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Joined: Jul 2011
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 603 |
I have been really struggling with locating wolves this year. The few times I have been on them I was either busted by swirling winds or crunchy frozen snow. It has been raining lightly for the last ten days and this morning was no exception. I was in some very remote country at daylight and made several stands with no response. Soaking wet and frustrated I walked back to my jeep. After a short pity party right there in the drivers seat I decided to give it ONE more try and went to another spot about a mile away. After I made two short howls I heard a response. It sounded like there were five or six of them but they were spread out and way up the side of a mountain with absolutely no trail access. I usually do not try sneaking in on a whole pack simply because the more they are pestered, the more wary they become. Today however with no wind and a light rain falling I decided to go for it. As I was strapping on my pack and grabbing my hiking stick in preparation for a difficult hike I couldn't help thinking about the old saying "Fortune Favors the Bold". For the next 90 minutes I slowly made my way up the slope utilizing game trails as best I could to make the walk a little easier. When I got near the top there was a little saddle and I could see fairly well in most directions for 25-40 yards. I thought it was as good a place as any to set up. All the way up I had been trying to figure out my best option for calling, assuming that I did not get busted on the way in. I decided that instead of soft whining or howling I would instead just crank on my fawn distress and hope for the best, my theory being that if they were separated but all in the general area, then each would think that one of the others had caught something and just maybe......... I sat on a flat rock with my little .308 Ruger, safety off and at the ready. I now run illuminated reticles on all of my hunting rifles and the Leupold VXR 2-7 was turned all the way down with the firedot duplex reticle glowing. I am the proud owner of several exotic hardwood magnum calls from Robert Patrick of RareEarth calls in Michigan. So when I started mimicking a fawn in distress on the one made from Ironwood I knew It would carry loudly and clearly across the slope. After three or four soulful "bleats" I sat still. Twenty seconds later I saw movement directly in front of me at about 35-40 yards. It was a gray colored wolf coming down a game trail at a lope heading straight for me. I started tracking it with the red dot so I could fire the second it stopped. Except it wasn't stopping, it was so intent on finding the fawn that I realized it was going to be in my lap if I didn't do something quick! So I woofed and it hit the brakes. With the firedot centered on its chest as the wolf faced me at less than 12 yards, I simply pulled the trigger and it collapsed. I instantly reloaded and scanned for any other wolves but there was nothing but silence. I howled on the off chance the gunshot had been ignored but there was no response. As I notched my tag and prepared for the pack out I couldn't help but think how close I had come to giving up and going home cold wet and hungry,just 2 hours earlier. Wolf hunting is just like the lottery, you can't win if you don't play. Today I hit the jackpot! The wolf was a female and aged as a 2 year old by the FWP biologist.
"The difference between adventure and disaster is preparation" "Dangerous Game Hunting........because golf, football and baseball only require one ball"
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Joined: Feb 2009
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2009
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way to go! what's this, wolf #4 or #5?
Guns don't kill people, drivers with cell phones kill people.
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Campfire Regular
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Nice job and great story.
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Posts: 23,453
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2011
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way to go! what's this, wolf #4 or #5? I had the exact same thoughts. The one with a longbow still rates as beyond cool!
America needs to understand that our troops are not 'disposable'. Each represents a family; Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Cousins, Uncles, Aunts... Our Citizens are our most valuable treasure; we waste far too many.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2001
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Very cool, hope I get a chance at them one day!
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Joined: Dec 2009
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Congrats and a great story.
You're Welcome At My Fire Anytime
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Molon Labe
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Very Cool,I bet that was exciting...
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2001
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Your posts about wolf hunting are some of my favorite posts about hunting on the entire net. Congrats on another successful wolf hunt.
Is it Friday yet?
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Good job and great story. I'd love to shoot one that way.
Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 27,692
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
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CONGRATULATIONS!
Member: Clan of the Turdlike People.
Courage is Fear that has said its Prayers
�If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.� Ronald Reagan.
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Joined: Sep 2010
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2010
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HOORAY ! ! HOORAH !! Fantastic.
Jerry
jwall- *** 3100 guy***
A Flat Trajectory is Never a Handicap
Speed is Trajectory's Friend !!
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I've always been different with one foot over the line.....
