Actual odds of seeing a wolf in Idaho

[7mmfan]

I'm heading to the Salmon zone for a deer/elk hunt end of October, first time going there. Finances are beginning to get tight, but I was considering getting a wolf tag. For people that have been there before, what are my real odds of seeing a wolf while hunting?

[trophyhunt]

I have been going to Idaho in the 10a unit for 7 years in a row, a few years before that, all elk hunting in October. Between 3 of us, we have seen 1 wolf, and he missed it!    I still haven't seen one, BUT, we all hear them every year and some encounters are close.  We don't carry tags, but if we see a wolf.......

[tlake]

Chances are you will at least hear them. We have seen them 3 times in last 10 years and  when the season for wolf was open  we never had at a chance to shoot at them. They were either too far away or they were hauling the mail to get away from us. A wolf tag is only 35 bucks for so. Wouldn't hurt to have one.

[jackelope]

After all the $$ you've already spent, what's another $30? I wouldn't go without one.

[piledup]

If you don't have a wolf tag, you can always use your nonresident elk tag for a wolf. That's if the elk hunting is going downhill. 

[JLS]

I'd drop the 30 bucks for a tag.  However, I hunt in SW Montana where there have been wolves for many years and I haven't seen one there.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Grab a Wolf tag and stick a coyote howler in your pocket. 

Certainly couldn't hurt....might be fun!!

[kentrek]

I've spent about 26 weeks hunting idaho in the last ten years.......lots of howling...lots of tracks....still haven't put eyes on one in idaho

[Boss .300 winmag]

HECK I SAW A WOLF ONE THE LAST DAY OF DEER SEASON  IN WA, AND WE HAVE LESS WOLVES HERE THAN ID, THE ONLY REASON I DIDN'T SHOOT IS I DIDN'T HAVE A TAG. 

I THINK ILL BUY A TAG THIS YEAR THOUGH, DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. 

[trophyhunt]

HECK I SAW A WOLF ONE THE LAST DAY OF DEER SEASON  IN WA, AND WE HAVE LESS WOLVES HERE THAN ID, THE ONLY REASON I DIDN'T SHOOT IS I DIDN'T HAVE A TAG. 

I THINK ILL BUY A TAG THIS YEAR THOUGH, DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. 

WHY ARE YOU YELLING!! 

[Boss .300 winmag]

HECK I SAW A WOLF ONE THE LAST DAY OF DEER SEASON  IN WA, AND WE HAVE LESS WOLVES HERE THAN ID, THE ONLY REASON I DIDN'T SHOOT IS I DIDN'T HAVE A TAG. 

I THINK ILL BUY A TAG THIS YEAR THOUGH, DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. 

WHY ARE YOU YELLING!! 

WHY DOES EVERYONE THINK I'M YELLING?

I'M AT WORK, THEY LIKE IT WHEN I TYPE IN CAPS ON MY DATA BASE. SO I JUST DONT CHANGE IT WHEN I SWITCH TO HUNT WA.

SO BACK TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAM. 

[theleo]

If you don't have a wolf tag, you can always use your nonresident elk tag for a wolf. That's if the elk hunting is going downhill. 

Hmmm... makes you wonder which is better, tag soup or wolf soup?

[Boss .300 winmag]

If you don't have a wolf tag, you can always use your nonresident elk tag for a wolf. That's if the elk hunting is going downhill. 

Hmmm... makes you wonder which is better, tag soup or wolf soup?

I WOULD HAVE TO BE STARVING TO EAT THAT.

[badnewskruse]

me and a buddy spent 10 days in idaho last year for whitetails and we were "lucky" enough to see a wolf but never got a shot. i would definitly spend the extra 30 bucks to have that tag in my pocket again.

[grundy53]

After all the $$ you've already spent, what's another $30? I wouldn't go without one.

I always buy a tag. We go thanksgiving week and usually hear them howling at night. See tracks a lot but only two out of four of us have seen one. On the other hand I saw one in Washington last deer season.

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[Mr Mykiss]

Odds. 1 in 26.
Worth spending 30 bucks in my opinion.
Also worth bragging that you put a 500 Doller elk tag on a wolf...

[Tbob]

If you don't have a wolf tag, you can always use your nonresident elk tag for a wolf. That's if the elk hunting is going downhill. 

Hmmm... makes you wonder which is better, tag soup or wolf soup?
[/quote

My buddy shot a huge wolf in Alaska a few years back while we were moose/caribou hunting. That was one of the worst smelling things I have ever smelled!!! You honestly couldn't pay me enough to eat that stuff! Epic shot though.. 125 yrds from the raft while we were silently floating down the river.

[7mmfan]

If you don't have a wolf tag, you can always use your nonresident elk tag for a wolf. That's if the elk hunting is going downhill. 

Definitely not blowing an elk tag on a woof. Just don't think they will eat quite the same 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Just get one, not having one ensures you will see one!

[idaho guy]

Just get one, not having one ensures you will see one!

 :yeah:exactly if you don't get a tag you will see one! spend the 31 dollars

[Jimmy33]

I hunt Idaho for three weeks every year. I haven't seen one but I always have a tag in my pocket just in case. It would be a shame to put an elk tag on it or not take advantage of the opportunity. I know the resident elk herd would thank you


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[buglebrush]

After all the $$ you've already spent, what's another $30? I wouldn't go without one.

