Idaho wolves?

[sled]

  I Have Been Lucky This Year!  Would Love To Tag A Wolf.  Any First Hand Experience, Or Info?

[idahohuntr]

They are tough to hunt...You can spend a lot of time and never see or hear a wolf, much less get a shot at one.  But if you want to target them specifically and you are not deer or elk hunting, I would wait until late in the year (December-February) when snow has animals congregated, you can track etc...much greater chance then...plus their hides will be in great shape!

[KFhunter]

They are tough to hunt...You can spend a lot of time and never see or hear a wolf, much less get a shot at one.  But if you want to target them specifically and you are not deer or elk hunting, I would wait until late in the year (December-February) when snow has animals congregated, you can track etc...much greater chance then...plus their hides will be in great shape!

yup - good advice and I'd hunt them a lot like a WT buck during rut.   Sit in a tree 40 feet up with an attractant out front of you (grouse wings, feathers, guts etc). Maybe blow out a few Elk screams and sit tight.  Some bottled wolf pee for mock "scrapes" a lot like a buck too,  that'd get them riled up and hanging around for your hunts.   Around here I'd use distressed bovine screams for best effect.

Just spent 4 days being surrounded by wolves,  pee'n on top of my pee,  and coming to blow the elk out of dang near every call stand I made.   I wasn't too happy about it.
deer were almost completely wiped out,  few mules left on top over 6k but the WT were gone except the ones hugging the farm houses.  I didn't stumble on a single WT where 5 years ago I was tripping over them.   Big BIG change in hunting conditions in the last couple years.

looking forward to my first wolf tag for WA




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[idahohuntr]

Well, now you know where to go...as close to NE Wa as you can get and still be legal  I spent the last several days scouting in Idaho and I heard and saw more bulls than I ever have...and the deer were literally everywhere!  I saw more 140+ WT bucks in one day than I have in the previous 2 or 3 seasons combined!  I never heard a wolf, saw a track or sign or any indication they were anywhere around. 

[KFhunter]

Well, now you know where to go...as close to NE Wa as you can get and still be legal  I spent the last several days scouting in Idaho and I heard and saw more bulls than I ever have...and the deer were literally everywhere!  I saw more 140+ WT bucks in one day than I have in the previous 2 or 3 seasons combined!  I never heard a wolf, saw a track or sign or any indication they were anywhere around.

evidence of what aggressive predator control can do!


No such luck in WA      I was hunting a predator pit.

[bearpaw]

Well, now you know where to go...as close to NE Wa as you can get and still be legal  I spent the last several days scouting in Idaho and I heard and saw more bulls than I ever have...and the deer were literally everywhere!  I saw more 140+ WT bucks in one day than I have in the previous 2 or 3 seasons combined!  I never heard a wolf, saw a track or sign or any indication they were anywhere around.

evidence of what aggressive predator control can do!


No such luck in WA      I was hunting a predator pit.

I think I know where you were hunting KF and I have had the same experience there, really disgusting to see the impacts. 

[idahohuntr]

Well, now you know where to go...as close to NE Wa as you can get and still be legal  I spent the last several days scouting in Idaho and I heard and saw more bulls than I ever have...and the deer were literally everywhere!  I saw more 140+ WT bucks in one day than I have in the previous 2 or 3 seasons combined!  I never heard a wolf, saw a track or sign or any indication they were anywhere around.

evidence of what aggressive predator control can do!


No such luck in WA      I was hunting a predator pit.

more like good habitat and 4 or 5 easy winters in a row 

[KFhunter]

Ya

[bearpaw]

Ya

 

[idahohuntr]

Ya

 

For a couple of guys who don't know me and don't have a clue where I hunt/scout you sure act like you know an awful lot about what might impact game numbers in this place you know nothing about.   

You would have a lot more credibility if you fellas reserved your "its the wolves fault" until or if you knew where I was even talking about

[CAMPMEAT]

I was in Coolin for a week, last week. I saw 5 deer and no elk. Saw a lot of elk sign near Dickensheet rd though. No bugling either.

