Wolf hunt
- Thread starter Jared Wilson
- Start date
IdahoSkies
New Member
I don't know about here on the site, but I know there a number of outfitters in Idaho. We have long seasons, and you are welcome to take one. Just don't bring it back. 
. Seriously, wolves are hard to find unless you are out there all the time. Prices that I have seen very between 2500 to 3500 for a stand alone five day hunt. So it really depends on what you mean by "a budget."
. Seriously, wolves are hard to find unless you are out there all the time. Prices that I have seen very between 2500 to 3500 for a stand alone five day hunt. So it really depends on what you mean by "a budget."
Musket Man
Veteran member
tim
Veteran member
quicknick
Active Member
I am interested in this as well if anyone has any other experiences hunting wolves diy or with a guide.
NE69
Active Member
Couple buddies and I are doing research on hunting wolves this coming winter. We prefer DYI but it might be tough due to terrain and weather. We prefer to call them in like we coyote hunt. Once we get more research done and have a plan I can pass on all my info to anyone else interested. I'm not expecting easy success but know I don't have zero chance waiting for one to show up here in Nebraska.
Sure would be nice to figure out a way for the average guy to have a chance at one if he is willing to work at it.
Sure would be nice to figure out a way for the average guy to have a chance at one if he is willing to work at it.
Musket Man
Veteran member
I think your best bet will be to find areas where deer and elk winter. S and SE of Frank Church wilderness, Salmon, Challis, along the MT border I think would be good general areas to start. Call the biologists and findout where elk winter. I dont know that country so Im not alot of help. Im close to the northern part of Idaho and havent found a good area around here yet.
Againstthewind
Very Active Member
I know a guy who went on a guided trip out of Dillon, MT into the Idaho side for wolves. They didn't get one that trip, but I think a guide is almost necessary for success, unless you local. They have such a huge range and are very cagey. I was working in St. Maries, ID and they were really complaining about the wolves, but Musket Man is a lot closer to that area.
NE69
Active Member
I will check out those areas. Thank you. We will probably stop in Wyoming and hunt coyotes for a few days on the way up so if no wolves the trip won't be a total bust. I am sure the biologist for the area could be a big help. Possibly game warden will have very current info on pack locations at that time. Lots of different places to get help, just need to utilize them. If it appears to be all but impossible, we probably check with outfitters and might go that route for the wolf part of the hunt. I would hope to have a reasonable chance at a wolf, say 25% chance at a 500 yard or less shot at one on a 5 day hunt.
Musket Man
Veteran member
You can hunt them in alot of WY without a tag! I have herd they are getting more around St Maries and up the St Joe River. I spent quite a bit of time in that country 4 years ago and only saw a single set of tracks once. I know some have been killed around Avery since then and 1 was seen just outside of Avery along the road. I havent spent much time around there the last few years. Late in the year you would most likely need a snowmobile to get off the main road, which I been planning on doing the last 2 winters but never got there.
Againstthewind
Very Active Member
Yep, in parts of Wyoming they are classified as a predator, so you can shoot anything of the wild canine variety. Stray cats, too. I think they killed like 30 wolves as predators and they have found one in the Black Hills, so wolves are all over the state. I am not sure where all them were killed as predators, but while you are coyote hunting you might as well ask, then let me know if you want. Just kidding, unless you want to ....
Musket Man
Veteran member
In most of Wyoming they are classified as a predator! Its only in the NW corner around YNP you need a tag. I would go look for them on the border of the predator/trophy zone. I was going to try that on the way to my antelope hunt in 2012 but was to excited about hunting antelope to stop
Againstthewind
Very Active Member
I guess you are right MM, most of Wyoming is predator wolves, and it was 39 killed last year in that category. I might look at Pinedale if you haven't already. It looks close to the border of trophy and predator, and there is a long established pack of wolves by Daniel (the Pinedale suburbs). Coyote hunting is pretty local, too. Depending on when they are calving, it could be pretty good coyote hunting. I can't remember but it seems like this was close to when they were calving. I am on the wrong side of the state, though.
Musket Man
Veteran member
I was going to look around Pinedale. I really didnt have much of a plan just thought I would poke around for a day or 2 and see what I found but by the time I got there my antelope tag was burning a hole in my pocket so I didnt stop. Killed a really nice antelope the next morning so I guess it was a good decision! lol
tim
Veteran member
Idaho killed a whopping 177 wolves last year. most in the country I believe. close to half of the wolves killed where trapped.
I live in the zone that had the most wolves killed, or is 2nd. You just don't see wolves very often. Trying to hunt them would be very tough. if you are going to do it in the winter, you would need a snowmobile or atv with tracks. There is no easy way to kill wolves.
I live in the zone that had the most wolves killed, or is 2nd. You just don't see wolves very often. Trying to hunt them would be very tough. if you are going to do it in the winter, you would need a snowmobile or atv with tracks. There is no easy way to kill wolves.
MN killed more, and will contine if our quota is kept up. It is easily met/exceded. Tons here, more than any state by a long shot other than AK. Tags are a draw, lots and lots of public land in wolf country but its thick. In early December on our few hundred acres we have new wolf tracks almost daily. My dad had a tag last year and trapped for a few days but we got 20" of snow and weren't set up to snare (horrible snaring regs in MN for wolf).
A northern MN combined whitetail and wolf hunt would be cheap and relatively easy DIY with a decent chance at both a buck and wolf. Deer are OTC but wolf is not a sure fire draw. Would not be at all like an out west experience though.
Musket Man
Veteran member
Is there much public land in MN? I have never been there. Sounds interesting though! Out here wolf tags are unlimited. Some zones have a quota and close when it is filled but there are alot of places with no quota and other then some are closed in the spring you can hunt most of the year.
Tons of public land in northern mn. Typical of an eastern state, it gets tons of pressure (for deer) within a mile of the road. But, a guy could backpack/canoe in to land that hasn't been hunted by a person for a long time. If a guy got a late wolf hunt or trapping tag and went muzzleloader hunting, a guy would have 1000s or acres to himself. Even hi king in just a couple miles during rifle season would be the same. Few hills to climb too.
Againstthewind
Very Active Member
Bugle had an article about this topic. I just got it today. It shows 177 hunter taken in Idaho, 264 total, Minnesota had 119 by hunter, 238 total. (The remainder of the total is from trapping). Minnesota had an estimate 2211 minimum population, Idaho estimate was 683. So more killed in Idaho, but lots, lots more estimated wolves in Minnesota. Idaho has about 4 times as much publicly owned land (federal and state lands). I didn't see a direct comparison about management areas. I have read that Minnesota is spending a lot of money on management areas and getting new areas. Not sure what all that means, but there are some numbers. I am not going to complain as much about the numbers of wolves in Wyoming, both Idaho and Minn. have a lot more. Montana looked like it had similar numbers to Idaho, but it is a huge state.