I have seen several.  Was at full draw on one of them.  Never saw one when placing a rifle 

And I would burn my elk tag on a wolf in a heartbeat!  Biggest trophy there is OTC!   

[7mmfan]

Well I've never been good at handling peer pressure (just ask my wife, she'll tell you), so I guess I'm getting a wolf tag

[300rum]

There is something very satisfying when you look at that tag and it says "Gray Wolf", well worth it. 

[boneaddict]

If you have a tag in your pocket, not liklely.  If you don't have a tag....very likely. LOL
Get a tag!

[Rainier10]

If you have a tag in your pocket, not liklely.  If you don't have a tag....very likely. LOL
Get a tag!

That's how it was in Montana 5 years ago.  I think the tag was $450 for an out of stater, we didn't buy tags and we saw 3-4 wolves a day.

[meatwhack]

If you're just looking for odds of seeing one I'd say less than 1% possibly closer to .1% but can vary depending on what portion of the state you're in and the cover.  That being said I'd either have a tag in my pocket or put a deer or elk tag on one and buy a second if they're available where you're hunting. I think you'd be banned from most hunting camps of you admitted to having an opportunity to kill a wolf and not capitalizing on it.

[grundy53]

There is something very satisfying when you look at that tag and it says "Gray Wolf", well worth it.

Absolutely true

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[cavemann]

I've hunted Idaho once and saw three within easy shooting range..  Made my skin crawl.  Our guide was disappointed I didn't take one, I didn't know I could use my deer tag on it..  We were in the Sawtooth of Idaho on a high hunt..  Heard them every night as well.

[7mmfan]

We're going to be hunting Salmon units 21 or 21a most likely. Any wolf experience in these areas?

[djnoodle]

Bring a recording of a hound barking 'treed'. My friend who lives near Bonners Ferry said that the hound hunters are losing dogs to wolves like crazy! A treed hound call is like a dinner bell to wolves.


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[saylean]

i saw three on a weekend hunt over there.

[Twang]

If you are close to elk you will be near wolves. Most that we see are when we are sitting still just watching.  Some very close, not intimidated either so they are not good mind readers.  I hate the collared ones most

[180-GRAIN]

Seen them twice in the selway in 8 years. First time was a pack of 8. Had a tag and just because emptied my gun at them at 800 yards. Was kinda a hope and a prayer deal  . Second time glassed one a mile or so await running game trails on the side of a mountain. I would get a tag.

[lamrith]

Idaho Unit6, had them on prehunt cams at beginning of Sept, had them howling 100yrds or so from camp 4am on Sept 26th.

[trophyhunt]

Just spent a week in Idaho and heard or seen no wolves. The hunters up the street from us saw one.

[Mr Mykiss]

If you drive into Challis to buy more deer tags and you fail to buy a wolf tag, you are guaranteed to see a wolf roughly 10 miles outside town standing in a field
So...100%

[7mmfan]

Just got back, no wolves spotted. Spent quite a bit of time in country where I felt I would find them. Talked to one guy who had heard them howling in the Indian Mountain area.

[WA hunter14]

I live here in 10a and hunt all of the surrounding units including salmon area, I live in the woods, work in the woods and hunt something year round. I have only seen 3 and all of them were in the road in front of me and one of them this spring had half a elk calf in its mouth. Some times cat hunting there is so many wolf tracks from the night before that even if I found a lion track in the area there is no way I would turn dogs loose. I think if someone actually wanted to go after one it would be pretty likely to kill one but I wouldn't even try without snow.

[Romulous]

I live here in 10a and hunt all of the surrounding units including salmon area, I live in the woods, work in the woods and hunt something year round. I have only seen 3 and all of them were in the road in front of me and one of them this spring had half a elk calf in its mouth. Some times cat hunting there is so many wolf tracks from the night before that even if I found a lion track in the area there is no way I would turn dogs loose. I think if someone actually wanted to go after one it would be pretty likely to kill one but I wouldn't even try without snow.

I have two trail cameras out on a moose carcass. Will check in the spring.


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[hirshey]

Hunting my deer area for the last 6 years, we have found kills, beds, tracks, heard them howl and had other hunters miss shots... howled for them and had them answer and get closer, but have yet to see one. Purposefully hunting them twice, I've seen 2 (didn't shoot because I thought they'd give me a better angle) and gotten within 100 yards of a pack of 6 in thick timber. They're around, but harder to call with traditional means after getting wiser to our games. I'd definitely spend the $32.

[WapitiTalk1]

They're definitely part of the indigenous population.  I haven't seen a live one while elk hunting (saw a skinned carcass last year from a local trapper) but have heard them numerous times, seen scat, and have seen where they've been on a kill.  I spose if a person really made an effort (I don't) to maybe call them into bow range or glass them for a long distance rifle shot, it may pan out.  Here's a couple that I had on a few trail cams in 2016.  In this particular spot, there were elk standing right where the wolves had been less than 30 minutes later......

 

[bigjohn98591]

Idaho Unit6, had them on prehunt cams at beginning of Sept, had them howling 100yrds or so from camp 4am on Sept 26th.

We have been hunting Unit 6 in the Santa area for the last four years. This is the first year that we have heard wolves. One of the guys in our group got a shot at one about a 1/4 mile from camp, and it was heading in the direction of our camp. I'm getting a tag next year.

[splitshot]

go for it.  we need 2 hunt them like coyotes and bears and lions and cougars.   mike w