[KFhunter]

Ya

 

For a couple of guys who don't know me and don't have a clue where I hunt/scout you sure act like you know an awful lot about what might impact game numbers in this place you know nothing about.   

You would have a lot more credibility if you fellas reserved your "its the wolves fault" until or if you knew where I was even talking about

ya     


A magical wonderland in Idaho free of wolves with multi-specie trophy animals around every corner, and it's all due to magical habitat. 
What Disney show where you watching?  If there was a forest fire in the mix I'd guess Bambi, but I don't recall Elk in Bambi...hrm

Did Walt himself narrate it?   I need a hint, I'm not up on Disneynature (google it) as I could be.




credibility 

[idahohuntr]

Ya

 

For a couple of guys who don't know me and don't have a clue where I hunt/scout you sure act like you know an awful lot about what might impact game numbers in this place you know nothing about.   

You would have a lot more credibility if you fellas reserved your "its the wolves fault" until or if you knew where I was even talking about

ya     


A magical wonderland in Idaho free of wolves with multi-specie trophy animals around every corner, and it's all due to magical habitat. 
What Disney show where you watching?  If there was a forest fire in the mix I'd guess Bambi, but I don't recall Elk in Bambi...hrm

Did Walt himself narrate it?   I need a hint, I'm not up on Disneynature (google it) as I could be.

credibility 

Oh, yes, you got it.  Winters and habitat have no effect on game abundance.  Animals are just randomly distributed on the landscape and controlled exclusively by predators. 

You keep whining about wolves surrounding you for 4 days...(sure you glad you were able to survive that scary ordeal...did they pee on you too?) and I will continue successfully hunting in Idaho and Washington like thousands of other hunters.

[KFhunter]

So what's keeping the wolves out of your magical hunting paradise Idahohntr?   A high fence?

If there's game there like what you're suggesting then it's a feast for wolves, cats and bears....so either there is a high fence or some PO'd locals doing what needs to be done on your behalf, so you can come here and brag all over HW how you found some magical habitat.  To suggest wolves haven't "found" your little valley yet is disingenuous at best. 


I'm guessing it's PO'd locals and a government that supports them doing what needs to be done. 
WA has no such luck so I was with 10,000's of unsuccessful hunters whose animals were already taken down or run out due to wolves and other predators. 


I seen my elk......in little piles scattered over 50 miles of roads and trails. 

[idahohuntr]

So what's keeping the wolves out of your magical hunting paradise Idahohntr?   A high fence?

If there's game there like what you're suggesting then it's a feast for wolves, cats and bears....so either there is a high fence or some PO'd locals doing what needs to be done on your behalf, so you can come here and brag all over HW how you found some magical habitat.  To suggest wolves haven't "found" your little valley yet is disingenuous at best. 


I'm guessing it's PO'd locals and a government that supports them doing what needs to be done. 
WA has no such luck so I was with 10,000's of unsuccessful hunters whose animals were already taken down or run out due to wolves and other predators. 


I seen my elk......in little piles scattered over 50 miles of roads and trails. 

You have no facts or idea or understanding of the area I hunt, yet you continue to run your mouth like you are an expert...you would make a fine WA politician...a fairly poor hunter it sounds like, but a really good politician 

There are wolves there...they are just tough to find amongst the herds of elk and deer.  No fences and no "locals" poaching predators...a few bears, cats, and wolves killed...but not many.  Access is very difficult and not conducive to anything but very serious hunters...this isn't driving down the back 40 where a few farmers are going to shoot all the predators on sight.   

We've been down this road before though...any game I've ever killed is solely because of a secret band of poachers who keep the predators at low levels, which is the only factor in game abundance, and I just unknowingly benefit from these actions.   

The lengths some people go to in order to rationalize their continued failure never ceases to amaze me.

