O M G! Wolves in northern Lincoln County

[GrainfedMuley]

 The last couple of years hunting the property that I do I have heard  a couple of reports of wolf sightings in the area. But this year is a different story. I talked to a lady that lives in her grandparents homestead north of the property I hunt. She has known My family 45-50 years when my grandparents had there wheat ranch. She stopped by our camp to say hello and we got into a chat about the scattered wolf sightings in the area. With a straight, cold and serious face, she told me that earlier this year, late July I think, she had 3 wolves in her yard. Just last Thursday evening, a wolf was spotted behind the land owners house where I hunt. To top it all off, I talked the Gamie and he admitted that he has heard wolves howling in the evening. For more evidence, lockidog was over with us camping but hunted  some DNR land not far away and has a couple of pics of tracks that I would guess is about 5" across. Maybe when he gets back and reads this thread, he might post the pic of the paw print. This was my greatest fear that this might happen. I have yet to see one, but I was on gaurd the entire trip. Over the years I know that there are hundreds of deer out there. I saw a few legal bucks but nothing like the quality I have seen in the past. The Gamie told me that all the quality deer have gone nocturnal. He told me that in the middle of August, at about 11:00 at night, he was checking the fields for deer and counted 8 legal bucks in one field and he said that two of them would have gone Boone and Crocket. During the day, they are no where to be found. The Gamie is an avid hunter. This bothers him a lot. The only thing he told about $$$ is that, IF it is brought to his attention, he HAS to do his job. He will not give up his 24 year carrier for somebody with a big mouth. But he does not want them there either. WDFW better get a clue that WE now have a problem in this state.

[boneaddict]

They've been there for AT LEAST 3 years.   I figured they were being replenished by the San Poil pack.  I wondered if they'd swim that river or not.  That I have never witnessed nor have any experience with.  I know elk do and have. 

I have a personal friend that knows what the hell he is talking about and he saw one a couple years ago.   I've heard several other reports as well. 

[GrainfedMuley]

Yes I know that Elk have swam the river. The Coulville Indians planted a bunch of Elk on there land several years ago and shot up the herd so much that they swam the river to get away! I would think a wolf could to, but only in search of food if there was no food on there side of the river. All the locals in northern Lincoln county want to keep the Elk thing quite. The wolf thing on MY hunting ground now, makes me very angry. I am going to go back over there between X-mas and New Years for some yotes. Maybe I can see a wolf then in the snow and take some pics and post them.

[Grizzly95]

I know it's beating a dead horse, but my neighbor just got back from his Idaho elk hunt with nothing. First time in 25 years of hunting the same area that they saw zero elk, not one in a week!
 
We are in the same sinking ship here in Wa! There is a reason they were hunted out of the northwest years ago, now it's too late. 

[CAMPMEAT]

I've heard about wolves about 4 years ago from a cattle rancher I know out of Creston.

[Todd_ID]

We've seen wolves swimming across Dworshak Reservoir in Idaho a few times near our cabins where the lake is maybe 600-700 yards wide.  There are deer and elk on both sides of the lake, so I'm not sure that was a motivating factor.  Maybe they were just looking for easier animals?  Either way, I wouldn't second guess their ability to swim a river.

[GrainfedMuley]

I've heard about wolves about 4 years ago from a cattle rancher I know out of Creston.

I used to hunt the "Swanson Lake" area south of Creston years ago. Is the Rancher you know north of Creston? I would hate to think that they are migrating south into the sagebrush.

[CAMPMEAT]

I've heard about wolves about 4 years ago from a cattle rancher I know out of Creston.

I used to hunt the "Swanson Lake" area south of Creston years ago. Is the Rancher you know north of Creston? I would hate to think that they are migrating south into the sagebrush.

She butts up against the northside of Swanson Lake.

[GrainfedMuley]

I've heard about wolves about 4 years ago from a cattle rancher I know out of Creston.

I used to hunt the "Swanson Lake" area south of Creston years ago. Is the Rancher you know north of Creston? I would hate to think that they are migrating south into the sagebrush.

She butts up against the northside of Swanson Lake.

   WOW!   

[GrainfedMuley]

On a side note;   The Gamie also told me that opening day was the single slowest openers he has ever seen in Lincoln county. Maybe this is the reason why?

[thatdamguy]

Sorry to hear about your newly discovered wolf problem guys that is really unfortunate. By chance have any of you guys ever heard about some a**hole raising wolf/dog hybrids from Davenport and releasing them into the wild as breeding pairs? I have herd about it from a few people from there and I just googled it and found this article about one being hit by a car on HWY 25 in 2008  http://www.petandwildlife.com/wolf-conservation/wolves-genetic-test.html

[GrainfedMuley]

Sorry to hear about your newly discovered wolf problem guys that is really unfortunate. By chance have any of you guys ever heard about some a**hole raising wolf/dog hybrids from Davenport and releasing them into the wild as breeding pairs? I have herd about it from a few people from there and I just googled it and found this article about one being hit by a car on HWY 25 in 2008  http://www.petandwildlife.com/wolf-conservation/wolves-genetic-test.html

Yes. A couple of years ago they found a dead one on the highway north of Davenport going to Hunters. The Gamie talked about that also. It was picked up and was by DNA found it to be a highbrid. I did not know that somebody was raising them and releasing them. What is the motivation in that? Why? What would be the purpose of doing that intentionally? Would a highbrid raised from a pup by humans have the ability to kill and hunt in packs?

[thatdamguy]

Yes. A couple of years ago they found a dead one on the highway north of Davenport going to Hunters. The Gamie talked about that also. It was picked up and was by DNA found it to be a highbrid. I did not know that somebody was raising them and releasing them. What is the motivation in that? Why? What would be the purpose of doing that intentionally? Would a highbrid raised from a pup by humans have the ability to kill and hunt in packs?
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From what I gathered it was some nut job who wanted to see wolf re-populate the state and had way to much time on his hands. Unfortunately yes I do think they would figure out how to hunt and kill in packs because I have seen pack of wild muts hunting and even taking deer in Stevens county

[GrainfedMuley]

Yes. A couple of years ago they found a dead one on the highway north of Davenport going to Hunters. The Gamie talked about that also. It was picked up and was by DNA found it to be a highbrid. I did not know that somebody was raising them and releasing them. What is the motivation in that? Why? What would be the purpose of doing that intentionally? Would a highbrid raised from a pup by humans have the ability to kill and hunt in packs?

From what I gathered it was some nut job who wanted to see wolf re-populate the state and had way to much time on his hands. Unfortunately yes I do think they would figure out how to hunt and kill in packs because I have seen pack of wild muts hunting and even taking deer in Stevens county
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Is there any law about releasing ANY dog into the wild? If so, did he ever get busted?

[quadrafire]

What is the motivation in that? Why? What would be the purpose of doing that intentionally? Would a highbrid raised from a pup by humans have the ability to kill and hunt in packs?

Some folks are just plain ignorant. Most likely a pet that was allowed to run loose?
Any dog that runs with a pack seems to change its mentality and can become a killing machine. Lots of packs probably contain a few animals that are pets during the day and run with the feral animals at night.