An old post for the newer folks

[Idabooner]

I was surfing old posts, 2007 one, maybe some newer folks to HW will enjoy.


761
Wolves / Re: Wolves in Washington
« on: December 06, 2007, 04:16:34 PM »
Is there wolves in Washington??  There has been wolves here for a long time, maybe for ever.  My Dad told of 2 wolves harassing him as a kid trying to catch his horse in the pasture. He was able to keep them at bay by swinging his rope around his head, the whirling noise kept them back until he got back to the barn. That was in the methow about 1912.
 
Mother and Dad had their honey moon and first winter in a trappers cabin on what is now the Pasayten Wilderness boundary. Dad would be gone on the trap line for 6 days then come back to take care of the hides the 7th day of the week, providing the weather cooperated. For two days a wolf sit about 100 yards from the cabin watching Mother, Dad come the next day checking the tracks, sure enough it was a wolf. That was 1927.
 
I was about 14 when I was camping out in Gardner meadows (about 11 miles into the now Wilderness) just my dog and horse, no tent or even a fly, just an old army blanket.  I was camped by the edge of the timber, there was a full moon on the meadows but the timber was in the shade of the mountain and very dark.  I had gathered enough squaw wood to get me asleep, when all of a sudden my dog was very scared and getting as close to the fire as possible. Then I seen this wolf moving from one bush to another in the moonlight, it was slowly  circling about 50 yards away, it would go into the timber then after a while it would be back in the moon light  again. I was scared, when it was in the light I would try to find more wood in the dark, when it went into the dark I would stand as close to the fire as possible, I have no idea how close it got on the dark side. It was a very long night, my fire was very small by first light the last time I seen the wolf. That was 1949.
 
Close to  the same year me and another kid was helping 3 men pack salt (by pack horse) for the cattle, we were going around under Story peak when there was 3 wolves following us at about 150 yards, one of the guy's had a pistol but the wolves never got closer, they followed about an hour.
 
About 1953 while hunting deer in the methow I found a freshly killed wolf, he had been shot.
 
About 25 years ago I seen a wolf two different years near Reynolds peak, one year she had 2 young with her, I think it was the same wolf both years. Other people seen these to.
 
For a few years, 15-20 years ago while I was packing for an outfitter the USFS would have a couple people at the trail head at day light to inform the hunters how important it was to NOT shoot any coyotes, it was sickening how they got this message across without mentioning the word wolf. If my memory serves me right it was illegal to shoot coyotes during deer season in that period. I don't know but suspicion they had planted some wolves in the area and didn't want any body to mistake them for coyotes.
 
About 15 years ago I know of a wolf encounter that happened close to my home by a close acquaintance.
 
So is there wolves in Washington?  Yes there is, and has been a long time. I don't know of a pack, hopefully there never will be.

[boneaddict]

Things have progressed since 2007. 

The Reynolds creek pair and babies were the first wolves I encountered.  At that time I thought it was very cool.   It doesn't carry that excitement any longer.

[2labs]

Good read. Thank you.

[grundy53]

Very interesting. Thank you.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[Mark251]

Great post!  Thank you for sharing it with us 

[Alchase]

I was surfing old posts, 2007 one, maybe some newer folks to HW will enjoy.


761
Wolves / Re: Wolves in Washington
« on: December 06, 2007, 04:16:34 PM »
Is there wolves in Washington??  There has been wolves here for a long time, maybe for ever.  My Dad told of 2 wolves harassing him as a kid trying to catch his horse in the pasture. He was able to keep them at bay by swinging his rope around his head, the whirling noise kept them back until he got back to the barn. That was in the methow about 1912.
 
Mother and Dad had their honey moon and first winter in a trappers cabin on what is now the Pasayten Wilderness boundary. Dad would be gone on the trap line for 6 days then come back to take care of the hides the 7th day of the week, providing the weather cooperated. For two days a wolf sit about 100 yards from the cabin watching Mother, Dad come the next day checking the tracks, sure enough it was a wolf. That was 1927.
 
I was about 14 when I was camping out in Gardner meadows (about 11 miles into the now Wilderness) just my dog and horse, no tent or even a fly, just an old army blanket.  I was camped by the edge of the timber, there was a full moon on the meadows but the timber was in the shade of the mountain and very dark.  I had gathered enough squaw wood to get me asleep, when all of a sudden my dog was very scared and getting as close to the fire as possible. Then I seen this wolf moving from one bush to another in the moonlight, it was slowly  circling about 50 yards away, it would go into the timber then after a while it would be back in the moon light  again. I was scared, when it was in the light I would try to find more wood in the dark, when it went into the dark I would stand as close to the fire as possible, I have no idea how close it got on the dark side. It was a very long night, my fire was very small by first light the last time I seen the wolf. That was 1949.
 
