Doesn't seem that long ago that OR7 made the news when he traveled through here on his way to California. He came back through and miraculously "found a mate" near the liberal utopia of Ashland, Oregon, where there hasn't been wolves in decades. Wonder how that 2nd wolf got where he could find it?

Kept crossing the tracks today as we were scouting for bear country. Spread over a large area, they seem to have taken root and are actively hunting our blacktail deer! There goes our record book deer! Pisses me off no end to think about them, in addition to bear and cougar we already have, killing our tremendous bucks.

There was a rumor going around recently that someone had caught 22 wolves on a trail camera not far from Crater Lake. They're not wasting any time. Better enjoy what hunting we have left while we can.

I'm a little pissed, they are multiplying here in my area as well, and we are very close to the Washington border. So.....they are not only in southern, eastern oregon, they are in Northern Oregon as well... Are fish and game, or other state agencies transplanting these sob's here right under our noses??? I'm going yote hunting next weekend....

Game warden told me, when I mentioned seeing one near the Nevada / Idaho border, "we don't have wolves in this state, it was a big coyote. if you see it again, shoot it."

Ya know, I would almost bet my house that the mate(s) to OR7 were planted. I've lived and hunted in Oregon (all over) for 52 years and never seen a wolf track until now. We crossed the tracks at least 10 times today and it looked like from 2 to 5 wolves in the groups. They are going to clean out our game in no time with their efficiency and numbers, at least all the game except what lives in town.

This isn't sound big game management, it's a feel good program initiated and pushed down our throats by people that aren't looking at, or don't care about, the big picture. These wolves are covering a lot of ground and animals that big need to eat a lot of protein.

Sorry you saw a wolf track.
They have been in the wallowas for years.
Get used to it, they ain't going away.
Btw,
That pic is sorta like a Bigfoot film.
You need a better phone or camera.

If you knew how much a wolf, wolves traveled you would realize that your wolves likely are not being planted, but are dispersing from other areas to new habitat with no wolves in it. Lots of wolves in the states east of you. We once had a set of wolves we were after move 13 air miles in one night.

Anyone know if UDAP bear spray would work on them? I've got a daughter who just moved to Oregon and enjoys hiking, especially near Crater Lake.

I hunted the Wallowas for many years, and never crossed a track. I've been told they are there. There must not be very damn many considering the hundreds of hours I've glassed and thousands of miles I've traveled there.

What's alarming about these wolves is they just recently "arrived" and already are multiplying like nobodies business. That's the point though isn't it? They've been in the Wallowas for years and you never see sign of one, they show up here and there's already reports of packs numbering 2 dozen! It seems like they are breeding to fill a vacuum leaving me thinking the large numbers of wolves will make very quick work of our blacktail deer and even our bears.
In the last three or four years there have been small numbers of elk showing up in the Applegate Unit, where traditionally ODFW has said there were none. I guess we can expect those to go away now too. I saw no sign of elk yesterday, maybe they're already gone.

The report I heard about the trail camera capturing images of that large group of wolves was near the Rabbit Ears, a natural rock formation that sticks up out of the forest 20-30 miles from Crater Lake as the crow flies. We can always hope I heard wrong on the numbers of wolves, but I got that it was 22. I used to elk hunt near there and it is ideal wolf habitat. Your daughter could easily carry a firearm that would be more reassuring under the circumstances. If true, that is a large group of wolves and I would think the dynamic might change the larger the group involved. I would worry that a large group might not be easily intimidated.

There are local companies offering firearms training in Medford or Grants Pass. If I can help your daughter get connected let me know but you should be able to Google it.

Anybody would be a fool to think the gov't wouldn't relocate wolves behind the our backs .

The game feds don't give a ratsbutt about us hunters/trappers/fishermen .

Talk to any cowman in Enterprise or Joseph.

The gummint didn't have a bounty on wolves for years just for grins

From a 2016 article.
It won't let me copy the pic with the article.

