Fish and Game Considers Wolf Baiting in Northern Idaho

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Not sure how you missed it, wolves ruined hunting in many Idaho units, western MT and WY 10 years ago. Some agencies have already reacted with seasons and removal efforts, people have had time to reduce wolf numbers in some units and elk are rebounding, other units are still struggling. I would suggest that just because you don't have wolves where you live it doesn't mean there haven't been wolf impacts in many other areas. 

I would also mention that some hunters have been addressing access and other issues you mention. Just because you may not have seen it doesn't mean it hasn't been happening. If you become active in sportman's groups you will learn that a great deal of hunters are working on many of the issues you mention.   

I'm not saying wolves are without problems. I'm just saying they can be dealt with for the most part. The biggest problem is with them attacking domestic animals.  But for at least 5 years now I have been reading comments about how wolves are unstoppable and will be the end of hunting in NE Washington. "The downward spiral will never end!" Fact.....NE Washington herds are growing, not shrinking.

We are inundated with predictions of tapeworm epidemics and children being slaughtered like sheep. Neither have happened.

Then I get this letter from Idaho F&G.

"2015 Idaho Deer and Elk Outlook

Idaho big game hunters could have a hunting season to brag about this fall, as four consecutive mild winters have boosted deer and elk populations.

Mule Deer - Deer hunters could see the best hunting in more than 20 years. Fish and Game’s annual winter monitoring showed the highest winter mule deer survival since its intensive monitoring program began 15 years ago. Each winter, Fish and Game staff traps and radio collars adult mule deer and fawns in 14 locations across the state and monitors their survival through winter. Fawn survival over winter was nearly 80 percent, topping the previous high in the 2004-05 winter.

White-tailed Deer - White-tailed deer, which dominate Northern and Central Idaho, are doing excellent. Fish and Game does not monitor white-tails in the same ways it does mule deer. One way Fish and Game monitors whitetail populations is through hunting statistics. Whitetail harvests have grown five out the last six years and are currently above long-term averages. If trends continue this year, hunters could top the all-time whitetail harvest of 29,800 set in 1996.

Elk - Elk populations are managed differently than deer populations. Elk are fewer in numbers, and populations trends tend to be more gradual compared with deer. But in recent years, success rates and harvests gradually increased as hunters started seeing more elk. It’s likely a combination of mild winters and intensive predator management. While statewide elk hunting is improving, it’s not happening in all areas that elk inhabit. "

So Idaho had an all time best mule deer fawn survival. Better than the record year of 2004-2005 which is that 10 years ago you are talking about when you were talking about wolves ruining hunting. Whitetails are also on an upswing as are elk overall.

So, you either have to admit that wolves haven't turned Idaho into a predator pit, or that they can at least be managed to where their damage is negligible. In either case, they aren't worth more than a little concern. The fact is, as time goes on and game departments get used to dealing with them, it will only get better.

That isn't good enough for some though. They just want wolves gone period and use them as scapegoats for anything that they think is going wrong in the woods.

I believe there are much more pressing issues facing hunters. Wolves are very low on my list.

[bearpaw]

Not sure how you missed it, wolves ruined hunting in many Idaho units, western MT and WY 10 years ago. Some agencies have already reacted with seasons and removal efforts, people have had time to reduce wolf numbers in some units and elk are rebounding, other units are still struggling. I would suggest that just because you don't have wolves where you live it doesn't mean there haven't been wolf impacts in many other areas. 

I would also mention that some hunters have been addressing access and other issues you mention. Just because you may not have seen it doesn't mean it hasn't been happening. If you become active in sportman's groups you will learn that a great deal of hunters are working on many of the issues you mention.   

I'm not saying wolves are without problems. I'm just saying they can be dealt with for the most part. The biggest problem is with them attacking domestic animals.  But for at least 5 years now I have been reading comments about how wolves are unstoppable and will be the end of hunting in NE Washington. "The downward spiral will never end!" Fact.....NE Washington herds are growing, not shrinking.

We are inundated with predictions of tapeworm epidemics and children being slaughtered like sheep. Neither have happened.

Then I get this letter from Idaho F&G.

"2015 Idaho Deer and Elk Outlook

Idaho big game hunters could have a hunting season to brag about this fall, as four consecutive mild winters have boosted deer and elk populations.

