Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Wolf Problems....How bad is it?

Syc,
Weather has and always will play a role in animal movement during hunting hours. Changing up tactics to improve odds of success can be done over a quick strategy meeting amongst the crew knowing there’s animals available requiring only a change of hunting techniques...

Our crew just had to do this finding uncommonly warm, dry weather for a 2nd year in a row. We should have had 2 bulls down in 4 days of hunting instead of only one. It was a mistake a pard made. The key is animals in the area to hunt.

I wouldn’t say someone is a poor hunter, if the hunting grounds they’ve spent much of their life scouting and hunting becomes a barren landscape for furred animals after an increase of wolf presence in the area...Further, you take an area that had historically held an abundance of game and now doesn’t. How do you expect a hunter to change tactics on non-existent animals, or move to another hunting ground, especially when hunting a boundary unit that prevents you from pulling stakes and moving 30-40 miles into a new area?

You can’t...You’re stuck hunting the unit. Over the years I’ve had to make several changes in hunting tactics, mostly to follow the animals, but also to get away from the increase in hunting pressure from individuals who lack area knowledge and screw up a well planned hunt for myself and crew....

But this conversation is about the impact of wolves, and to a degree the added pairs of teeth they bring to some areas already holding predators that enjoy dining on ungulates. They certainly don’t make it any easier, and without living within or nearby the hunting grounds you plan to hunt. It can be very disappointing to arrive days before the opener only to discover wolf tracks and no game.

Lastly, living at 7k elevation would be difficult for me to hunt being I spend most of my life at sea level. Congratulations to you running your weed eater without getting winded. I would hire my yard work out, so I could concentrate on working a heavy pack running up and down your mountains to be ready to hunt...😎

Sycamore I understand lib's are challenged in the humor department, my couch still resides in Mt. and no they haven't thrown me down the mine shaft..... yet

Now if you could post a pic of 7000ft weed eating I would be much obliged.... oh hell any pic will do

My guess with Arizona's dry climate and relatively low game populations wolves will be devastating.... same for Nevada....

Hunting hard? 😎

That’s a tough pack out. Did you drive to the log landing you shot it from?

I hunt E. WA, where wolves are starting to take hold, but I haven’t noticed a decline. Lots of hunters that don’t see elk blame the wolves. I heard this excuse several times this season. Less than two miles away elk herds of close to 50 were seen several days in a row. Even though I saw only 6 cows in 8 days, I’m leery of blaming the wolves.

I see the word "balance" being used as in "balance of nature." Although referred to frequently as a factual model, it is a common misconception and a dangerous concept. There is no balance but there is a pendulum and it swings very unevenly sometimes, but it does swing...until it doesn't.

Exactly. But liberals and urbanites don't understand basic ecosystem biology, and yet they make the rules. It's a great way to ruin a good thing.

lvmike ,

Do you shoot coyotes while wolf hunting ?

Have you called in any wolves ?

I definitely shoot coyotes if they come in while calling. I have been told that wolves and coyotes don't share territory but I have seen their tracks in the same area. Last week I saw a Wolf in the Pacific Creek riverbed and called it w/ a cottontail in distress call. It showed interest but didn't come in and may have already seen me. I couldn't have shot him anyway as you need a special tag for this close to Yellowstone. In this region I only call where I have good visibility due to seeing grizzly tracks almost daily.


mike r

I wasn't sure if the lack of game was due to these two wolves or the fact that I was within snowmobile range of an Indian reserve. GD

I've often wondered how the Alaska caribou herd could survive with natives on snow machines and carrying rifles. Aren't the natives allowed to kill fish and game without intervention by conservation laws?