Wolves

[fisheral87]

The topic of wolves came up in the RMEF thread that I started. There were mixed feelings on the RMEF's policy on wolves. In my opinion, the closer the ecosystem is to the natural mix of critters the healthier the herd animals will be. While the wolves/lions are capable of taking down big bulls, I feel like for the most part they are not the target of most packs. These predators are instinctively looking for weakness in animals they hunt, not for the biggest bull in the herd.

Also, the chance of maintaining the wolf population as a game animal seems like a great hunting opportunity.

What are your opinions?

[boneaddict]

A pack of wolves has no problem taking down bull moose.  In fact large prey animals are their preferred food source.  Moose being their primary food, elk second.  Deer are just snacks.

[popeshawnpaul]

You know, they estimate there are less than 10 moose in Yellowstone now that the wolf is flourishing?

[whacker1]

I disagree.  Lions yes are more known for taking down deer - agreed.  Elk is not usually their focus. Doesn't mean they won't take a few, but they don't hinder the populations tremendously.

Why wolves may not focus on bulls - they definitely focus on calves, yearlings, and pregnant cows.  This is detrimental to the herd, because it makes calf mortality is far to high.  The same herd gets smaller and smaller each year.  Hunting opportunities are limited over time by game department, because herd size goes down.  Hunting success goes down, because there are less animals and the same amount of hunters.  

Idaho has proposed shortening their elk season for 2009 in attempt to make the success rate go down for hunters.  They feel if the hunters have less success that will leave more animals remaining, and hopefully winterkill and wolves will have less of an impact.  I don't believe that this will work.  I believe it to be a stall mode to see if some wolf tags being filled willed stabilize the deer and elk populations.  I think they know that the wolves are a larger problem than the winterkill in the long run.

This is all opinion - I am not a wildlife bio

[Intruder]

I disagree from the standpoint of the overall goal of game management today.  Unless we are prepared to live through major swings in game animal populations I don't think the ecosystem balance idea is viable.  The evidence in Idaho shows that the wolves have decimated the elk in many areas where there were extremely strong vibrant herds.  I personally don't want game herds managed such that wolves, cougars, and coyotes are taking the vast majority.  Additionally, with man's development the ecosystem is much more fragmented than ever.  This means that these super efficient prey animals that are far more adaptable can roam from location to location wreaking havoc on the game that is far more sensitive to certain habitats.  

[boneaddict]

Well I did see more wolves in yellowstone area than moose when I was there this fall hunting.   

[Skyvalhunter]

Your not suppose to hunt in the Park!!

[boneaddict]

No wonder all those Rvs kept honking at me. 

[fisheral87]

I was there this year as a side trip to fishing in Montana. I won't ever go back there again. It feels a bit too much like Disneyland.

[Skyvalhunter]

  Yea it is depressing down there I used to take a week and backpack in for the bow season north of West Yellowstone. We were always in elk. Then the change no to little elk and wolf tracks a plenty. Sad state of affairs!!

[7mag.]

There is a reason that wolves were hunted to near extinction in the lower 48. It is because they are bad news.

[matlockmike]

Bad news, they kill for fun.

I'm not worried that they will take out a big bull, I'm don't like the fact that they will kill a future bull or it's mother.

[Wenatcheejay]

http://www.saveelk.com/   


If I had my way we would feed  to the wolves. I would then film it for pay per view.   

[jackelope]

What are your opinions?

my opinion is that i am very happy to see yet another wolf thread. the 43 other ones in the last 2 weeks were not quite enough for the viewing audience.

you asked for opinions.

 

[fisheral87]

To be fair I read on the RMEF website that wolf populations were 3 times what they should be and I feel like that was probably a conservative estimate. I am correct that wolves will move around quite a bit?