Mule Deer - Deer hunters could see the best hunting in more than 20 years. Fish and Game’s annual winter monitoring showed the highest winter mule deer survival since its intensive monitoring program began 15 years ago. Each winter, Fish and Game staff traps and radio collars adult mule deer and fawns in 14 locations across the state and monitors their survival through winter. Fawn survival over winter was nearly 80 percent, topping the previous high in the 2004-05 winter.

White-tailed Deer - White-tailed deer, which dominate Northern and Central Idaho, are doing excellent. Fish and Game does not monitor white-tails in the same ways it does mule deer. One way Fish and Game monitors whitetail populations is through hunting statistics. Whitetail harvests have grown five out the last six years and are currently above long-term averages. If trends continue this year, hunters could top the all-time whitetail harvest of 29,800 set in 1996.

Elk - Elk populations are managed differently than deer populations. Elk are fewer in numbers, and populations trends tend to be more gradual compared with deer. But in recent years, success rates and harvests gradually increased as hunters started seeing more elk. It’s likely a combination of mild winters and intensive predator management. While statewide elk hunting is improving, it’s not happening in all areas that elk inhabit. "

So Idaho had an all time best mule deer fawn survival. Better than the record year of 2004-2005 which is that 10 years ago you are talking about when you were talking about wolves ruining hunting. Whitetails are also on an upswing as are elk overall.

So, you either have to admit that wolves haven't turned Idaho into a predator pit, or that they can at least be managed to where their damage is negligible. In either case, they aren't worth more than a little concern. The fact is, as time goes on and game departments get used to dealing with them, it will only get better.

That isn't good enough for some though. They just want wolves gone period and use them as scapegoats for anything that they think is going wrong in the woods.

I believe there are much more pressing issues facing hunters. Wolves are very low on my list.

What are you even talking about? 

Do you lack the ability to read and understand F&G studies and news reports that detail local wolf impacts in Idaho/Montana or you are simply one of those people who continually attempts to marginalize wolf impacts?

I must admit your comments are good for a chuckle on a hunting forum full of hunters who have read numerous state fish and game news releases over the last 10 years detailing severe wolf impacts on herds in many areas of Idaho and Montana and the extensive hunting, trapping, and Control actions to reduce wolf populations to save herds! 

I suppose that IDFG, the governor of Idaho, and major news media throughout the northwest all have it wrong! 

think.....

YNP Elk Herd
Lolo Elk Herd
Bitteroot Elk Herd
Payette Elk Herd
Couer D'Alene Elk Herd
St Joe Elk Herd
Clearwater Elk Herd
Selway Elk Herd

 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Amazing.

It seems to me that "wildlife managers" could have learned this lesson by examining the history of wolf populations, instead of letting things play out naturally before their very eyes.

   Many, many hunters told them this too, but they ignored us.

You have to have a college degree and want to sit on a computer all day and then they will take your advise on how to manage game ..So hard to swallow how idiotic these managers are ! Sportsmen know a hell of a lot more than they will ever know ..I hope it works and they can lure in the whole pack and let the lead fly !!!

[buglebrush]

This wolf fiasco isn't over yet by any means, we are really just getting started, there may be some new type of biological method or wolf specific poison developed and used to bring wolves back into manageable numbers before it is all said and done.

As was predicted by many hunters, ranchers, and some other citizens, wolves are proving very tough to control and/or manage. After believing the wolf lovers for the last few decades that wolves would self regulate and/or be easily managed, some agencies are just starting to wake up to the fact that they will have to try and regulate wolves with additional means.

There is a wolf specific poison...  Xylitol.  Safe for humans and other animals, but highly toxic to canines in small amounts.  Available in small amounts for a couple bucks at your local health food store.  We need some sweet gut piles 

[4fletch]

Until the deer and elk numbers are low And hunters stop buying licenses then the wildlife dept will go the same road to Idaho

[wolfbait]

Until the deer and elk numbers are low And hunters stop buying licenses then the wildlife dept will go the same road to Idaho

Actually I think WDFW would just a soon hunters quit buying licenses, look at their pretend predator control and then look at their future plans. WDFW want to to be funded by taxes, partnered up with environmentalists.