Wolf hunt

[johnsd16]

Oh, yes a lot of minnesota's take is trapping. Way more effective method IMO. NR also cannot really trap in MN, my last post was meant generally. I'm sure ID has more public land, but most of MN's public land is is wolf country. The minimum pop they have planned is somewhere 1500-2000 or something but estimates just a couple years ago were in the 3000-4000+ range which I believe far more. Look at how easily we fill the quota, I doubt that is happening with the population at the lower end of the estimates. I think you may find the wolves more evenly distributed in MN than ID as well. The prey base is distributed similarly as is the cover. I would say you may be more likely to SEE on out west just because it's more open. Much of wolf country in MN is very thick. Wolf hunting anywhere is a low odds game.

 

[Againstthewind]

I was really surprised to see the estimated number over 2000 wolves in Minn. I am sure it is a low, conservative estimate. Here in Wyoming, the wolf topic is still pretty heated, but I don't hear about the wolves in Minnesota a whole lot. It is pretty far away. With that many wolves, and a more populated state and highly agricultural state, you'd think there would be a huge stink about it and they would raise the quotas. Idaho killed like 3/8 or something of the estimated population. I guess we are pretty lucky here, we don't have a metropolitan area that seems to vote things contrary to the rest of the state (Jackson is just big enough for a balance kindof) . That is just coffee shop talk I have heard. It seems like the greater Denver area does that, and Seattle, too. That is probably a can of worms that should have the lid left on.

I have never looked into hunting out there in Minn., but it looks like there could be some good opportunities. I have some family is western Maryland and Penn. where the deer are thick as rabbits. Do the wolves help control the deer populations pretty well in Minn.?

 

[johnsd16]

I was really surprised to see the estimated number over 2000 wolves in Minn. I am sure it is a low, conservative estimate. Here in Wyoming, the wolf topic is still pretty heated, but I don't hear about the wolves in Minnesota a whole lot. It is pretty far away. With that many wolves, and a more populated state and highly agricultural state, you'd think there would be a huge stink about it and they would raise the quotas. Idaho killed like 3/8 or something of the estimated population. I guess we are pretty lucky here, we don't have a metropolitan area that seems to vote things contrary to the rest of the state (Jackson is just big enough for a balance kindof) . That is just coffee shop talk I have heard. It seems like the greater Denver area does that, and Seattle, too. That is probably a can of worms that should have the lid left on.

I have never looked into hunting out there in Minn., but it looks like there could be some good opportunities. I have some family is western Maryland and Penn. where the deer are thick as rabbits. Do the wolves help control the deer populations pretty well in Minn.?

MN has wolves in relevant numbers in probably half the state, so the more heavily populated and ag/livestock areas are not where they are. Less conflict because of that. Between the DNR and the wolves our deer are in rough shape in a few areas, winters have alot or more to so with it too.

 

[marcusvdk]

we have a wolf hunt now in michigan as well just a few key areas in the Upper Peninsula. it will be interesting to see if with the lakes being all froze up this year if any wolfs made the track across the ice to the lower Peninsula.

 

[Musket Man]

I think those min wolf numbers are way off. I bet Idaho has 2x that many atleast. Its impossible to count them accurately and F&G is required to use the min number.

 

[tim]

musket man, you are truly sitting at the crossroads of a lot of good wolf hunting. However there is just not as many wolves as people think and they are very hard to hunt. It would be very easy for you to spend time up the lochsa, or north fork of the Clearwater or st joe drainages.

 

[Musket Man]

musket man, you are truly sitting at the crossroads of a lot of good wolf hunting. However there is just not as many wolves as people think and they are very hard to hunt. It would be very easy for you to spend time up the lochsa, or north fork of the Clearwater or st joe drainages.

I realize all of that and I plan on it every year and then I get busy and the tag is good for a long time and I say next week and next thing I know its to late. I even got a snowmobile over 2 years ago to chase them in the winter but money been kinda tight so havent got to that either. I was up the st Joe a few times in 2010 and only saw tracks once. I been thinking bout going out of avery area or elk river with the snowmobile. Wanted to do it the last 2 winters. Maybe next winter I will get there!

