Looks like some ranchers and environmentalist groups are at odds (no kidding...) regarding de-listing Wolves in this state.

I personally wouldn't want to come face to face with a pack of wolves in the back country somewhere.

Wolves

The ranchers think any number of wolves is too high; the environmental groups think the proposed number of breeding pairs is too low. It seems to me that WDFW is trying to thread the needle and come up with a compromise that is reasonable, considering the state's human population, the amount of wilderness and near-wilderness habitat, and the resource base necessary to sustain wolves.

As for coming face to face with wolves in the back country, I did just that in Yellowstone a few years ago. A couple friends and I had spent quite a bit of time "wolf watching" in the Lamar valley where the initial packs were re-introduced. Then we went hiking up a ridge trail west of there, then went off trail and found hundreds of shed elk antlers. We came on a bouldery promontory and noticed that it stunk badly of urine as we saw five wolves wandering away from us down the hill slope. I think we stumbled on their day bed area. What was interesting is that they strung themselves out in a line up a hill slightly to our right, maybe one hundred feet apart, and layed down. We sat on the boulders, where I think they had been, and watched them for over an hour as they watched us.

The lowermost wolf on the hill was near an established game trail. A large bull bison came along with not a care in the world. He completely ignored the wolves, and by all appearances they ignored him as he trundled along on his way. This was in the late spring when there were a lot of fresh elk and bison calves that has just been born.

We saw a fresh cow elk that had been killed in the Lamar. Wolves ate it, coyotes, bears, and numerous birds all scavaged it. In three days it was gone. I mean gone down to just a few of the bones and a bit of hide. My friend and I hiked over there, and I took photos of what remained. The elk fed a lot of critters. We didn't linger there because a grizzly sow with one cub lived in that general area. We'd seen them a few times.

The upshot is that there is only one instance, and a recent one at that, where wolves have been known to attack and kill a human. And as long as you don't encounter a pack when it's actively hunting, you have nothing to fear from them, and probably not even if they are. But who wants to find out?

Sg

As far as encountering things in the backcountry goes...I'd rather encounter bears and wolves than a corporate farm, oil rig, or subdevelopment.

I'd say if you are afraid of meeting actual wild animals...stick to the mall.

Fish on...

Todd

I am anxiously anticipating that moment this fall.

Got to hear first hand how successful the wolf program is in Idaho last elk season.

As the story goes, It was not long after the gray wolf was introduced that the timber wolf was brought in. The timber wolves promptly ate all the gray wolves and then started on the elk cows, calves and deer. Their populations have increased as the elk and deer have decreased. Hunters and ranchers are seeing unbelievable carnage of wildlife, sheep and cattle. It was noted that the wolves kill for sport and food as a by product of chasing down their prey. The carcasses are left to rot and has bolstered the bear population. The game has been descimated and the wolf packs have continued to grow. The gentleman that told me the story was hunting elk in Washington State as a nonredisent from Idaho last year. He said his favorite hunting grounds have been overun with wolves. The elk just are not there anymore as a result of the introduction of the wolf. I hope Washington State will learn from this and have a management plan in place before this happens here. Those of us that have hunted in eastern Washington have seen wolves a lot longer than the state is willing to admit.

I think Wyoming has the best policy for controlling the wolf population. If you see a wolf...kill it.

Captain

Who brought in those "timber wolves?" And when and where? Got any documentation or sources to cite, other than "as the story goes?"

What is "unbelievable carnage?" One game or domestic animal killed by wolves might qualify for some of those opposed to the wolves.

Wyoming's wolf management plan is popular with the wolf haters, but it will never get USFWS approval. WA is being smart by developing a wolf management plan. I don't know if it will be approved by USFWS, but plans that both conserve wolf populations and control them through management can be approved. Eradication plans won't be. It's so simple a neanderthal can understand it, but maybe not a Wyoming-ite.

Sg

Pure hogwash there Captain.

I'd be way more frightened to encounter Dick Cheney in the woods. For a multitude of reasons.

