Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf?

[20 Minutes]

I have been thinking about this a lot. What would I do if I knew wolves had moved in to my hunting area?
I fear sitting in the woods in late November and getting flanked and hunted by a wolf pack.
I made a deal with Bears, Cougars, and Wolves....I won't mess with them if they don't mess with me. If I did have an encounter, I would shoot first and worry about the consequences later. I hate wolves, and I want ZERO to do with them. I am fascinated by their recovery and fear the worst.

[denali]

I would shoot them with my Canon 70-300 L,  no shovel required

[rtspring]

When it comes to human life! No animal is safe! They may get me in a rush, but a select few will meet their maker!!!

[Mudman]

Its interesting I have not heard of attacks on people yet.  We were recovering a bear and a lone wolf started howling about 100y from us last year.  Very creepy.  The pack answered from top of ridge. 

[20 Minutes]

Its interesting I have not heard of attacks on people yet.  We were recovering a bear and a lone wolf started howling about 100y from us last year.  Very creepy.  The pack answered from top of ridge.

What are the chances of being attacked?
Any wolf stat guru's know the answer. Probably not likely, but given the right situation it may happen.

[EA338AI]

"I was in fear for my life".  Remember that quote for future problems.  nuff said

[CementFinisher]

Chances very slim. I'm not scared of being attacked at all. If i lived in a more remote location i may be worried for pets and small children. Wolves are bad for wildlife populations and their management.  SSS!!!

[WAcoyotehunter]

I had wolves ~100 yards from my wall tent during elk season and got them howling at ~300 yards one afternoon while hunting.  The wolves are there because the elk are there... I stayed put and killed my elk.

[AspenBud]

If I were a hardcore big game hunter I would worry more about the impact they're having on my quarry.

But I hunt birds, and while I know that a lot bird hunters in places like Minnesota will tell you they have run dogs in or around wolf country in their state and never had a problem, that doesn't mean there have not been close calls. Hound hunters have more to worry about by virtue of the distance that their dogs run from them and the proof bears itself out in dead dogs caused by wolves.

So yes, I fear them and rightly so. My worst nightmare is to have a pointer go on a tear in the woods and come across a pack near a kill and get taken out or worse, walk into a point that turns out to be wolves.

I'm not sure I worry more about them than mountain lions though. But that's a different problem.

Hold in mind, by virtue of what I hunt there are different risks. When you hunt with a dog there is always the chance your four legged hunting partner won't come home alive or at all. Between bear, cougar, coyotes, wolves, snakes, sticks, drowning, cars, holes in the ground, getting lost, and the chance a dog could unknowingly jump off a cliff or fall down an old well...hunting dogs have a risky occupation. I roll the dice no matter what. But that's also part of the thrill.

[JM]

A couple of years before they opened the first season on them in Idaho my brother and I had backpacked in to a basin in late October. The first evening that we were in there a pack of around 7 started howling a couple hundred yards from us across a draw. You could literally yell at them and they would stop for about 10 seconds and then start back up. You can bet your ass that they'd run now if you yelled at them though.

To answer your question though I was never afraid of being harassed or attacked by them. I was just frustrated that they were in that basin pushing the animals that were there out and keeping the ones migrating down from coming into the basin. Like AspenBud said though if I'd had my dog with me I wouldn't have stuck around for fear of her being attacked.

[Labs07]

When I hunt in WY for Elk I am more worried about Grizzly Bear than Wolf.  The Griz will come to the rifle shot and steal your kill...I havent hear of Wolf doing this yet!  I WA I have heard Wolf in the far North  but never had an encounter.

[jess]

I am fearfull of any animal that is not scared of humans! Some of the tree huggers say they are just curious well that can go to deadly real fast. Three animals i am scared of; wolves, moose, sow bears.. When an animal looses its natural fear of man it is a bad thing and the wolves around here dont fear anything.. Time to thin out some wolves!

[TommyH]

Have none of you seen "The Grey"

[lucky33]

Awesome movie..Those are some bloodthirst critters!

[270Flat]

I do not fear them. I do have concerns about new pups having fear of humans. Many may grow up with out that fear, as long as there are no reprocussions from humans if they harass livestock or pets.

In fact I think they are a facinating animal. They have been a natural part of our ecosystem forever. It is well documented that once a native species is removed it throws off the balance of nature. But when a non native sub species is reintroduced in its place, they run amuck. Causing another imbalance in nature. Example of the larger Canadian wolves being brought in, as appose to the smaller native wolf that was taken out.

I would enjoy seeing a wolf and taking pictures... In another state. I just don't want to see them where I hunt. I would not hesitate to put the smack down if needed to protect my hunting partners or myself.

Hopefully one day when I can hunt out of state I will be able to purchase a wolf tag. It may even happen here in our great state of Washington.