 

[tim]

I snowmobile a lot. you won't see one just cruising on the sleds. use the sleds to get somewhere and call sure, cruising, probably not.

 

[tim]

true story a couple of years ago. My buddy scared up a wolf at a place called bloom peak. Basically the wolf saw him and took off like a bat out of hell, and my bud was the only one to see him. so the next weekend I decieded to go in and try and find him. Well it snow a lot that week. I am solo. I go up the road looking for tracks. next thing I know, the powder is just awesome, and I find my self up on the ridgetop. I am looking into the delicious bowls I love to climb in. Next thing I know. My rifle is leaned against the tree. I drop off the 5 foot cornice into the bowl. start playing around. 30 minutes later after dropping off of the cornice a half a dozen times, I remeber I am solo. climb out of the bowl, grab the rifle and head home. God I love snowmobiling.

 

[meathunter]

Might think of combining wolf/bear combo in ID. Bear tag are fairly cheap for NR. The Lolo Pass area has a lot of wolves. I saw wolf tracks every day while hunting moose last fall in 8 days. Saw one wolf, just too slow on the trigger. Lots of bear tracks too with a 2 bear limit and baiting is legal.

 

[Triple BB]

I was elk hunting in the Thorofare a couple years ago. We heard wolves every night howling which was pretty cool. We saw fresh tracks and scat almost everyday. In a week up there, no one in camp saw a wolf. The outfitter said the few times he see's them each season, they're usually running or at long distances while glassing.

 

[NE69]

Buddy and I have decided to go for a semi-guided hunt for wolf with mileshighoutfitters. Decided a DIY would have pretty slim chance of success. 5 day hunt with guide for day and a half. First guided hunt for us ever. It will be interesting.

 

[Againstthewind]

Buddy and I have decided to go for a semi-guided hunt for wolf with mileshighoutfitters. Decided a DIY would have pretty slim chance of success. 5 day hunt with guide for day and a half. First guided hunt for us ever. It will be interesting.

I just checked out their web-site. That looks awesome. Good luck.

 

[ivorytip]

brother of a guy i work with slammed a huge black wolf in his car a couple weekends back driving thru island park, said he didnt even see it jump out when he hit it. state trooper pulled up and they finaly found the wolf dead on side of rd. one way to hunt them

 

[Againstthewind]

yep, just put some spikes on your grille guard. Then you don't have to look for them. Mad Max Idaho.

That is kindof scary though. I am not sure I would want to go looking for a wounded wolf of in the woods.

 

[ivorytip]

no kidding, said the trooper thought he was up to no good cuz he said he didnt know what he hit and cop couldnt understand how ya couldnt see what ya hit when it did so much damage to front of car so they looked on hwy for it. just this last weekend someone shot an 11 year old grizz in same area mistaking it for a black bear, id hate to be that fella.

 

[Againstthewind]

oops! that could be some big trouble. It can be hard to tell sometimes. I have only seen one grizzly sow ever, but in the heat of the moment I can see how it could be mistaken for a black bear. I have heard that Idaho gets a lot of the cinnamon colors, too.

 

[ivorytip]

most of the bears i see are blonde or cinnamon. some of those big cinnamon colored black bear boars do look alot like a grizz, even more so when their front pads are unlevel giving them that extra hump in back. but... this guy did the right thing and called fish and game and told them instead of hiding it, hopefully that works in his favor.

 

[shootbrownelk]

Was this guy hunting for Black Bear over bait? If so, I doubt G&F will cut him any slack on the mistake, you're supposed to be 100% sure before you shoot. And he evidently wasn't, if he was hunting a baited site and had binoculars. Maybe it was spot & stalk? Same thing applies there however.

 

[ivorytip]

not sure, they havent leaked mush of the story out yet, and i agree, he shoulda known what he was shooting at