Wolves

[Machias]

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?

My opinion?  You watch too much Animal Planet.  It's complete nonsense that they only target the weak and sick.  Also once they bring a herd into "perfect" balance, there is no longer a need for us to harvest the "surplus".  If it is in balance then there is no "surplus" or very little "surplus".  We have been advocating for decades one of the main benefits of hunters is to harvest the "surplus".  Now once they allow the harvest of this currently unchecked major predator, then yes there can be harvest of surplus animals from both prey and predator.  

[fisheral87]

I'll choose my words a little more carefully next time I suppose...

[Machias]

I'll choose my words a little more carefully next time I suppose...

  Don't change on my account, I was just busting your chops!    Lots of Hunters have been fed the same lies all of our lives, heck for the longest time I thought that was the truth as well.  It's what we've been told by well intentioned folks in the beginning, now when they tell us I think it is all agenda driven.....by both sides sometimes.  I don't think they are as bad as some would have us believe and I don't think they are as good as other would have us believe.  What I do know is they have to be managed, not allowed to expand unchecked, bad for everyone and everything involved, even the wolves eventually.

[fisheral87]

Again it seems like the population of wolves is over what it "should" be.

[Wenatcheejay]

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?

My opinion?  You watch too much Animal Planet.  It's complete nonsense that they only target the weak and sick.  Also once they bring a herd into "perfect" balance, there is no longer a need for us to harvest the "surplus".  If it is in balance then there is no "surplus" or very little "surplus".  We have been advocating for decades one of the main benefits of hunters is to harvest the "surplus".  Now once they allow the harvest of this currently unchecked major predator, then yes there can be harvest of surplus animals from both prey and predator.  

 

This is exactly right. If these willfully stupid do gooders who want a "NATURAL BALACE" simply do not understand that their goal is to end human hunting. (Or, more to the point most know exactly what they are doing.)


edited to say I am not directing that statement at you fisheral87...

[boneaddict]

Yep.

[Elkpiss]

The only good wolf is a dead wolf!! If you want to see live wolfs go to the zoo, or wolf haven or somthing, they are moose killers and elk killers!!  If you like wolves and think they should be around, your definately not a avid Big Game hunter thats my  !!!

[WAcoyotehunter]

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

Ok then...what was the reason people killed nearly all the elk, deer, turkeys, lions, bobcats, lynx, otter, caribou, passenger pigeons, bison,  mink.....   they must have been bad news as well.

[whacker1]

Here is an article that was in the Spokesman-Review today - no big surprise that various groups are contesting the Delisting of the Wolf, but still frustrating.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/apr/02/delisting-of-wolves-will-face-legal-fight/

[boneaddict]

more tax dollars at work...............

[WAcoyotehunter]

keep your fingers crossed that the judge sides with the biologists and not the env groups. 

[7mag.]

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

Ok then...what was the reason people killed nearly all the elk, deer, turkeys, lions, bobcats, lynx, otter, caribou, passenger pigeons, bison,  mink.....   they must have been bad news as well.

No, if you read your history, wolves were hunted because they couldn't peacfully co-exist with humans once we started infringing on their habitat. As people started hunting other game animals to near extinction, wolves turned to livestock and pets, even children. Wolves are very intelligent, and when they hunt in packs, they are an exremely successful predator. Wolves also kill for sport. They are not afraid of people, only wary. Wolves had a large negative impact on livestock, that is why a bounty was offered. Wolves were nearly exterminated on purpose, the other game animals were nearly exterminated because a lack of ethics and game management. There didn't use to be such things as; bag limits, hunting licenses, and hunting seasons. Nobody thought to practice conservation until it was almost too late. Even after these laws came to exist, wolves were shown no mercy until they were no longer a problem.

[Slider]

Here is to more Wolf threads!!!   

[7mag.]

What's wrong Slider, you don't like beating a dead horse? 

[Wenatcheejay]

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

Ok then...what was the reason people killed nearly all the elk, deer, turkeys, lions, bobcats, lynx, otter, caribou, passenger pigeons, bison,  mink.....   they must have been bad news as well.

 

People in the 19th Century had for the first time the ability to exterminate wildlife with technology. Once this became apparent, the idea of "preservation" took hold. This was in the late 19th/early 20th century. It was soon discovered that it does not work. Hunters and wildlife advocates discovered that conservation was the key to game and wildlife flourishing. A controlled number of animals for an environment. This is the job of Fish and Game departments. This is why people agreed to limit the number of animals they will harvest and set laws that people must abide by in order to have sustainable numbers. (This is why poaching and unchecked taking of game gets people so riled up.)

Wolves are not compatible with humans. There is only room for one Apex predator in the chain.

Game is at an all time high now. Why is that?

This is what the pro-wolf people are pretending not to understand. With wolves overpopulating the Rocky Mountains and the Cascades there is really no need for human hunting. That is the point, that is the goal. That is the reality. I believe there is a bloodless revolution going on in this country that is hell bent on changing America into something that I do not recognize. I have been ignoring those who call out like Paul Revere but I am beginning to understand that if we do not do something with in the next few years it will be to late and it will take generations to set things right.