In this 2014 photo, a wolf from the Snake River Pack passed a remote camera in eastern Wallowa County. Wildlife biologists are gathering data on Oregon’s wolf population even as increased numbers complicate long-term management of the animals. (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife photo)





ENTERPRISE — As the end of the year approaches, wildlife biologists are gathering data on Oregon’s wolf population even as increased numbers complicate long-term management of the animals.

In Flora, Shamrock Pack sightings have become a regular occurrence. Mike Hansen, assistant wildlife biologist at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Enterprise office, said this week he investigated a report of wolves in and around a ranch house in northern Wallowa County.

Hansen said confirmed wolf tracks were seen coming through a horse pasture, within 50 feet of the house and within a foot of a chain-link dog kennel.

“The homeowner said this was not the first time,” Hansen said. “They had seen wolves in their yard on at least three occasions.”

Last week, a homeowner reacting to her dog barking inside the house saw wolves approximately 40 feet from the front door.

The wolves have been seen on Lost Prairie outside of Flora multiple times. So far, they have not shown aggression in these residential sightings. However, the Shamrock Pack has been implicated in livestock kills, most recently a calf found badly injured last month on the Zumwalt Prairie. The calf had to be euthanized, according to Rod Childers, a member of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association wolf committee.

As wolf numbers and packs increase, the territories change. Biologists are trying to sort out wolf packs that are now inhabiting the Imnaha River country where the state’s best-known pack, the Imnaha Pack, was established around 2008.

Last spring, the aging alpha male and crippled alpha female of the Imnaha Pack, along with two of their offspring, were killed by wildlife managers after repeated loss to livestock over the course of a few months in a relatively small area northeast of Enterprise. Hansen said as other packs expand their territory, OR-4 and the three wolves running with him last year may have been pushed into the prairie.

“As alphas get older and weak, they are not as successful at reproducing, the pack diminishes and the pack next door pushes them out of their territory,” Hansen said.

While four members of the Imnaha Pack were eliminated, Hansen said four other wolves thought to be part of the pack remained on the divide between the Imnaha and Snake rivers.

Pack territories often can change, even within a year.

“We’ve seen it with the Imnaha pack and others,” Hansen said.

OR-35, a female wolf originally from Umatilla County, was in the Sled Springs Wildlife Unit last month when her collar information indicated she went to the Wenaha Wilderness in Washington.

“Territories are very fluid, and trying to keep track without radios is pretty difficult,” Hansen said. “Even then, you don’t know the reason they moved.”

In October, responding to repeated wolf reports in the Imnaha Wildlife Unit of 11, 12 and 13 wolves, Pat Matthews, Enterprise’s head biologist, trapped and collared a wolf.

“We thought, ‘Great, now we will learn what’s going on,’ and this one turns out to be a disperser,” Hansen said.

The wolf’s radio collar information indicates not long after he was collared, the wolf crossed the Snake River and is now in Idaho’s Frank Church Wilderness, leaving the wolves in the Imnaha River corridor still uncollared and the identity of 14 wolves filmed loping along the east side of the upper Imnaha Canyon unknown.

When asked what pack those wolves might be — Snake River, South Snake River or an expansion of the remaining Imnaha pack — Hansen said right now, it’s anybody’s guess.

The Snake River Pack’s territory appears to still be mostly on the lower Imnaha River in the Snake River Wildlife Unit, while the South Snake River Pack are not where they were last year on the Baker County line. Two other wolves, a male and female pair, have occupied that country in recent months. Roblyn Brown, acting state wolf biologist, said so far this year pups have not been seen with that pair.

Some of Wallowa County’s other well-known wolves, the Wenaha Pack, are off the radar with no collared members reporting data for the last year and a half. The Sled Springs Pack was essentially decimated last summer when the alpha male and female were found dead in north-central Wallowa County.

As biologists continue to get numbers for the 2016 wolf management annual report, Hansen said remote cameras have been installed to get counts of pups. He said they will also fly to locate animals and later in the winter they may try to capture and collar wolves from a helicopter.

http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/news/4876850-151/biologists-begin-wolf-counts

They are spreading over Wallowa County seemingly a little more each year. About three years ago they were around Seldom Seen Ranch. Two years ago I saw tracks and heard howls when camped near Nooregard ranch.

