Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?

[wolfbait]

Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?                                       



http://namlhunt.com/ml-wolf-impact.html?fbclid=IwAR00WlDsPKaiD7kfqhQD3I3QGzloiY-hT6Kg3Zt8KxmOQNChZhgkhKy3GHo

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Nope, Wolves haven't taken away any hunting opportunities from me.  I can still hunt and be successful.  What has taken opportunities from me is timber companies  and expanding human developments.

[buckfvr]

Unless they shorten or close seasons because of the wolves, then none of us have lost opportunity "to hunt".  However, maybe some guys feel they have lost opportunity to "kill" what they are hunting because of the lower number of deer/elk etc available because of the predator problem which includes wolves.

Make no mistake about it, here in n.e. wa., all of us who hunt know beyond a doubt there are far fewer deer/elk/moose available and it shows in harvest reports.  None of us here see anywhere near the number of deer we were seeing a handfull of years past.  WDFW knows this but still goes the smoke and mirrors route.

[Loup Loup]

I have not purchased a deer or elk tag for the last two seasons. I don't hunt to hunt. I hunt to harvest.
On the other hand, this is a great time to be a hunter and or trapper of bear, cougar, and wolf.
I am maximizing my efforts to take advantage of the abundant opportunity to be successful harvesting these predators, thanks to the mismanagement of our game.

[msg]

I hunt to hunt because I love it, and I hunt to harvest because it feeds my family. I believe all that put in for Quality or OIL tags has already been affected by loss of opportunity that is only going to get worse. Sadly it is going to trickle down much further. I may be wrong but I do not believe the Washington ungulate population can withstand the predator onslaught without opportunity loss for deer, elk, moose and sheep. Then if you throw money into the equation, I am sure there will be those that can no longer afford it as prices keep escalating. More youngsters that will not get the opportunity. I believe Idaho is going up next year with some non-resident reductions. The article above should be printed and distributed to every sporting goods store in the NW for all to read. Disgusting!

[elkboy]

I have gone 4/5 on whitetails (all 4x4 bucks or better) on an Idaho property where the landowner swears every year the wolves have killed "all the game".  Not to say wolves or other predators can't have a localized impact, but I don't see the difference where I hunt.     

[msg]

You have a good spot, where I  hunted elk last year in Idaho we talked to several locals that were just cutting firewood. They all said, the deer hunting used to be incredible here!

[no.cen.wa]

I have hunted mule deer in north central washington for over 55 years, from the canadian border to Methow/Carlton, since the wolves have arrived the population has sharply decreased. If you haven't seen a decrease you will when they arrive. One of the places in western washington will be the Olympic's, it will devastate the the elk and deer herds just the same as eastern washington. The wolf is a killing machine and their pack mentality, will take more of our deer and elk than we think. We need to do everything we can to get the word out.

[Skyvalhunter]

That is exactly the goal of of the pro wolf groups. They are hoping this will reduce the number of hunters or those hunting in wa or other states. Looks like there goal is going in the direction they want.

[444Marlin]

Yes, wolves and cougars are part of the problem.
And also:
Poachers
Diseases/Hoof Rot/West Nile
Chemicals that timber companies are using.
Fire/Drought/Tough Winters...not enough fire in some areas.  Not enough snow pack in some areas.
Too many cow tags. Too many late season hunts.
Party Hunters, Guys taking marginal shots and not following up and then continuing to hunt...
Loss of habitat, urban growth.

[dvolmer]

Yes, wolves and cougars are part of the problem.
And also:
Poachers
Diseases/Hoof Rot/West Nile
Chemicals that timber companies are using.
Fire/Drought/Tough Winters...not enough fire in some areas.  Not enough snow pack in some areas.
Too many cow tags. Too many late season hunts.
Party Hunters, Guys taking marginal shots and not following up and then continuing to hunt...
Loss of habitat, urban growth.

Good list but you missed a big one!  uncontrolled native hunting!

[444Marlin]

It's not a problem in the areas I hunt.  I think the anger and frustration it produces outweighs the actual impact on the overall populations.

[Cougartail]

It's not a problem in the areas I hunt.  I think the anger and frustration it produces outweighs the actual impact on the overall populations.

I don't base my assessment of animal populations on my hunting success or wildlife seen during hunting seasons. Late trapping season tells the story. Sign and sightings have diminished for the last 20 years.

Even with my thermal I see few deer and elk in areas I hunt.

[buckfvr]

It's not a problem in the areas I hunt.  I think the anger and frustration it produces outweighs the actual impact on the overall populations.

You think.........right.     If you dont live and hunt where there ARE wolves then you dont know the impact.  Period.  We are beyond anger and frustration and those who arent experiencing the problem first hand,  cant possibly understand it.

[bigmacc]

Well, as of right now we still have the "opportunity" to hunt and enjoy getting out there, on the other hand the "opportunity" to put meat on the table (in many areas) has been drastically reduced because of booming predator populations. I think that there are "others" that are trying to rob us of our hunting and hunting opportunities and nurturing wolves and other other major predators is just one of many tools to achieve the goal....