BTW, Wyoming has a much more destructive threat....Dick Cheney and Halliburton.

The experiences I have had with wolves was back where I grew up state of Minnesota.

While living in Northern Minnesota in the Boundary waters. Wolves are not feared-they are part of the ecosystem. I saw fresh deer, moose kills-bones, blood and fur, I have seen wolves on the sides of roads, and running across a frozen lake.

One of the cooler times was not a visual of the wolves but while I was snow shoeing across a lake (solo) just after a fresh snow fall I was hiking across a lake then onto a portage into another lake to go ice fishing. Midway on lake one (Loon Lake) I intersected with a track of five parallel tracks--it was a pack of wolves that maybe if I was 10 minutes earlier I would have seen them. The tracks did not take me out of my way so I followed them. The wolves would go parallel for a consistent distance then one of the outside tracks went across to the far side--then they would parallel and again this repeated..I found it curious. It was not a leaping type track but a walk--it then looked to me like they went into a sprint. I started to get away from where I needed to go but I saw another track intersect and all tracks led into the woods. All I could gather was they tracked down a deer and chased it or another wolf..

I snowshoed off with a Duluth pack..with a little food, water, ice auger and gear. I had no firearm and never felt threatened. But the wolves did howl off in the distance --which all was pretty surreal. That experience will never leave my mind.

Look I'm not scared of wild animals that I'm familiar with, it's the type like wolves that have been re-introduced in my lifetime that I am concerned about.

We all understand about bears and cougars (I am not talking about hairy gay men, or predatory older women), but for some of us who grew up here, not many of us heard much about wolves at all, except for fairy tales. Because the issue never presented itself, before now.
Will I try to educate myself about them before heading out into a wilderness area where they might be located? I sure will

As far as sticking to the mall, I imagine there are far more predators there these days. (Think Southcenter Shootings)

With a name like Moose, they will be waiting for you.
What's left will fit in a 5 gallon bucket.

Might want to consider that for a species to be delisted the cause of the listing must be removed.

In the case of wolves, extinction in the lower 48 was due to unrestricted acute lead poisoning. As long as Wyoming, or other states, push that as their management solution, ESA, the Feds, and Third Party Lawsuits will remain.

$31.75 for a Non-Res. wolf tag...Hells bells I could afford 2 @ that price..

I cain't think o nuthin' better than blastin' Rin Tin Tin I tell ya!

Having whacked a couple in Alaska I consider them among my finest big game trophies.
Like mountain lions, a powerful predator and a highly elusive, intelligent quarry indeed.

They impress me with their beauty and ability to elude humans.

To outsmart one, and add it to my collection is a top priority this fall.

This brute was killed in Idaho last time a season was held.

Way cool photo.

Collared?

That is a cool pic.

Wolves.

Frightening stupid peasants since 50,000 BC.

RE: Salmonella's glory shot.





"Whenever I see a photograph of some sportsman grinning over his kill, I am always impressed by the striking moral and esthetic superiority of the dead animal to the live one."
— Edward Abbey

Blow it out your ass....






Funny.

Here lies the ultimate dichotomy.

I love nature and wildlife more than even my own species.

As I type this my legs burn from tonight's blacktail deer hunt, big, steep, nasty country.
I've passed my 13th buck of the season searching for a more challenging quarry, that being a wise old buck that has escaped my modern technological weaponry with his instinctual survival skills.
He's there, I've seen him.
Biggest buck of my lifetime.
I'll shoot no lesser buck this year.
As of now, with about 18 hunting trips logged, he wins.
He may win all together.
My third year in pursuit of the monster.
He's better than me in many ways.

Maybe you are right after all.

Well, thanks for illustrating my point. Look, I'm not some anti-hunting PETA flake. I enjoy hunting, harvesting, AND consuming wild game. Predator hunting for sport is where I draw the line. I don't need a room full of dead animals on the wall to feel like a real outdoorsman.

I don't drive a Subaru either.

We "kill" animals and "harvest" corn.
I'm goddamn tired of sugarcoating the truth to pacify limp wristed treehuggers.