They are a real scourge for the ranchers. They get to absorb most of the costs, get little help when there is a problem and the wolf lovers don't stick to their deals.

Imagine your kids 4 H animal gutted by the house and having to have it happen three times in 6 months before they do anything.

Yeah, that talks alot about one here and there, or a few at a time. About like what you'd expect after a few years. We already have a report of 22 together and they just got here.

Wolves sounds like big business for the govt biologists don't they? Wonder why they want them so bad.

There were packs in the Wallowas and river breaks years back.
As I said, ask any rancher there.
Just as they did in Idaho for years, the F&G would come to a kill site, "take evidence" but never be able to "confirm" it was wolves.....so it "must have been coyotes".
So the rancher can't shoot it, like he can a coyote, and he gets no compensation to boot.
Not saying it's F&G's fault either. They have both hands tied behind their back.

I mentioned this thread to her last night and she said she already knew about the wolves. Unfortunately, she is only 19 and unable to carry a CW, so UDAP will be the next best thing, but I do agree, a very large group and possibly a not so large group may not be easily intimidated. Like I told her, unless you're armed, a wolf is one step higher on the food chain than you are.

ETA: One thing I don't like is, Oregon doesn't recognize a WV CHP, so when I come out there in a few months, I can't carry; liberal bast@rds! On the upside, my daughter increased the conservative population of Oregon by one.

Check into open carry laws in Oregon.

Will do; don't know how that slipped by me.

Will do; don't know how that slipped by me.[/quote]

Let me know when you get to Oregon. Maybe we can get together.

A friend that has lived in Wallowa for decades and hunts back in the Wilderness area in the mtns has said for probably at least ten years now that wolves had made their way from Idaho and that he thought he wasn't seeing as many elk because of them.

'Round here alot of elk have left the forest and are in the river breaks with the chukar and snakes or in the edges of the farm fields and draws.
My guess would be better visibility of attacking predators...

Fireball lives in Oregon. How many states do you reckon are East of Oregon?

You might try Idaho. Montana isn't very far away either. Both have lots of wolves that could head towards Oregon.

Some one needs a compass......

In 2011 I hunted the Eagle Cap Wilderness in N.E. OR. ,drop camp. Spent 6 days and lots of glassing and did not see one deer. I surely heard the wolf's at night. I ran into a couple of local hunters and they confirmed they have never seen it that bad and will not be returning to hunt the area in the future.

Granted, Idaho's wolfs in the Frank Church Wilderness are thriving and expanding. Hunted there too. It's a matter of time before they overtake many territories and states, managed or not. They are an apex predator. Today's political correct policies will only help them.

They mysteriously have established a pack in the Siskiyou Mountains of N. CA. They have been keeping the info. very suttle.

I hunted N.E. Ca. for deer 3 years ago X5B. North of Susanville. I saw a ranch with exceptionally large kennels about a 100 yards from the road. I later ran into a local and I inquired. He said a lady lives there and raises wolfs. A couple of years earlier while she was entering the kennel to feed, the gate was mysteriously propped open and a few escaped to start a new life. Intentional or unintentional, you be the judge.

There are groups for the wolf that are so committed in their introduction everywhere. Laws or no laws, I would not put it passed them, to introduce them anywhere at their whim.

Wolves deny us hunting opportunities wherever they roam. Thanks leftist scum!

I’m going to go out on a limb and say more than one.

We had someone raising wolves locally as well. Surprise, they're not anymore. They were known to escape as well. Tell ya what, one of us try to raise an invasive species, say pigs, and let some loose ODFW would be on our ass like white on rice, but because it's wolves it's big business for them, let em go.

Come to think of it pigs would be a great food source for wolves. Hmmmm.

Most domesticated wolf dogs, or wolf hybrids don't last long. They can't hunt, so they starve to death, or they get shot because they aren't afraid of people and just stand there. And if there is a pack of real wolves around, they will kill them in short order.

I love all the conspiracy theories I hear about wolves...

atse knows a bit about wolves guys, he's been hunting them for the feds for 20 years here in Montana. Same goes for Ulvejaeger. I know both of these men well, and when they talk about wolves you should listen...

