Idaho Fish and Game turns to hired hunter

[Dave of TDG-Farms]

But you do not hear all the dead wolf and grizzly bears in that unit from the locals.  It used to be intesting to get gas in "Not to be named" gas station with posters from LEO's asking for information of the shooting of a grizzly or wolf in this location or the next. 

Was this behavior bad?  YES illegal but they locals saw the dangers and took care of business by themselves.  I am not saying I agree but it shows that no one was talking.

Id do the same. Then again, my right to protect my livestock far outweighs a predators right to try and snack on em

[denali]

http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/01/07/64287.htm

And the lawsuits begin... shocked..shocked I tell ya 

He is not going to "eradicate" wolves, the plan is to reduce the number of packs to increase calf recruitment, not to "inflate" elk numbers for the benefit of commercial outfitters.  these people are relentless and never let the truth get in the way of a good story.   

[Jonathan_S]

http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/01/07/64287.htm

And the lawsuits begin... shocked..shocked I tell ya 

He is not going to "eradicate" wolves, the plan is to reduce the number of packs to increase calf recruitment, not to "inflate" elk numbers for the benefit of commercial outfitters.  these people are relentless and never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

I know, there is not a single person on the planet capable of "eradicating" multiple packs of wolves.  Not up in that country anyway.

Mindless propoganda

[AspenBud]

the plan is to reduce the number of packs to increase calf recruitment, not to "inflate" elk numbers for the benefit of commercial outfitters.

I'm not sure I agree. Given how economically important elk are to Idaho I'd say it has everything to do with money one way or another. Bearpaw has mentioned countless times on here how many small businesses have suffered from big game declines and that includes commercial outfitters.

The argument really is over whether we manage game and utilize it like a crop or if we say the hell with it and let nature sort it out.

[idahohuntr]

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/media/viewNewsRelease.cfm?newsID=6940

A letter from the IDFG Director on this issue.  Seems pretty reasonable.


Why manage wildlife in wilderness

By Virgil Moore, Director, Idaho Fish and Game

Recent media coverage about Idaho Fish and Game sending an employee to try to remove two of the wolf packs in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness has raised questions and concerns. Many Idahoans have strong feelings about wolves - and wilderness. I've heard from those who believe we should take a hands-off approach and "let nature take its course" in wilderness, while others feel Fish and Game's actions are not aggressive enough to recover elk herds in the area.

Since their introduction into Idaho, we have come to understand that wolves are very prolific at reproducing and colonizing new territory and they can withstand relatively high mortality levels.

In 2002, the Idaho State legislature adopted a state wolf management plan to ensure that Idaho's wolf population would remain on the Idaho landscape and off the federal endangered species list.

Part of keeping wolves in Idaho is managing them to reduce conflicts. Idaho law says that wildlife throughout our state belongs to the citizens and that Fish and Game will manage to preserve, protect, perpetuate such wildlife, and provide for the citizens continued supplies for hunting, fishing and trapping.

Wildlife management often involves action: reducing crop damage from deer and elk herds through special hunts, reducing traffic collisions with big game animals, removing mountain lions from cities, preventing nuisance bear behavior by improving public awareness about sanitation, addressing overpopulation by increasing harvest, and recovering populations in decline by improving habitat, and in this case, reducing predation.

Fish and Game seeks to manage large predators (black bears, mountain lions, and gray wolves) in balance with their prey. The pack behavior of wolves is different than more solitary predators. The rapid growth of the wolf population disrupted the predator-prey balance in some areas and is a major factor in preventing some elk populations from rebounding.

The wilderness is a special place but it is different from a national park. Backcountry hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing are treasured opportunities, and Fish and Game has actively managed wildlife in central Idaho since before the area was designated wilderness.

Aerial surveys tell us that in the Frank Church wilderness, elk populations have dropped 43 percent since 2002 and wolf populations are too high in relation to elk numbers. Our research in other backcountry areas indicates that wolf predation is a major factor preventing elk populations from recovering. We know there are at least six documented packs in the Middle Fork Salmon zone, and several more packs throughout the wilderness area. Recent back country wildfires have increased elk forage but may it take a few years for habitat to fully recover.

Wolf hunting and trapping by sportsmen in the Middle Fork zones have not been sufficiently effective in reducing elk predation. Even if successful, this action will in no way come near to eliminating wolves. That is not, and never will be our goal.

More information about the Middle Fork zone elk population trends is included on page 97 of Fish and Game's new 10 year Draft Elk Management Plan posted on the Fish and Game website. Read more here: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/wildlife/?getpage=324.

[JLS]

I have absolutely no issue whatsoever with Idaho doing this.  If you want to cite something meaningful for future wolf management in WA, it would be this. 

They have scientific documentation of the issue.  Elk numbers should skyrocket following a large series of burns, usually about 5-10 years post burn and stay elevated for a number of years.  If wolves are keeping the number depressed, then it would be appropriate scientific management to do this.

I think this area is an anomaly because of the sheer remoteness of the Frank Church.

[denali]

the plan is to reduce the number of packs to increase calf recruitment, not to "inflate" elk numbers for the benefit of commercial outfitters.

I'm not sure I agree. Given how economically important elk are to Idaho I'd say it has everything to do with money one way or another. Bearpaw has mentioned countless times on here how many small businesses have suffered from big game declines and that includes commercial outfitters.

The argument really is over whether we manage game and utilize it like a crop or if we say the hell with it and let nature sort it out.

AspenBud , we are in agreement, the reason I said that was to show that wolf advocates are distorting the picture buy using the word eradicate and making it sound like the IDFG is doing the dirty work for commercial interests. 

[KFhunter]

I have absolutely no issue whatsoever with Idaho doing this.  If you want to cite something meaningful for future wolf management in WA, it would be this. 

They have scientific documentation of the issue.  Elk numbers should skyrocket following a large series of burns, usually about 5-10 years post burn and stay elevated for a number of years.  If wolves are keeping the number depressed, then it would be appropriate scientific management to do this.

I think this area is an anomaly because of the sheer remoteness of the Frank Church.

All the range riders on the Diamond M ranch would disagree.

[JLS]

Can you explain to me what in the world the range riders in Kettle Falls have to do with elk numbers in the Frank Church?

[KFhunter]

Oh sorry,  I thought you were talking about a person/s on horse back doing something to influence wolf populations.  Must have missed something?

[denali]

as of January 2, 2014, IDFG’s hired hunter has killed seven wolves within the targeted wolf packs six by trapping and one by hunting, and that more wolves may have been killed as of today.

info provided to the courts in a temporary restraining order filed yesterday.




 

[huntnnw]

Be a cool thing to follow and document and put a film together...Prolly recieve death threats 

[h2ofowlr]

Good for him.  Any bets their are way more wolves in the area than they are telling everyone?

[huntnnw]

could be..only the hunter may truly know and we will never no how many are killed

[jackmaster]

if the dude doesnt document everything on a go pro, or better yet, find a special ops recorder, holds alot more time and the qaulity is pretty damn good, and its simple, but anyways if he dont document everything then he is nuts, not only to cover his arse but if all goes well he could easily put together a bad boy huntn video, i know i would buy one, who wouldnt want to watch a bunch of wolves takin the dirt nap    well besides tree huggers and the wolf lovers that is.... and yes it could easily be done without being a sadistic mess