Wolf shot near Pullman! Update 11/14/2014 pg. 8

[turkeyfeather]

I still fail to see how they can go after him when everyone in that area has been repeatedly told "there are no wolves". He can honestly say he thought he shot a yote. This falls on WDFW shoulders and they are at fault for this. This guy is completely innocent in my book.

So if I am in King County and see a moose I can shoot it right? Its just a big elk, I mean there's no moose in King County...

Did WDFW tell you that there are no moose in King County. If not then your argument is idiotic and doesn't apply.

Before calling my statement idiotic you may want to read a WDFW website: http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/moose.html

So yes according to WDFW there are no moose in King County

Your missing the point Tex. Did they tell YOU there are no moose there. Cause that is what they have been telling Palouse residents. These residents have been told that what they are seeing are just big coyote's.

[Curly]

If I'm not mistaken,  wdfw said there are no wolf packs in Whitman county. I don't believe they ever said there are no wolves there. An individual wolf could show up anywhere.

[turkeyfeather]

If I'm not mistaken,  wdfw said there are no wolf packs in Whitman county. I don't believe they ever said there are no wolves there. An individual wolf could show up anywhere.

As someone who lives on this side of the state and has family in the Palouse I can assure you that is what residents have been told.

[jrebel]

They have been watching this guy because of "previous activities" for a while now, just haven't been able to catch him.  I think he had better get out his check book for this one.  If it does go to court, the PA Denis Tracy just has to remember to take the right paper work with him when he goes to the court house.  He has been known to make those types of goobers.

If you are going to make accusations such as this maybe you should back them up with facts.   Otherwise this kind of accusation adds no value to the topic at hand.   

[idahohuntr]

If I'm not mistaken,  wdfw said there are no wolf packs in Whitman county. I don't believe they ever said there are no wolves there. An individual wolf could show up anywhere.

As someone who lives on this side of the state and has family in the Palouse I can assure you that is what residents have been told.

Then you have been talking to the wrong people...the cashier that sells licenses at walmart or office clerk at the local wdfw office are not necessarily the best sources of information.  I highly doubt you had a biologist tell you or any Palouse resident that no wolf could be near pullman...wolves have been on the Palouse for a long time...perhaps you could provide more details on who said what...are you just making a generalization about some rumors you heard from friends and relatives...or do you have specific names, dates, articles, etc. to prove what you keep repeating?

[Landowner]

No way should this guy get off. Especially being a farmer. I am sure he is more than aware of wolves being reintroduced into WA.

He can claim he thought it was a coyote, but that's not going to work in court. That's like me going and shooting an elk and saying I thought it was a big buck, and made an honest mistake. Please let me off.
 
Classic example of a typical Eastern Washington self-entitled farmer, that thinks he is going to "show the state of Washington" how the good ole boys do it out in Pullman. Well the good ole boy better cash in some of that wheat. He is going to have a big bill to pay. Looks like we should have some nice fresh roads being built on the Westside; compliments of this farmers stupidity.

Then again, maybe a jury will say the Eastsiders won't be paying for roads in W.WA.   Never underestimate the local communities.  Will be interesting to see. 

[T-Dozzer]

We have a farm and I grew up on the Palouse. I've known there are wolves around there for years. The small town of lacrosse even has the last sighting (picture) on the cover of the phone book. The thing that irritates locals is when they report a sighting it's often not taken seriously. I think the guy who shot this wolf will have some explaining, but if it goes to trial in Whitman county he might get some understanding jurors. Now if the state pursues charges, that's another story.

[Landowner]

We have a farm and I grew up on the Palouse. I've known there are wolves around there for years. The small town of lacrosse even has the last sighting (picture) on the cover of the phone book. The thing that irritates locals is when they report a sighting it's often not taken seriously. I think the guy who shot this wolf will have some explaining, but if it goes to trial in Whitman county he might get some understanding jurors. Now if the state pursues charges, that's another story.

Same jury.  Same venue.   No matter how he gets charged under state law.

[VarmintVentilator]

They have been watching this guy because of "previous activities" for a while now, just haven't been able to catch him.  I think he had better get out his check book for this one.  If it does go to court, the PA Denis Tracy just has to remember to take the right paper work with him when he goes to the court house.  He has been known to make those types of goobers.

If you are going to make accusations such as this maybe you should back them up with facts.   Otherwise this kind of accusation adds no value to the topic at hand.   

I am a landowner in Whitman County and lived here all my life.  As far as what Mr.-------did, it was a really bad decision on his part.  Are there wolves here in Whitman county?  Enough that sitings are on a regular basis now throughout the county.  The problem is with the wolves always moving and the type of ground (big rolling hills and lots of seeded wheat acres) it's hard for anyone to keep tabs on them, get photos for proof etc.  Plus, the game department is not going to just start driving through peoples seeded wheat fields.  As far as two or more that have been seen together to be considered a pack, is very difficult since most people don't carry cameras with them, plus you have to be close enough to get a good visual photo.  The game biologist know there are two and three running together in a couple of areas but nobody can see them long enough to get the visual proof needed.  As far as the game department you only have a few of them to check the whole county.  That makes it very difficult on their part.

[Snakeriver10]

The wolf is being examined to find if it is part coyote or not, depending on the results, one will not know the verdict till those are back. 

[Curly]

Didn't I read in this thread where DNA testing had been done now and it is 100% wolf?

[bearpaw]

Didn't I read in this thread where DNA testing had been done now and it is 100% wolf?

I saw that somewhere too!

[Curly]

Yep.  One page back.  Reply #181.

[Sumpnneedskillin]

State Fish and Wildlife wants Pullman wolf shooting suspect to face misdemeanor

 The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife wants the man who allegedly shot a wolf just outside of Pullman to be prosecuted with a misdemeanor. The Regional Fish and Wildlife Sergeant and the local agent personally delivered their final investigative report to Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy Wednesday. The report recommends that the man be charged with unlawful taking of endangered wildlife. Wolves are still protected under Washington State law and can only be shot if they are in the act of attacking pets or livestock. The incident occurred October 12th when a wolf was shot and killed just outside Pullman. The alleged shooter called fish and game himself to report the incident. It’s now up to Tracy to decide how to proceed. If convicted of the misdemeanor requested by Fish and Wildlife the man could face up to a year in jail. This marks the first time in Washington that a wolf poaching suspect has been identified by authorities.

[Boss .300 winmag]

With a good lawyer he could probably get it reduced to a fine and some community service. 

Surprised they didn't throw the book at him, must be something to his side of the story.