[KFhunter]

I spent the last several days scouting in Idaho and I heard and saw more bulls than I ever have...and the deer were literally everywhere!  I saw more 140+ WT bucks in one day than I have in the previous 2 or 3 seasons combined!  I never heard a wolf, saw a track or sign or any indication they were anywhere around.

isn't the same as:

There are wolves there...they are just tough to find amongst the herds of elk and deer.  ..a few bears, cats, and wolves killed...but not many.

How can you hunt where there's wolves and not see signs that they're in there?  It's pretty difficult to not see sign    and you call me a fairly poor hunter 
Like I said, you're benefiting from aggressive predator control  (as you admitted in the second quote)  and trying to spin it as superior habitat and wolves self regulating their population.   It's a Disney tale.



and on another note:
The name calling from you is getting very tiresome, can't you get the hint that name calling and personal attacks are not welcome on this site? 
 

[idahohuntr]

I don't see where I called you any names.  I pointed out the fact that you are talking a lot about an area that is unknown to you in the least, making it rather intriguing that you would take a position that you know it better than I do and what influences the abundance of game animals there.  I assumed with your snide Walt Disney remarks you were ok with some ribbing back about being a good politician if that is what you found offensive. 

BTW-It is not at all uncommon to have confirmed wolf packs in most areas of Idaho, go there, and not see any sign or indication of wolves.  In fact, if you have much experience around wolves you would probably be aware that it is exceedingly common to hunt areas where wolves are known to occur and not find any indication of their presence on any given hunt/trip.

[cougarbart]

Idahohunter, I would be really interested to go in depth on your views about the wolves in Idaho! I will be at the bovil bar next 3 weekends in the evenings and elk butte bar in elk river the next 2 weekends after that, if your in the area stop by and I will buy you a beer!

[GETOUTSIDE]

I was in Coolin for a week, last week. I saw 5 deer and no elk. Saw a lot of elk sign near Dickensheet rd though. No bugling either.

Campmeat, I was in almost the same area all last weekend. But west of the highway. Same results, except no deer either. Lots of sign of everything, but virtually no sights or sounds. A little odd...

[idahohuntr]

Idahohunter, I would be really interested to go in depth on your views about the wolves in Idaho! I will be at the bovil bar next 3 weekends in the evenings and elk butte bar in elk river the next 2 weekends after that, if your in the area stop by and I will buy you a beer!

Thats awfully generous, but I won't be in Bovill or Elk River during those times.  And I'd hate to take up good beer drinking time with my views on wolves...which are more complex and not at all popular relative to most other hunters opinions/views.  I hope you are down that way hunting though and wish you the best of luck! 

[CAMPMEAT]

I was in Coolin for a week, last week. I saw 5 deer and no elk. Saw a lot of elk sign near Dickensheet rd though. No bugling either.

Campmeat, I was in almost the same area all last weekend. But west of the highway. Same results, except no deer either. Lots of sign of everything, but virtually no sights or sounds. A little odd...

Where at, if you want to say it on here. We were at the RV Park at the Priest inn for 7 days..

[sirmissalot]

Where do you hunt idahohunter? I grew up hunting central Idaho, gave up on it about 8 years ago due to the problems with wolves. I know you act like everyone makes that stuff up but we watched it happen. Maybe it's better now and I need to get back over there, you sure make it sound rich with game.

[GETOUTSIDE]

I was in Coolin for a week, last week. I saw 5 deer and no elk. Saw a lot of elk sign near Dickensheet rd though. No bugling either.

Campmeat, I was in almost the same area all last weekend. But west of the highway. Same results, except no deer either. Lots of sign of everything, but virtually no sights or sounds. A little odd...

Where at, if you want to say it on here. We were at the RV Park at the Priest inn for 7 days..

My old man has a cabin on the west side near the Tamarack, so I stay there. I don't mind saying, up Squaw Valley Rd. but in Washington.  I'll leave it at that We camp up there in the summer, but when the temps get down (like last weekend) I stay at the cabin since it's a short enough drive to where I am/was going, that a guy only has to wake up an hour earlier to make it in before light.

