Wedge Pack: More cattle attacked in Stevens County (poll and letter)

[bearpaw]

Ok you guys are scaring me.........I am taking a week off to take the wife, grandchild and two Springers up to the Kettle Falls area for a week of camping.

I would like to get out and scout for a few friends who deer hunt around deadmans creek.

Should I be worried? I will have protection......but it would kill me to have somenthing happen to a family member or dog.

This crap is out of hand.

You will probably be fine. There are wolves near deadman creek , the photo below was taken about 5 miles north of deadman creek near Barstow last winter. We think it's a new population and not a lot of individuals yet. But they may have had pups this spring, I don't know yet. Might want to keep a pistol with you, it's bear country too.

[KFhunter]

and there are some wackos up there too 

[bearpaw]

and there are some wackos up there too 

How about the old school bus on blocks with two additions. 

[SpringerFan]

and there are some wackos up there too 

How about the old school bus on blocks with two additions. 

Well that helped!!!

I will for sure be ready (pistol included)

Never been up in this area before so was looking for some help.......not wackos.   

[Ridgeratt]

and there are some wackos up there too 

I might resemble this remark.

SpringerFan just use common sense and don't let your dog's be free range with out keeping and eye on them.
My Golden say's she's not skeerd but then she also knows what she has on her Right hip when she is away from the truck.

[bearpaw]

KCVL Radio - Wolf News
McIrvin is on Colville Radio again right now explaining how each calf lost to wolves costs them $1000.

McIrvin says that WDFW did not tell them when they had killed a wolf last week, he learned about it first from the radio, he is not happy about the lack of communication from WDFW.

McIrvin also claims WDFW targeted the wrong wolf that was killed last week. He says until they take out the breeding female that is doing the killing that he is going to continue losing cattle.

[NWBREW]

Didn't they say they were going to try to take out a second wolf? I wonder what ever happened with that thought. I really hope McIrvin keeps the preassure on the WDFW.

[bearpaw]

I think WDFW is passing time hoping the problem will blow over.

If McIrvin's continue losing cattle then I think WDFW will do something because they can claim they had no choice. What's sad is that the McIrvin's are bearing the cost of urban wolf lovers wanting wolves in WA. Unless McIrvin's can find every calf, bull, or cow that is eaten within a couple days of death and get it confirmed, they will get no compensation for their losses.

At the same time their whole herd is probably not gaining weight due to being harrassed by wolves. It has been proven in ID/MT that cattle harrassed by wolves gain far less weight than cattle without wolf harrassment. I'm going to guess that McIrvins (largest cattle producer in Stevens county) may have 1000 to 2000 cattle.

For simplicity: If 1000 cattle gain 100 pounds less due to wolf harrassment while on the range, that is 100,000 less pounds of beef to sell in the fall. At $1 per pound that is a loss of $100,000 just on the weight gain, not to mention the full loss of any cattle that are eaten or die from harrasment.

[bearpaw]

The McIrvin ranch supports several employees and families. There are also other ranchers in the area who have problems, there is no telling what the full financial impact of wolves is to the people just in this one GMU. Wait till there are wolves in all the GMU's that WDFW wants them. 

[CAMPMEAT]

I worked with Don for 5 years hauling woodchips. I was told they have up to 5,000 head of cattle. I'm sure not all are at the ranch, but that might give people how much money is at stake.

[jackmaster]

it doesnt matter what wolf they take out, they will continue to kill whatever is easiest to catch, its a simple predatorial instinct, oh and bearpaw, there probably isnt anyway to get a station over here to say it like it really is because they are all liberal friggin tree huggers over here on the westside 

[buckfvr]

Gamehunter......you just missed by a mile.............

[Ridgeratt]

 

I would venture to guess with the amount of attention this has brought the local roads might just look like I-5.
But what do I know.

[GameHunter1959]

Why? Because we have 2 different opinions on opposite sides of the arguement. I could just as easily say, people that think ranchers are getting screwed out of cash, due to cattle loses "missed by a mile." I don't think the game department should have to pay loses, which get passed off on the hunters. It is all part of the territory. If the ranchers don't like it, then sell their ranch and move. Nobody is forcing them to stay here.   

[KFhunter]

I thought you were banned Humanure