Close to  the same year me and another kid was helping 3 men pack salt (by pack horse) for the cattle, we were going around under Story peak when there was 3 wolves following us at about 150 yards, one of the guy's had a pistol but the wolves never got closer, they followed about an hour.
 
About 1953 while hunting deer in the methow I found a freshly killed wolf, he had been shot.
 
About 25 years ago I seen a wolf two different years near Reynolds peak, one year she had 2 young with her, I think it was the same wolf both years. Other people seen these to.
 
For a few years, 15-20 years ago while I was packing for an outfitter the USFS would have a couple people at the trail head at day light to inform the hunters how important it was to NOT shoot any coyotes, it was sickening how they got this message across without mentioning the word wolf. If my memory serves me right it was illegal to shoot coyotes during deer season in that period. I don't know but suspicion they had planted some wolves in the area and didn't want any body to mistake them for coyotes.
 
About 15 years ago I know of a wolf encounter that happened close to my home by a close acquaintance.
 
So is there wolves in Washington?  Yes there is, and has been a long time. I don't know of a pack, hopefully there never will be.

Thank you Sir.
I really appreciate hearing about the Methow through your eyes. You have experienced the lifestyle most of us could only dream of. It never gets old reading your history. I have loved hunting and camping the Methow for 30 years, and your stories make me feel like a green young kid, LOL

I saw two wolves up Lightning Creek last year. They were shodowing me along the ridge line. I have seen wolves before, but never so clear, and so close I was actually so amazed watching them as they worked their way over the ridge. I was kind of torn between wishing I had my camera, and wishing i could take them out and save the few deer still around.
On my way to camp I remembered the rancher near Davis Lake who lost a cow and calf up above the golf course, and the authorities said it could not be wolfs, the pack was up Libby.
Misdirection seems to be a trait the Wdfw value.

[RB]

Very interesting read

[HUNTaHOLIC5]

Thanks for posting this. 

[JDHasty]

They have been here and this is what you who get all over the native American Tribal members may just have to rethink.  They kill them, period, full stop.  They kill them when they see them.  Wherever they see them.  On the Rez or off. 

I know this first hand.  I have friends who are registered Colville Tribal members and they kill them regardless of where they see them.  Their philosophy is: we are going to take steps to preserve our way of life and US law be damned.

This is where the sports participate: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rez-Bucks-Bulls-Predators-RBBP/238654969604655

The sports in the tribe don't participate here because no one needs the abuse that they will get from some who resent the fact that whitie can not hunt for big game on the Colville Rez any longer and that they get to hunt off Rez too. But let me clue you in, there are some serious sports among the Colville and they are as serious as any of us and although there is a "wolf season" on the Rez, it doesn't mean anything if they see a wolf and even if the quota has been taken.  They kill them. On Rez or off.  Period, full stop.

I spend a lot of time in central WA and have friends who live in Nespelam and Inchiliem and they were anti wolf before you were anti wolf.  I guarantee it.  Many of them hunt big horn, moose, elk and deer and have far more opportunity than we do and are serious about passing that tradition down.  They live on a sportsman's paradise AND the sports among them know it. 

Just like in our society, they are now becoming a minority but they are still a major force within the Tribal zeitgeist.  We need to warm up to native Americans who share our values and traditions and stop painting with a broad brush. 

These Colville Tribal members who are sportsmen have a lot of influence that you and I don't enjoy.  They also hunt as hard as you and I and they share amongst themselves on their own site and never do you see them here.  That is to our detriment.  Take a look at that Facebook page and tell me that they would not fit in here?  AND while you are there, just look at how many of the posts are from Colville Tribal members.  This is a site that is set up for all North American Tribal members and our own Colville buddies dominate it! 

So what if the Tribe gets to take "substance" animals?  That is "small potatoes" compared to letting wolves multiply to the point that entire herds are decimated before a wolf pack moves on.  Yes, native Tribal members have an unfair advantage and if they hunt where you were planning to hunt, before you get there this year, it can screw you up.  But, really, in all honesty it is small potatoes when we compare that to what inviting them in to our group can do for hunting and wildlife in general in Washington State.

Ya' know I get jealous when I read about a Tribal member taking a big horn or a nice moose, because they had the opportunity to draw an easy draw on the Rez.  But I don't shun the guy who has enough money to bid on the big horn tag that is auctioned off, even though I am jealous of his good fortune to have that opportunity. 

Give these Tribal sports the same respect and let us welcome them to participate here and I bet that you will come away with a whole new perspective of the native American, especially the Collville Tribal member's who are sports, dedication to preserving our way of life.