[idahohuntr]

Where do you hunt idahohunter? I grew up hunting central Idaho, gave up on it about 8 years ago due to the problems with wolves. I know you act like everyone makes that stuff up but we watched it happen. Maybe it's better now and I need to get back over there, you sure make it sound rich with game.

I hunt in Idaho.  I've hunted plenty of areas that for one reason or another, including predation, are not what they once were. I don't pretend that everyone "makes up" declines in big game in certain areas...but I don't put much stock into opinions from guys that have never hunted Idaho and merely repeat talking points from the wolf hater crowd that all big game herds have been destroyed or that wolves have ruined everything.  Its simply not true and a lot of these guys just are not a credible source of information.  There are a ton of places where hunting is as good as it has ever been.  As I mentioned earlier, I really think the good deer numbers I was seeing...and the size of the bucks that I can not wait to go back and hunt  are the result of recovery from 2 severe winters (08 and 09) followed by several fairly mild winters with high survival.  I would strongly encourage you to take another look at Idaho given the breadth of opportunity...if you feel like your old stomping grounds are not worth it, i really would put effort into looking elsewhere as ample opportunity exists if you are willing to look for it...IMO.  Bear in mind, there still is not a buck/bull behind every tree in even the best units in the state...but that was as true before 1995 as it is today.       

[bearpaw]

I don't see where I called you any names.  I pointed out the fact that you are talking a lot about an area that is unknown to you in the least, making it rather intriguing that you would take a position that you know it better than I do and what influences the abundance of game animals there.  I assumed with your snide Walt Disney remarks you were ok with some ribbing back about being a good politician if that is what you found offensive. 

BTW-It is not at all uncommon to have confirmed wolf packs in most areas of Idaho, go there, and not see any sign or indication of wolves.  In fact, if you have much experience around wolves you would probably be aware that it is exceedingly common to hunt areas where wolves are known to occur and not find any indication of their presence on any given hunt/trip.

And then there are the areas where wolves are still impacting herds. Idaho F&G does a good job of explaining which herds are below objective and are still being impacted by wolves.

But, wolf numbers are being reduced in some areas and that's helping herds, the people of Idaho have made an impact on wolves in those areas and those units seem to be turning around. To also help the situation Idaho is reducing bear and cougar numbers with very liberal seasons and double tags, the overall predator foot print is smaller, that has helped compensate for the impact of wolves.

[idahohuntr]

I don't see where I called you any names.  I pointed out the fact that you are talking a lot about an area that is unknown to you in the least, making it rather intriguing that you would take a position that you know it better than I do and what influences the abundance of game animals there.  I assumed with your snide Walt Disney remarks you were ok with some ribbing back about being a good politician if that is what you found offensive. 

BTW-It is not at all uncommon to have confirmed wolf packs in most areas of Idaho, go there, and not see any sign or indication of wolves.  In fact, if you have much experience around wolves you would probably be aware that it is exceedingly common to hunt areas where wolves are known to occur and not find any indication of their presence on any given hunt/trip.

And then there are the areas where wolves are still impacting herds. Idaho F&G does a good job of explaining which herds are below objective and are still being impacted by wolves.

But, wolf numbers are being reduced in some areas and that's helping herds, the people of Idaho have made an impact on wolves in those areas and those units seem to be turning around. To also help the situation Idaho is reducing bear and cougar numbers with very liberal seasons and double tags, the overall predator foot print is smaller, that has helped compensate for the impact of wolves.

Bearpaw - Looks like you and your guys are seeing some of the same things I saw in Idaho last weekend...good elk hunting!  Keep after 'em

[CAMPMEAT]

I was in Coolin for a week, last week. I saw 5 deer and no elk. Saw a lot of elk sign near Dickensheet rd though. No bugling either.

Campmeat, I was in almost the same area all last weekend. But west of the highway. Same results, except no deer either. Lots of sign of everything, but virtually no sights or sounds. A little odd...

