big Game as well as local ranchers.

480/277 · Mar 28, 2016

IMHO the antis knew exactly what would happen with wolf reintroduction and were just smarter than hunters. It's a shame what has happened to BG herds. But even with these killings , the antis will preach " see we don't need sport hunting anywhere when nature is in balance"

The wolves and the antis are here to stay. Wyomings only hope is to fight on and get the wolves outside the "recovery zone" to be treated as they actually are. The rest of the states will have to renegotiate with the feds when that happens. Untill then, wolves are going to eat well.

lang · Mar 28, 2016

Matt here's a great link for you. It not only lists kills, but any sightings, howls, etc... Can be a little disheartening when they post large pack in your area. But that also gives trappers a lead, so there is hope.
northwestwolfsightings.org

Sport Killing

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