Wolf Hunting Idaho

[jaredwitman]

Well my hunting partner and I decided to try something new next year. We will be getting into planning a public land wolf hunt in Idaho. Very little is known or has been researched at this point when it comes to hunting these animals over there but I look forward to getting my head wrapped around it. I don't have any specific questions at this point (they will be coming soon) but I would welcome any info of any kind, even a story or two if you have any.
 

[grade-creek-rd]

look at Danksin Mountain in Unit 39...I know of a few wolves taken from that area, as well as they are still going strong there.

Grade

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Well as a Idaho hunter, I appreciate your efforts!  They are not easy to hunt, or to find for that matter.  Yes I know the rumors are that they are everywhere, but they aren't.   I have yet to see any and I spend a lot of time in the areas they live. I have heard them howl twice over the years at night. 
I suggest hunting them with snow on the ground, so you can find fresh tracks, or learning to trap them, trappers are the most successful in bagging wolves.  Honestly, its going to take a lot of time, I would suggest chasing some of Idaho's elk and deer around with all that time and have a wolf tag in your pocket in case you stumble on to them.

[idaho guy]

I will help with any info I have -what area are you going to be hunting?

[stew pidasso]

I did this in Feb. Shoot me a pm an I will give you what I know.

[piledup]

Not to thread jack but is it legal to shoot a wolf over a fresh kill? With legal tag.

[andrew_in_idaho]

Well as a Idaho hunter, I appreciate your efforts!  They are not easy to hunt, or to find for that matter.  Yes I know the rumors are that they are everywhere, but they aren't.   I have yet to see any and I spend a lot of time in the areas they live. I have heard them howl twice over the years at night. 
I suggest hunting them with snow on the ground, so you can find fresh tracks, or learning to trap them, trappers are the most successful in bagging wolves.  Honestly, its going to take a lot of time, I would suggest chasing some of Idaho's elk and deer around with all that time and have a wolf tag in your pocket in case you stumble on to them.

There is a lot of truth to this. I have seen one wolf since moving down here in 2008, it ran across the road in front of me on my way to the aforementioned danskin mountain area, best times to hunt them are January and February since game animals are more concentrated on winter range and it is also the mating season for the wolves. Other than that the best advice I can give you is cross your fingers and hope you get lucky because unless you specifically know of a pack and its patterns luck will be the biggest determining factor in success


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[jaredwitman]

I will help with any info I have -what area are you going to be hunting?

We have not decided on any specific unit at this point. Having never hunted idaho I was going to do a bit of research before I locked down to an area. any information you have would be greatly appreciated.

[meatwhack]

http://www.foundationforwildlifemanagement.org/
If you're interested in helping with the problem this organization is worth checking out.

[jaredwitman]

http://www.foundationforwildlifemanagement.org/
If you're interested in helping with the problem this organization is worth checking out.

Thanks! 

[andrew_in_idaho]

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/docs/wolves/idaho-wolf-monitoring-progress-report-2015.pdf

This link may give you some jumping off points. General locations of packs and sightings.


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[jaredwitman]

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/docs/wolves/idaho-wolf-monitoring-progress-report-2015.pdf

This link may give you some jumping off points. General locations of packs and sightings.


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Great info andrew, Thanks for the reply!

[idaho guy]

I have shot one wolf that was called in. We howled and the whole pack came out of a drainage and gathered up quite a ways off. We did a rabbit distress call and they came running in and I only got the one. When the wolf season first started my buddy and I were separated doing some calling for elk and a lone wolf came in that he shot with his bow and we were trying to call in elk not wolves. So I am not sure any type of calling is superior to another more of a right place and time. I have only seen two other wolves in Idaho and could not get a shot at either one. I think as a group we are doing too much electronic calling too close to the road and are educating them. This year I am going to take it a lot more serious and dedicate time to doing it right. If you dedicate some time and hunt hard I feel you will have a decent shot at success especially if you target just wolves. Too often I have tried hunting them when actually hunting other things and I feel( after not having success) that you should focus your hunt specifically on them to do it right.   I know where the wolves are in certain areas because I see their tracks all the time when I am out lion hunting. They seem to follow a pattern and make huge loops through areas and will do this repeatedly(this is just from what I have observed I am not sure this if fact)    I agree Jan and feb are good times. This is what I am going to do this year. Find a set of tracks(not hard If you cover ground on a snowmobile or atv with tracks) they love to run the roads in the winter. I am going to quietly follow their tracks until I feel they are really hot and I have a good place to set up. If you are in north Idaho I would not call until I can actually have a good set up that I can see at least 100 yards preferably longer. If you call in the real thick stuff I feel you will just educate them. Again this is from doing this wrong myself.  I am going to experiment with not only howls,distress calls but also coyote calls. They hate coyotes. Elkinrut and Andrew are exactly right. Seeing  and actually getting a shot a a wolf is a big challenge in Idaho. But again if you are really willing to hunt hard I think you will get one.  Hope this helps and you kill a bunch. If you want to put in the time and take the class trappers have the highest success rate I think.       

[andrew_in_idaho]

   I know where the wolves are in certain areas because I see their tracks all the time when I am out lion hunting. They seem to follow a pattern and make huge loops through areas and will do this repeatedly(this is just from what I have observed I am not sure this if fact)       

I have heard this repeated by others, just never been able to find a packs central locale and pattern them myself, I don't get to spend enough time in the woods to be able to pattern them unfortunately


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