Wolves, a good thing?

[jmscon]

 
I see a lot of people bashing wolves in this state, I get it. I'm not a big fan of Grizzlies, wolves, etc., things that can attack me and take away from hunting. And having ranchers loosing animals and having their hands tied is pretty frustrating! But back, before the white man came, there was a symbiotic relationship between the indigenous people and the indigenous animals. There were healthy herds of elk, deer, moose, goats, sheep, antelope, etc. and a big population of predators, wolves, coyotes, brown and black bears, cougars, people.

When the white man came in numbers we needed food, deer, elk and antelope were on the menu. Wolves, cougar and bears were seen as a threat and were hunted, in some cases, until extinction. At the turn of the twentieth century there were few elk, deer, sheep, goats and little to no antelope. Wolves and grizzlies were almost gone. The indigenous people were fewer in numbers too.

With the threat of having popular hunting game being gone the state started restricting hunting. Wolves and grizzlies were no longer a threat and coyotes and cougars were in check. The deer and elk populations grew and grew. And along with that came the diseases. The slow old and weak, what the predators usually target, were allowed to keep breeding. Hunters were not inclined to shoot a deer with hair loss "What the heck is wrong with that thing?! I don't want to touch it let alone eat it!".

Now a lot of the western states have the same problems, diseased game animals and low predator rates. Residents are up in arms (on both sides of the issue) about reintroduction or natural migration of these predators back into the ecosystem. These predators will target both the strong and weak animals but will have more success against the weak and diseased. Slowly but surely making the herds stronger.

I don't like the idea of having fewer animals, less tags, less area to hunt in or the damage to livestock that has and will occur. But I do like the thought of heathier herds! I can also think of a few guys that would be very happy if they could add a full wolf mount to their collection!

 

[2MANY]

After reading this I see the problem.

The white man came.

End of story.

[JimmyHoffa]

The herds pre-settlement are not always described as being so bountiful.  The lewis and clark journals talk about being near starvation for parts of their journey.  The only animals they'd see for days were wolves and bears.  They would have to eat their horses and leather.

[Woodchuck]

3...2...1...

[h20hunter]

Should move this baby to off topics right up front.

[mfswallace]

Ignorance must be bliss
This symbiotic relationship u speak of has no bearing in the Now, 300million humans who have created city's and homes throughout the landscape that once Was

And not to derail what should be such a great thread but it is similar to how tribal harvests should be rethought with all 300million in mind. 

[Skyvalhunter]

I guess someone has to open their selves up for a beating might as well be jmscon

[Rainier10]

Now we are getting there, wait for it.....

[grundy53]

 

[Rainier10]

I'm impressed I was on board for moving this right away to off topics figuring it would blow up.  Hopefully it stays civil, lots of eyes watching. 

[jackelope]

I'm impressed I was on board for moving this right away to off topics figuring it would blow up.  Hopefully it stays civil, lots of eyes watching. 

It's been 31 minutes.
I've been saving this one for a special occasion

[Rainier10]

If you still have some of that Montucky beer I am in.

[257 Wby Mag]

Hell just turn the rich guys loose and let em "poach"!!! Grin

[JimmyHoffa]

Hell just turn the rich guys loose and let em "poach"!!! Grin

As long as they have good lawyers, it won't be poaching.

[Special T]

How do you describe "healthy herds"?  To me just leaving that as your goal means nothing... just like the saying "going green".