Free: Contests & Raffles.
2 Loss of habitat, such as from forests getting too old, roads and new subdivisions, ever expanding cities, even farming although farming can also help some species. But in some areas hunting is managed to keep animal populations artificially low to prevent crop damage..
Quote from: buckfvr on October 15, 2013, 07:45:27 PMCompounding the predator problem with wolves is the issue..............and for no apparent scientific reason. Purely special interest groups.Funny, In Yellowstone Park the riparian habitat is making a comeback due to the fact the elk can't overbrowse and destroy that critical habitat as they are chased of by wolves. That leads to a much stronger food chain and much more diverse prey base which in the end results in a larger carrying capacity for all animals.But why would anyone care if they are just trying to get thier elk. lol
Compounding the predator problem with wolves is the issue..............and for no apparent scientific reason. Purely special interest groups.
Quote from: KFhunter on October 15, 2013, 10:07:21 PMThis isn't AK, Washington pales in comparison with suitable wolf habitat vs Alaska. Your "Wolves in Alaska" really has no place in the debate about wolves in the lower 48 states.There are none so blind as those who refuse to see.Wolves or any other predator will have negligible effects on over all cervid numbers if good habitat and weather conditions exist. There are three main causes of game die offs and wolves aren't one of them.1 Severe winters or other weather related events such as drouth.2 Loss of habitat, such as from forests getting too old, roads and new subdivisions, ever expanding cities, even farming although farming can also help some species. But in some areas hunting is managed to keep animal populations artificially low to prevent crop damage.3 Disease, which can run rampant when too any animals are crowded into too small of an area.In years past, you could have added human hunting and poaching, but with modern game management, that isn't as much of an issue as it once was.
This isn't AK, Washington pales in comparison with suitable wolf habitat vs Alaska. Your "Wolves in Alaska" really has no place in the debate about wolves in the lower 48 states.
1 Severe winters or other weather related events such as drouth.
2 Loss of habitat, such as from forests getting too old, roads and new subdivisions, ever expanding cities, even farming although farming can also help some species. But in some areas hunting is managed to keep animal populations artificially low to prevent crop damage.
3 Disease, which can run rampant when too any animals are crowded into too small of an area.
Quote from: KFhunter on October 15, 2013, 10:07:21 PMQuote1 Severe winters or other weather related events such as drouth.Elk/Deer can survive tough winter conditions if left to weather out the storm unmolested, but if you have a pack of wolves pushing them they die off due to "weather related" events. Wolves don't even have to sink a tooth in an Elk to kill it. I've followed them myself, or rather followed the wolves following the Elk. The poor Elk don't even get a chance to lay down and the wolves got them up on their feet running again. They burn calories and slow down the wolves get easy pickings. A severe storm rolls through and the already stressed animals die off due to "winter kill". The wolves don't even have to sink a single tooth in an Elk to kill it. Quote3 Disease, which can run rampant when too any animals are crowded into too small of an area.Wolves only pick off the sick or diseased - the weak You just contradicted yourself.
Quote1 Severe winters or other weather related events such as drouth.Elk/Deer can survive tough winter conditions if left to weather out the storm unmolested, but if you have a pack of wolves pushing them they die off due to "weather related" events. Wolves don't even have to sink a tooth in an Elk to kill it. I've followed them myself, or rather followed the wolves following the Elk. The poor Elk don't even get a chance to lay down and the wolves got them up on their feet running again. They burn calories and slow down the wolves get easy pickings. A severe storm rolls through and the already stressed animals die off due to "winter kill". The wolves don't even have to sink a single tooth in an Elk to kill it. Quote3 Disease, which can run rampant when too any animals are crowded into too small of an area.Wolves only pick off the sick or diseased - the weak
....and for the record -again- I am not anti-wolf. I am pro-wolf management.
I see! Let me stoop down to knee high level to talk to you then if I must. Quote1 Severe winters or other weather related events such as drouth.Elk/Deer can survive tough winter conditions if left to weather out the storm unmolested, but if you have a pack of wolves pushing them they die off due to "weather related" events. Wolves don't even have to sink a tooth in an Elk to kill it. I've followed them myself, or rather followed the wolves following the Elk. The poor Elk don't even get a chance to lay down and the wolves got them up on their feet running again. They burn calories and slow down the wolves get easy pickings. A severe storm rolls through and the already stressed animals die off due to "winter kill". The wolves don't even have to sink a single tooth in an Elk to kill it. Quote2 Loss of habitat, such as from forests getting too old, roads and new subdivisions, ever expanding cities, even farming although farming can also help some species. But in some areas hunting is managed to keep animal populations artificially low to prevent crop damage.what's your point? Just rambling on about the current state of affairs - too many people Quote3 Disease, which can run rampant when too any animals are crowded into too small of an area.Wolves only pick off the sick or diseased - the weak
Ya'll make me feel like I'm arguing with a toddler that just watched a Disney show about talking wolves. ....and for the record -again- I am not anti-wolf. I am pro-wolf management.
Quote from: KFhunter on October 15, 2013, 11:35:35 PM....and for the record -again- I am not anti-wolf. I am pro-wolf management.We're on the same page there.
Quote from: AspenBud on October 15, 2013, 11:44:13 PMQuote from: KFhunter on October 15, 2013, 11:35:35 PM....and for the record -again- I am not anti-wolf. I am pro-wolf management.We're on the same page there.So that means you think we should year round open season, trapping, Arial gunning right? That is how the Canadians manage them, and how the Alaskans did before Arial gunning was taken away by referendum.
Quote from: Cougartail on October 15, 2013, 09:34:03 PMRat...lol The BIG difference between me and most on this site is I've lived, hunted, and trapped in Alaska. I also have hunted and trapped in Washington for 20+ years. Those oldtimers who have trapped for years in Alaska shake thier heads at the "wolf haters". If you ask anyone of them in the know they will tell you bears are as hard on ungulate populations as wolves.Hey what do they know? They couldn't hold a light to the experts on this site...geez!This isn't AK, Washington pales in comparison with suitable wolf habitat vs Alaska. Your "Wolves in Alaska" really has no place in the debate about wolves in the lower 48 states.
Rat...lol The BIG difference between me and most on this site is I've lived, hunted, and trapped in Alaska. I also have hunted and trapped in Washington for 20+ years. Those oldtimers who have trapped for years in Alaska shake thier heads at the "wolf haters". If you ask anyone of them in the know they will tell you bears are as hard on ungulate populations as wolves.Hey what do they know? They couldn't hold a light to the experts on this site...geez!
Bears are Hard on unglulates. Since hound hunting was taken away from us as a tool, and even the pursuit season in the NE what has the state done about bear harvest? They COULD increase spring bear permits a bunch. I may have to join several others in skagit valley and just buy my bear tag and hunt predator only, "just to do my part".
I think its sad that the WDFW fails to realize that MOST people are only willing to shell out $$$ to hunt deer and elk. Since they fail to manage predators, or at least make it easy for hunters to, the department is making decisions that are foceing themselves into a slow death as an agency.