Here is the update on the 84 lb coyote.

https://www.wilx.com/2024/04/03/michigan-dnr-hunter-harvests-gray-wolf-calhoun-county/

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Michigan DNR: Hunter kills gray wolf in Calhoun County
The hunter encountered what he initially thought to be a large coyote while hunting with a guide.


By Brendan Vrabel
Published: Apr. 3, 2024 at 10:00 AM EDT|Updated: 7 hours ago
CALHOUN COUNTY, Mich. (WILX) - The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced Wednesday that a Michigan hunter killed a gray wolf in January during a legal coyote hunt.

According to the DNR, a Michigan hunter reported harvesting a large animal in Calhoun County in January. Later, genetic tests by the Michigan DNR revealed the animal to be a gray wolf.

The hunter encountered what he initially thought to be a large coyote while hunting with a guide. He harvested the animal, which weighed 84 pounds. The DNR said eastern coyotes typically weigh between 25 pounds and 40 pounds.

The state’s known wolf population is located in the Upper Peninsula, and the DNR said they continue to search for wolves in the Lower Peninsula but have found only a few signs of wolf presence in that part of Michigan since the state’s wolf population became re-established in the 1980s. The DNR does not believe that a gray wolf has been sighted in that part of Michigan since the likely extirpation of the wolves in the state in the early 20th century.

Genetic tests confirmed the animal to be a gray wolf that had not been sighted in the southern Lower Peninsula in years.

The DNR is investigating the presence of this wolf in Calhoun County. They continued stating that they did not suspect the animal was part of an established population in the southern Lower Peninsula.

The DNR said there is no need to be concerned about a larger wolf presence in the county.

The public should not be concerned about broader wolf presence in the county or the Lower Peninsula. Data collected on collared wolves in Michigan have shown the animals can travel thousands of miles, in some cases far beyond their known range.

“This is an unusual case, and the DNR is actively delving into the matter to learn more about this particular animal’s origin,” said Brian Roell, large carnivore specialist for the DNR. “While rare, instances of wolves traversing vast distances have been documented, including signs of wolves in recent decades in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.”

The DNR listed several other wolves presences in the northern Lower Peninsula, including:

“In October 2004, a wolf originally collared in the eastern Upper Peninsula was captured and killed by a coyote trapper in Presque Isle County.
During winter track surveys in 2011 and 2015, track evidence consistent with wolflike animals was observed in Cheboygan and Emmet counties.
In 2014, biologists from the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians captured a wolf on a trail camera during an eagle survey. DNA analysis of scat collected at the site confirmed the animal as a wolf.”
People can view more information on Michigan’s wolf population on their website here.

Any legal ramifications for the hunter?

Took most of us looking at a picture to figure it out that it was NOT a coyote. Took months of blood tests for the professionals to figure it out. LOL

405Wcf: I thought so - and thanks for the update/clarification.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I have not yet heard of any. I suspect it would be more likely the feds rather than the state that would press charges since the DNR has long argued there are no wolves in the lower peninsula.

if there is action taken it will be from the Feds , for his sake i hope not it could be expensive ?

No charges filed but the guide and shooter both idiots for not being able to tell difference between wolf and a coyote.

And the DNR is different, how?

A lot of people in the southern farm areas hunt at night with thermal equipment. I've not used thermal scopes, how difficult would it be to distinguish between a 40lb coyote and an 80lb wolf coming to a call? What I've seen on videos the image is not that detailed.

Within the last 25-ish years three wolves have been killed in Missouri. DNA confirmed all three to be from the Upper Great Lakes wolf population. No charges were ever brought against any of the people who killed these wolves in Missouri.

It would be nearly impossible without a built in rangefinder, you just can't estimate range at night. I have a buddy that stalked a pig only to find out it was an armadillo. I've heard the same story from others too. It's different if you know the place and have an idea of how far the tree line is but some places I hunt I've never been on in daylight.

Quote" And the DNR is different, how?" You got 3 types working in DNR office. admin which just does paperwork, Warden who enforces the laws and states biologist. Bio. has to have test run to confirm it even if they do know what it is any [bleep] you hear just hear-say less you prove otherwise. I have 3 thermals all different brands and yes you can tell difference between a 40-pound coyote and 80-pound wolf, and just so happens the shooter and guide both ignorant to tell difference.

Some guys on LongRangeHunting have heard a pack of wolves howling at night in Mark Twain National Forest.
I've thrown a guess out there that there are likely wolves in 40+ states.
I saw one 20 miles north of Panama City Beach, Florida ten years ago. Saw one in SW Arkansas many many years ago.
Wolves, Cougars, Bears are expanding their ranges fast.

They are simply reclaiming historical ranges. Oklahoma now enjoys elk and black bear seasons and mountain lion sightings are not uncommon.

What would be neat is to train them to eat illegal migrants and demotards.

The same for the Missouri Ozarks. I hunt within our elk restoration zone and see and hear elk often. Black bears are fairly common and it's not a surprise to see one. We have a limited draw hunt for both elk and bears in the Ozarks. Wild hogs are thick and a real nuisance. Mountain Lion sightings aren't uncommon either. The conservation department has documented at least six elk killed by lion(s) since the elk reintroduction.

Illinois DNR has long claimed that lions, wolves, and bears do not exist in our state. However, it wasn't till a few years ago the hunting regulations included "they cannot legally be harvested".

First off you would need to be an idiot to even think a 80 pound canine is a coyote....I have caught in a trap a 56 pound coyote and had to look at it long and hard before dispatching it...I live in the UP of Michigan and catch and shoot over 100 coyotes a year....also catch 3-5 wolves....
I've called in wolves hunting coyotes it's very easy to tell the difference between wolf and a coyote....they look even different not just size....

It's like a local woman in the southern part of Michigan put a warning on FaceBook to watch their pets they're a coyote in the neighborhood the size of a "German Shepard"....told her if it weighs more than 45 pounds I would pay her a $1000....another person got on and said they saw it also and its big as a "German Shepard"....told them that it must be a wolf if it that big.....a wolf must weight 200 pound then stupid people win stupid prizes....