If he’s a Second Lieutenant, don’t give him a map either! LOL!

Thank you

The elk population in my backyard has gone from 114K to 37K in the last 10yrs. Deer is down, but not as much. Antelope is down about 40%.
Before this happens to your area, gut shooting wolves, so they die somewhere else, is your best option.

Today's Headlines

IDFG says it culled wolves in Lolo Zone

Agency announces aerial gunning by federal agency killed 10 wolves


Lewiston - Idaho recently resumed its efforts to cull wolf numbers in the remote Lolo Zone near the Idaho-Montana state line following a one-year hiatus.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game announced Tuesday that 10 wolves were killed during an aerial gunning operation that started late last month. Tanya Espinosa, a spokeswoman from the federal Wildlife Services agency at Riverdale, Md., confirmed that her agency carried out the wolf-control operation at the behest of Fish and Game officials.

According to an Idaho Fish and Game news release, the wolves were killed in an effort to reduce predation on elk herds in the area. Although the loss of forage caused by aging brush fields and the conversion of young forest to middle age has been blamed for the long-term drop in elk numbers in the Lolo, predation on elk cows and calves is now the primary factor limiting recovery of the herds, according to the news release.

Idaho did not kill any wolves in the Lolo Zone in 2017, but did carry out wolf control there in six of the past seven years, including the removal of 21 wolves in 2016, 19 in 2015 and 23 in 2014. The agency's news release said such operations are consistent with the state's Elk Management Plan, the Lolo Predation Management Plan, as well as the 2002 Wolf Conservation and Management Plan. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved the 2002 plan as a precursor to removing wolves in Idaho and elsewhere from the endangered species list.

Jim Hayden, Idaho's wolf manager, said the operation was not announced before it took place because of a combination of security concerns and the difficulty in scheduling such events with helicopter availability and clear weather.

"You need recent snow for tracking and good safe flying weather and a helicopter," Hayden said. "A lot of times we have the right conditions and everyone is here and we can't access a helicopter."

Environmental groups that are critical of the state's wolf-control operations, as well as the state's refusal to make the public aware before they are carried out, panned the announcement of the latest round of killings.

"I think it's a very unpopular program and that is why they are not telling people," said Gary Macfarlane, ecosystem defense director at the Moscow-based Friends of the Clearwater. "The government operating in secrecy is not the way we do things in America, but apparently they think we are in East Germany or something."

Andrea Santarsiere, a senior attorney for the Center For Biological Diversity at Driggs, Idaho, said: "It's tragic that our tax dollars paid for Wildlife Services to kill 10 more wolves under the guise of protecting elk struggling from habitat loss and degradation."

The Fish and Game news release noted the operation was funded through money raised by the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and transferred to Idaho's Wolf Depredation Control Board.

Many elk hunters back the efforts to control wolves, especially in remote areas like the Lolo Zone, where rough terrain and snowy conditions make it difficult for hunters and trappers to gain access in the winter.

"I think it just continues to maybe set the precedent that Idaho is going to manage (wolves) and it's going to include using all the tools," said Steve Alder, executive director of Idaho For Wildlife at Lewiston. "As we have learned from Alaska and Canada, hunting and trapping wolves sometimes isn't adequate - yeah, in the front-range country (hunters and trappers) can handle it, but in the backcountry, it's tough.

Alder also said the department's willingness to thin wolf numbers helps its reputation with many hunters.

"When we see this, we know the department is looking out for sportsmen and trying to help and using its tools," he said. "It really helps me to not be as frustrated towards the Fish and Game. We do appreciate the department for doing this."

According to the news release, hunters and trappers have been able to kill 22 wolves in the Lolo Zone this fall and winter.

Elk numbers in the Lolo Zone have plummeted over the past 25 years. In 1989, there were about 16,000 elk there. Last year, biologists counted about 2,000. The slide began in the 1990s and was blamed on habitat degradation, harsh winters and predation - first from bears and mountain lions, and then from wolves.

Over that time period, the department has reduced the number of elk tags sold for the Lolo Zone; liberalized seasons and bag limits for wolves, bears and lions; and worked with the U.S. Forest Service on habitat improvement projects.