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 32,174 Likes: 4
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 32,174 Likes: 4 |
Pretty! And good thinking
The only true cost of having a dog is its death.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,291 Likes: 6
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,291 Likes: 6 |
awww-right!
I recall your post last year getting a wolf with your longbow--too cool.
What kind of call are you using for a wolf howl?
Casey
Casey
Not being married to any particular political party sure makes it a lot easier to look at the world more objectively... Having said that, MAGA.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1 |
If you put Taco Bell sauce in your ramen noodles it tastes just like poverty
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I probably hit more elk with a pickup than you have with a rifle. I have yet to see anyone claim Leupold has never had to fix an optic. I know I have sent a few back. 2 MK 6s, a VX-6, and 3 VX-111s.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Congrats, way to stick it out.
Ed
A person who asks a question is a fool for 5 minutes the person who never asks is a fool forever.
The worst slaves are those that put the chains on themselves.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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An unemployed Jester, is nobody's Fool.
the only real difference between a good tracker and a bad tracker, is observation. all the same data is present for both. The rest, is understanding what you're seeing.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Ted
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Well done! Hope Montana will allow more than one tag for you. Cant get them if your not out looking.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Congratulation on your wolf.
Randy NRA Patriot Life Benefactor
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 17,140 Likes: 2 |
Really excellent tale well told. Thanks.
If something on the internet makes you angry the odds are you're being manipulated
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 17,740 Likes: 1 |
Great story! Congrads on the wolf!
Deer Camp! about as good as it gets!
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Love it. Another good wolf right there. Great job!
Regards,
Tom
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Always enjoy you posts. Congrats on you resolve!
Bob Enjoy life now -- it has an expiration date. ~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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How old do you think that one is?
"...One Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All"
JeffG
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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How old do you think that one is? "The wolf was a female and aged as a 2 year old by the FWP biologist."
You're Welcome At My Fire Anytime
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Congrats, nice piece of fur!
"I didn't realize we had so many snipers in this country." by J23
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,653 Likes: 1 |
You did it again! That pegs the cool meter in my book. Thanks for sharing.
WWP53D
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Campfire Regular
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AWESOME!! how many is that?
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Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 603 |
Thanks for all the positive comments. Wolf hunting is an awesome experience. This was number 4 by either calling or howling with my voice.
"The difference between adventure and disaster is preparation" "Dangerous Game Hunting........because golf, football and baseball only require one ball"
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Outstanding! Keep teasing/inspiring us please.
mike r
Don't wish it were easier Wish you were better
Stab them in the taint, you can't put a tourniquet on that. Craig Douglas ECQC
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Campfire Regular
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Sweet stuff there! Way to go. Hope you get a few more this year!
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Posts: 56,342 Likes: 9
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 56,342 Likes: 9 |
That is simply outstanding. You sound like a guy I'd like to hunt with. Just great hunting.
_______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
LOL
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Campfire Member
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JCS ,that is great ,you are the premier wolf hunter of the lower 48.
“To account nothing of one's self, and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and perfect wisdom.” ― Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 29,662 Likes: 5 |
Your posts about wolf hunting are some of my favorite posts about hunting on the entire net. Congrats on another successful wolf hunt. Yep that; awesome work and excellent lesson right there!
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Campfire Regular
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Congrats, and thanks for the great write-up!
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 10,997 Likes: 3 |
A very big congratulations! Killing a/many wolves is definitely on the top of my " must do" list. memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2001
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Really excellent tale well told. Thanks. + a bunch! Love your style of hunting the way you locate, cover ground to close in while watching for a good ambush spot, calling, etc. Shades of Jim Corbett. Well done!
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,306 Likes: 2 |
LOVE IT!
You are consistently killing wolves, and that takes some skill and effort and smarts. Keep it up!
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 46,745 |
Camp is where you make it.
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Campfire Regular
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Great effort! Glad it worked out.
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Campfire Regular
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Very nice! I've been meaning to try this myself and reading your posts are nothing less than encouraging!
“You never need fear a man, no matter what his size. When danger threatens, call on me, and I will equalize.” Samuel Colt.
�Common sense is genius dressed up in work clothes.� - Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
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Congrats! Nice motivation for the rest of us.
If it was easy, everybody would do it.
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