Wolf Kill

[boneaddict]

The lookout critters never left the valley floor this summer. 

[AspenBud]

Scott Fitkin can sit in the office all day and write reports, but the facts on the ground tell a differrent story as fewer hunters show up every year.

There is some sense to that. Lower harvest or not, a lot of guys don't want to risk an encounter with a wolf and if the hunting is getting as bad as you're advertising people won't come. Even if it isn't, the bad press will make many think twice about going out there. Especially given the price hikes in gas over the last several years, not to mention what the recession has done in and of itself to peoples' pocket books. Gas, lodging, time off...that's a lot to waste on a potentially unproductive hunt.

The number of hunters in WA has also declined virtually every year. People without skin in the game as hunters don't worry much about wolves.

Find a way to increase hunter numbers and you'll get a lot more traction.

[wolfbait]

Gee Todd, no wonder you're not giving me any good bear sightings.........

Sorry, the closest bear I have come on to is the one on the trail cam I showed you earlier. One deer, two wolves and one bear in a three week soak.

[wolfbait]

Scott Fitkin can sit in the office all day and write reports, but the facts on the ground tell a differrent story as fewer hunters show up every year.

There is some sense to that. Lower harvest or not, a lot of guys don't want to risk an encounter with a wolf and if the hunting is getting as bad as you're advertising people won't come. Even if it isn't, the bad press will make many think twice about going out there. Especially given the price hikes in gas over the last several years, not to mention what the recession has done in and of itself to peoples' pocket books. Gas, lodging, time off...that's a lot to waste on a potentially unproductive hunt.

The number of hunters in WA has also declined virtually every year. People without skin in the game as hunters don't worry much about wolves.

Find a way to increase hunter numbers and you'll get a lot more traction.

Really, do you honestly think that people who have hunted the Methow for fifty years would take my word that there are no deer left? And do you think they all read W-H? Like Idaho etc. fewer and fewer hunters come back after realizing there are more wolves and very few deer. As far as hunters encountering wolves, I know several who would love an encounter, and it would surely be the last one for the wolf.


How would we gain traction with a increase in hunters? WDFW stacked the wolf working group with pro-wolf people, the wolf meetings are a joke, and now 5 years after the lie of first wolf pack in 70 years, WDFW refuse to confirm wolf packs unless forced to do so.

How many wolves are in WA? Watch the game herds start to decline sharply in the next few years.

[splitshot]

the state should sell wolf tags for $100 each.  extra revenue and wolf problem solved.  no more wolves hanging around towns.     mike w

[Birdguy]

I thought it was funny how the WDFW could confirm a wolf kill on a doe in minutes but a wolf kill on a domestic animal is not possible these days  .

[mkcj]

 

[wolfbait]

I thought it was funny how the WDFW could confirm a wolf kill on a doe in minutes but a wolf kill on a domestic animal is not possible these days  .

Scott Fitkin wasn't in charge of the confirming for WDFW If we could somehow keep Fitkin's type and Olympia in the office next to their computers, coffee pot and let the people who aren't mixed up with the greenies confirm wolf packs, livestock kills and the impact on the game herds we wouldn't be in the mess we are today.

[adictd2hunting]

All hunters need to be carrying a shovel in their truck just in case they run across fire.  It's the responsible thing to do

Lol, of course. Fire is a real and present danger.

Just picked up me and my buddy shovels tonight.   

[AspenBud]

Scott Fitkin can sit in the office all day and write reports, but the facts on the ground tell a differrent story as fewer hunters show up every year.

There is some sense to that. Lower harvest or not, a lot of guys don't want to risk an encounter with a wolf and if the hunting is getting as bad as you're advertising people won't come. Even if it isn't, the bad press will make many think twice about going out there. Especially given the price hikes in gas over the last several years, not to mention what the recession has done in and of itself to peoples' pocket books. Gas, lodging, time off...that's a lot to waste on a potentially unproductive hunt.

The number of hunters in WA has also declined virtually every year. People without skin in the game as hunters don't worry much about wolves.

Find a way to increase hunter numbers and you'll get a lot more traction.

Really, do you honestly think that people who have hunted the Methow for fifty years would take my word that there are no deer left?

In many cases hunters who have been hunting that area 50 years are starting to get too old to hunt or are dying. Who is replacing them? The statistics aren't encouraging.

And do you think they all read W-H?

And you post here because?...

Like Idaho etc. fewer and fewer hunters come back after realizing there are more wolves and very few deer. As far as hunters encountering wolves, I know several who would love an encounter, and it would surely be the last one for the wolf.

People fear them, that's indisputable. Many will stay out of areas they are in.

How would we gain traction with a increase in hunters? WDFW stacked the wolf working group with pro-wolf people, the wolf meetings are a joke, and now 5 years after the lie of first wolf pack in 70 years, WDFW refuse to confirm wolf packs unless forced to do so.

And that was allowed to happen because Washington's hunting culture is dying.

How many wolves are in WA? Watch the game herds start to decline sharply in the next few years.

And when that happens how many people will care? People who don't hunt don't have skin in the game.

Low hunter numbers in this state are more of a problem than you seem to want to acknowledge on this issue.