Sounds like wolves are good at their jobs. Thanks for the posts wageslave.

Idaho has a very liberal wolf hunting season and tags are cheap but normally you don't just run out and shoot your 5 wolves. They're very hard to come by. While we have a large population, we also have a huge amount of very rugged country for them to run in. Hunters can't possibly keep up with the reproduction rate. Trappers take a fair number but the population is still growing.

You guys got a wolf problem hey, say goodbye to your ungulates.
I and many others here in BC never had a chance to say goodbye as these wolves cleaned out the Moose, Mule deer, and Whitetails in many parts of BC, it only took a few years.
Having never had a Wolf issue before most were caught offguard as to how much and many a Wolf will kill, I find out a Wolf will kill 10-15 Elk a year, so a pack will take out alot.
Much of the problem lies with the Wolf loving community that are up in arms over killing any of these predators, does your government bow down to these azzhats or will they do a cull regardless of public opinion?

Govt is infiltrated by activists that seek policy making positions.


I went to Idaho and bought an out of state tag, and you are right, they are hard to find! I only chased them a day or two tho, around Salmon. Mostly sightseeing and bird hunting.

Let me know when you get to Oregon. Maybe we can get together.
[/quote]

Will do.

Alaska has been dealing with wolf and predator control issues forever and I don't see it ending. I could be wrong, but I was always under the impression the West coast between Alaska and Mexico is liberal land. Any thing goes if it feels good and accept every thing if some one else likes it. Or some thing like that.

All of those places killed of their grizzly and wolves long ago and they harbor groups that want to tell the rest of the states how to deal with their predators. If I could I would take a couple hundred of our brown bears and wolves and give them to places like San rancisco and Seattle and Portland. Let them get some first hand experience with those critters, they can cuddle and name them. It would be fun to watch.

You Old Timers crack me up....

well here in Minnesota we have over 4,000 wolves in the northern 3rd of the state of Minnesota,but these liberal PETA wolf love`n people have a lot of money and have been able to keep these dang wolves federally protected.plus half or more of the people that work for the DNR in Minnesota are liberal PETA wolf lovers, Minnesota deer season is not that good in the northern 3rd of Minnesota because of these wolves ,moose population in the NW part of Minnesota is almost 0 now because of wolf protection,i will agree lets put them in these big cities let them deal with wolves !

I bow hunt in those areas and remember seeing wolves 13 years ago back in those area and ranchers were losing cows to them then

At least with Oregon and this is just my opinion, but I am far from alone in my opinion...

Oregon Fish & Game unofficially doesn't support hunting at all...

its ran by urbanite liberals who are anti gun and anti hunting...

so let in all the wolves they can, let them wipe out game animals..

and then there will be no reason for for anyone to own guns, according to their way of thinking...

then with that done, they can just sit in the office with their feet up on the desk and drink coffee
and B.S. with each other all day.. like many other state level government employees do in this
state, while their retirement plan (PERS) continues to bankrupt the state, so the democRATS
can keep jacking up taxes to create their liberal utopia....for themselves...at the expense of
everyone else...

I think the trouble with that would be multiple targets,

Don't run.... A gal up here tried that. Didn't end well for her.

That's really about the way it is...

Maybe she needs an AR with a 30 round mag...

Schit! They fly too?

No, but I do, that is how we killed em.

Air Chase.....

How's things Bart? Getting any warm weather yet?

No, it has been a long winter. Its starting to break a little now but we are still way behind. I snared a wolf in about 3 ft of snow a while back. That was pretty cool. How is the coyote hunting?

Interesting write-up on her a while back... the fact she was alone, 4'10", running with ear buds in, and was hit by a split pack...

Still using snowshoes....

Calf calls coming in like gangbusters.

Open carry in Oregon. Must be unloaded in transport UNLESS you can prove transport from or to a hunt or range. Stay unloaded.

Wolf has been spotted on Mount Hood. Have seen some very large coyotes, but no wolf...yet. Came across some large prints, but not conclusive. Illegal in Oregon to kill wolves. Plenty of mountain lions, even near cities.