To all the elk hunters hunting in wolf country...

[arrowslinger21]

Have you noticed any differences in elk habitat location or in other words where the elk are being found during your hunting seasons. I know have seen quite a bit of variation or shift in elk towards certain areas that used to not hold as many elk. Here is what have observed and maybe some possible reasons for it... http://kunderwoodblog.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/elk-meets-wolf/

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Went to Wyoming last year for a wilderness elk hunt in the Teton/Thorofare area right next to the SE border of Yellowstone NP. It was in early September and the rut was supposed to be going full bore. Bulls would not bugle as this was a signal to the wolves where they were. Guide told me been like that for a couple of years. Saw lots of wolves during the 6 day hunt and very few elk!!

 

[Huntography]

I was filming a father and 2 sons in Idaho during archery and the father explained on camera how this very shift in elk vocalization had gone down due to the reintroduction of wolves in that area.

He shared how they used to hear bulls at night and in the darkness of the morning years ago but not anymore.

- Rudy


Filming America's Hunters, One at a Time

 

[arrowslinger21]

I know they are getting quieter in a lot of areas. I havent run into too much trouble with that yet here in Oregon, but I am sure its only a matter of time. They have headed for higher ground for sure, but as of now I am still getting them to talk.

 

[cnalder]

I've hunted in wolf areas and outside and haven't noticed too much of a difference. I sat and watched a herd with 6 bulls and 15 cows last fall and had wolves howling at the same time within a 1/4 mile. I watched the elk through the spotting scope and they paid no attention to the wolves. The one thing I have noticed is how much more the elk are bugling at night, even with a new moon, versus years ago. We camped in a basin in mid-september and had bulls bugling all night with no moon but come 830-900 they were done. I think hunters hare having more of an impact on when bulls bugle than wolves. Many hunters are bugling non-stop even if the elk aren't. Opening day last year I hunted this drainage, lots of elk in it, and had a bugle happy hunter on the other side. In a 2hr period I bet he bugled 20-30 times. I have definitely noticed the wolves have pushed the elk out of the open areas and back into the trees.

 

[Drashly]

Hunted Idaho wolf country 2 yrs ago late September, heat of the rut. Definitely made it challenging. Very quiet, only pulled my string once all week. And we went way back away from pressure every day, very difficult. Heard plenty of wolves too. Its not good.

 

[elkmtngear]

Eastern Oregon was tough this Season. All the elk seem to be on private lands, and did not get vocal and aggressive until after the end of the bow Season. http://elkmtngear.com/blog/father-and-daughter-vs-eastern-oregon-elk.html

I really do not think it had anything to do with wolves, but I can certainly see where wolves would completely kill elk hunting if they got a foothold there.

 

[AnthonyVR]

Elk, and their breeding habits, evolved around wolves. Elk still bugle with wolves in the vicinity, you just have to work a little harder...

 

[xtreme]

I don't need wolves, not any, not one. I don't need WildEarth Guardians, not one.

 

[Drelk]

I don't need wolves, not any, not one. I don't need WildEarth Guardians, not one.

Exactly what he said

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Elk, and their breeding habits, evolved around wolves. Elk still bugle with wolves in the vicinity, you just have to work a little harder...

Sorry bud, but I really don't agree with your statement that I will have to work a bit harder. I live in SW Colorado and roam the mts where there are literally 1000's of elk & deer....and oh yes...no wolves. I know how the act and react. I also have hunted Wyoming in the areas where there are lots of wolves. The elk & deer are really very different in their habits. 25 or 30 years ago there were no wolves even close to the numbers that are there now. IMHO it is criminal how the endangered Species Act was used to introduce Canadian & Alaskan wolves here. We can agree to disagree, but the deer, elk and moose numbers are what suffers.

 

[xtreme]

Ditto what CC said

 

[shootbrownelk]

Right you are Colorado Cowboy, I used to hunt Grand Teton National Park untill wolves decimated the elk herd. Where they used to issue thousands of elk tags, it's reduced to a handfull now. I quit hunting the park in 1999, when I started seeing more wolf tracks than Elk, Moose & Deer tracks. It's a crying shame what the Clinton Gang did back in 1995, releasing a Canadian invasive species on United States Sportspeople.

 

[AnthonyVR]

Just to clarify, I never said that the populations stay the same when the wolves move in. I'm not a wolf lover or an earth guardian and I didn't come on this forum to spend hours going back and forth about the wolves. I was just stating a fact that elk are still vocal in wolf country.

 

[spark]

At our local RMEF dinner this year an outfitter in the Gardiner,Mt area donated a hunt for the live auction but it had a reserve on it. Now this is in PA. They could not even get the price up to the reserve so it did not go. Even PA. hunters know how the wolves have affected the elk. I feel sorry for the people trying to make a living in the outdoors where wolves are present.

 

[elk_n_esox]

Just to clarify, I never said that the populations stay the same when the wolves move in. I'm not a wolf lover or an earth guardian and I didn't come on this forum to spend hours going back and forth about the wolves. I was just stating a fact that elk are still vocal in wolf country.

yup... they bugle and then run for their lives!

 

[AnthonyVR]

yup... they bugle and then run for their lives!

That's funny, the bull I bugled in and killed this year didn't seem to mind... maybe I was just in his escape route.

 

[tim]

It seems like the rut has shifted later. I am hearing bulls bugling in mid october and yes we have wolves.

 

[packmule]

Right you are Colorado Cowboy, I used to hunt Grand Teton National Park untill wolves decimated the elk herd. Where they used to issue thousands of elk tags, it's reduced to a handfull now. I quit hunting the park in 1999, when I started seeing more wolf tracks than Elk, Moose & Deer tracks. It's a crying shame what the Clinton Gang did back in 1995, releasing a Canadian invasive species on United States Sportspeople.

I'll never understand why folks think the wolves here now are what were here and it absolutely annoys me that the Parks up there are in the business of pimping out all the wolf merchandise.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I'll never understand why folks think the wolves here now are what were here and it absolutely annoys me that the Parks up there are in the business of pimping out all the wolf merchandise.

I'm no wolf expert, but I've done a little research. What we had were Timber Wolves (now extinct). What was released are Canadial/Alaskan Gray Wolves which I think are substantially bigger.