Where at, if you want to say it on here. We were at the RV Park at the Priest inn for 7 days..

My old man has a cabin on the west side near the Tamarack, so I stay there. I don't mind saying, up Squaw Valley Rd. but in Washington.  I'll leave it at that We camp up there in the summer, but when the temps get down (like last weekend) I stay at the cabin since it's a short enough drive to where I am/was going, that a guy only has to wake up an hour earlier to make it in before light.

Ok, but I don't have a clue where the, Tamarack, is.

[bearpaw]

I don't see where I called you any names.  I pointed out the fact that you are talking a lot about an area that is unknown to you in the least, making it rather intriguing that you would take a position that you know it better than I do and what influences the abundance of game animals there.  I assumed with your snide Walt Disney remarks you were ok with some ribbing back about being a good politician if that is what you found offensive. 

BTW-It is not at all uncommon to have confirmed wolf packs in most areas of Idaho, go there, and not see any sign or indication of wolves.  In fact, if you have much experience around wolves you would probably be aware that it is exceedingly common to hunt areas where wolves are known to occur and not find any indication of their presence on any given hunt/trip.

And then there are the areas where wolves are still impacting herds. Idaho F&G does a good job of explaining which herds are below objective and are still being impacted by wolves.

But, wolf numbers are being reduced in some areas and that's helping herds, the people of Idaho have made an impact on wolves in those areas and those units seem to be turning around. To also help the situation Idaho is reducing bear and cougar numbers with very liberal seasons and double tags, the overall predator foot print is smaller, that has helped compensate for the impact of wolves.

Bearpaw - Looks like you and your guys are seeing some of the same things I saw in Idaho last weekend...good elk hunting!  Keep after 'em

Yes it has been good, thankfully we do not have many wolves and our herd has remained stable. 

[GETOUTSIDE]

I was in Coolin for a week, last week. I saw 5 deer and no elk. Saw a lot of elk sign near Dickensheet rd though. No bugling either.

Campmeat, I was in almost the same area all last weekend. But west of the highway. Same results, except no deer either. Lots of sign of everything, but virtually no sights or sounds. A little odd...

Where at, if you want to say it on here. We were at the RV Park at the Priest inn for 7 days..

My old man has a cabin on the west side near the Tamarack, so I stay there. I don't mind saying, up Squaw Valley Rd. but in Washington.  I'll leave it at that We camp up there in the summer, but when the temps get down (like last weekend) I stay at the cabin since it's a short enough drive to where I am/was going, that a guy only has to wake up an hour earlier to make it in before light.

Ok, but I don't have a clue where the, Tamarack, is.

oh, haha whoops. It's the gas station/hardware store area across the the golf course on HWY 57 (about 5 miles north of Dickensheet Rd.). Squaw Valley Rd. is right across from the Priest Lake Visitor's Center, just before Dickensheet Rd.

[CAMPMEAT]

I was in Coolin for a week, last week. I saw 5 deer and no elk. Saw a lot of elk sign near Dickensheet rd though. No bugling either.

Campmeat, I was in almost the same area all last weekend. But west of the highway. Same results, except no deer either. Lots of sign of everything, but virtually no sights or sounds. A little odd...

Where at, if you want to say it on here. We were at the RV Park at the Priest inn for 7 days..

My old man has a cabin on the west side near the Tamarack, so I stay there. I don't mind saying, up Squaw Valley Rd. but in Washington.  I'll leave it at that We camp up there in the summer, but when the temps get down (like last weekend) I stay at the cabin since it's a short enough drive to where I am/was going, that a guy only has to wake up an hour earlier to make it in before light.

Ok, but I don't have a clue where the, Tamarack, is.

oh, haha whoops. It's the gas station/hardware store area across the the golf course on HWY 57 (about 5 miles north of Dickensheet Rd.). Squaw Valley Rd. is right across from the Priest Lake Visitor's Center, just before Dickensheet Rd.

Now I know exactly where..............