Wolves in the Walla Walla

[skywalker253]

I was on the Wa side in Dayton last week. Locals are claiming the elk population is depleting rapidly, due to wolves. Game department claiming they are hybrids to the locals. Go figure...

This is news to me and I'm up there on the weekly.craziness

One of the forum members that lives in the Dayton area, posted a trial cam picture last year of a black and a gray together in the "Wolf Topic". He submitted it to the game department, who told him they came in from the Oregon side. Oregon Fish and Game were moitoring them. Apparently they go in and out of Washington/Oregon on a regular basis.

It is only a matter of time before wolves become a consistent problem in Wa. If I had it my way there would be no wolves, but I understand that they are an important part of our ecosystem. If Wa wants to host wolves, then manage them. IMO- The Wa game department wants wolves here, so it provides them with another method of making money. The only way they will manage them right now, is if they have to. After what happened in NE Wa last year, they may not even do that.

[jackelope]

I can tell you, for sure with personal experience, that SE WA WDFW biologists will not deny the presence of wolves in the Blues. Myself and my family have reported sightings to them and have never been told, ever, that they were hybrids. This is in the Blues, not around Dayton.
I've actually gotten a ton of info from the biologists down there re: wolves. In fact, it wouldn't shock me if they were reading this right now.
 

[jackelope]

p.s. My family are locals down there.  I am not.

[gunnarnewt]

Everybody down here (Dayton), including the WDFW knows we have had wolves for several years now. The sightings are becoming more and more frequent. 

[puyallupaul]

How much of our liscence & tag fees goes to wolf management ?
Reducing hunting opertunities. No win situation for hunters.
They need more budget though.

[judojudd]

2 years ago, while hunting spikes up near Husky Spring in the upper part of the Walla Walla unit, one of our hunting buddies killed a spike. While he was quartering it, he looked up and a black wolf was standing at the top of the ridge 70 yards away just watching him. I know that none of this surprises wildlife biologists. Their heads would have to be deep in the sand to not see all of the evidence. The Walla Walla pack seems alive and strong and killing elk every day. Shame.
I'm thankful for all the organizations that are leading legislation to manage wolves. There is no end in sight to this problem if not for the intervention of outdoorsmen who care about healthy herds and low predation numbers.

[jackelope]

Everybody down here (Dayton), including the WDFW knows we have had wolves for several years now. The sightings are becoming more and more frequent. 

 

[batch]

the wolves are doing well around here i had posted some pics of tracks i saw during my late season hunt on lincton mtn. and have seen a couple wolves on McIntyre last fall.  i hope to see some in the timber during my spring bear hunt .

[Sliverslinger]

2 years ago, while hunting spikes up near Husky Spring in the upper part of the Walla Walla unit, one of our hunting buddies killed a spike. While he was quartering it, he looked up and a black wolf was standing at the top of the ridge 70 yards away just watching him. I know that none of this surprises wildlife biologists. Their heads would have to be deep in the sand to not see all of the evidence. The Walla Walla pack seems alive and strong and killing elk every day. Shame.
I'm thankful for all the organizations that are leading legislation to manage wolves. There is no end in sight to this problem if not for the intervention of outdoorsmen who care about healthy herds and low predation numbers.

 

[huntnphool]

I was on the Wa side in Dayton last week. Locals are claiming the elk population is depleting rapidly, due to wolves. Game department claiming they are hybrids to the locals. Go figure...

This is news to me and I'm up there on the weekly.craziness

One of the forum members that lives in the Dayton area, posted a trial cam picture last year of a black and a gray together in the "Wolf Topic".

This was in Dayton.

[Skyvalhunter]

dog

[huntnphool]

dog

Not where that was.

[Skyvalhunter]

hybrid dog?

[huntnphool]

hybrid dog?

Now that could be.

[jackelope]

I can tell you, for sure with personal experience, that SE WA WDFW biologists will not deny the presence of wolves in the Blues. Myself and my family have reported sightings to them and have never been told, ever, that they were hybrids. This is in the Blues, not around Dayton.
I've actually gotten a ton of info from the biologists down there re: wolves. In fact, it wouldn't shock me if they were reading this right now.
 

I agree, as the biologist I spoke with confimed wolves are present in Dayton and surrounding areas around the Blues. The local I spoke with claimed the game department says they are hybrids. In the end, it does not matter. The reality is, they are there and here to stay. My family owns arguably the most land in the Dayton/Marengo area, who have confimed they are around.

The locals that say they were told hybrid have been reading too many threads on hunt-wa.