Saw my first wolf...shocked

[ShirtGuy77]

Hello All,

Was over scouting unit 39 in Idaho this weekend with my oldest brother.  The weather was very cold, and our area still has snow leftover from the most recent snowstorm, up to a foot/foot and a half in some places.   Anyway, we were taking a shortcut over to an area we wanted to check out.  It was around 11am, and was that point in the day where you don't expect much and aren't really paying attention.  Anyway, the road we were on had about 10-12 inches of snow on it and heads up the bottom of the canyon.  Off the left side of the road, from under the trees comes two wolves getting up from their beds to head up the hill.  This is the conversation that followed:

Me immediately: "WOLF!" (before I saw there were two of them together)
My Bro: silence (upon hitting the brakes)
Me again: WOLVES!
My Bro: silence again (while staring right at them)
Me: DUDE, THERE'S WOLVES RIGHT THERE (about 40-50 yards ahead and to the left)
My Bro: hold this (refering to his can of Monster)

Needless to say, neither one of us expected to ever see a wolf out there, eventhough we know they are there.  My brother has a tag but didn't have his gun ready.  It was in the back and was unloaded.  And he wasn't immediately sure the unit was open yet.  I knew it was, and was in awe at how slow he was in trying to get out of the truck.  I think in his amazement at what he was seeing, along with not being prepared, just didn't know what to do.  I didn't know what to expect, but I didn't expect them to be as big as they were honestly.  They were both grey with a little yellow to their hide.  The bigger of the two was the first we saw as he/she lumbered up the hill.  it appeared to be hobbled and the other was staying by it's side.  They didn't bolt, but acted more as if we disturbed them and they felt like leaving.  There was ample opportunity to take one down, had there been a loaded weapon  

There was a road above them we walked out to see if we could cut there track.  Couldn't see where they hit the road, so we figured they side hilled and just continued on.  On the upper road though we found what appeared to be tracks for 6-7 of them, so they weren't alone.  The track was also rather large on a couple of them. 

I was really excited as I held my spot looking for movement above or below the road I was on as my brother continued up the road.  It wasn't until he was out of site I realized all I had was a pocket knife, and I really have no clue how vulnerable I was standing there.  Knowing there were quite a few wolves in the area, no weapon other than a little Schrade, and my brother out of sight up the road, I felt pretty silly.

We never caught up to them, but I tell you what, it was a rush.  I, like many others, am very happy there is now a plan in place to manage the wolves in Idaho. But I tell you what, being able to just see them was something I won't soon forget.

Oh, and I am now calling my brother a wolf lover and told him I will pick him up a pair of Teva's before I head over in a few weeks for our hunt.

[andrew_12gauge]

what were you scouting for in 39? elk? deer opened up there this weekend just got back

[carpsniperg2]

should of blasted it lol

[littlebuf]

go back and start calling.

[ShirtGuy77]

what were you scouting for in 39? elk? deer opened up there this weekend just got back

Yeah, we are after the elk come November 1st.  Last year was an absolute bust for us, so we are looking over several areas we haven't been to try and learn more of the land.  Talked to a few deer hunters who were seeing loads of elk, but we never saw one.  We weren't really trying to pinpoint them, as we were mainly just looking over the lay of the land.  I have learned that too much can change between now and opening day to put much stock on what we see now anyway.

Nearly every camp we saw had deer hanging though.  Nothing too big, but lot's of deer being taken.

[ShirtGuy77]

go back and start calling.

My brother is planning on it when he gets his next day off.  It is an odd feeling hunting something that hasn't been hunted but what, a month.  You don't have any idea what "works" for them.  Neat sight for sure though.  If the NR tag wasn't so much, we could have had two dogs in the truck.  Now that would have been interesting.

[jstone]

About where are the wolfs, I hunt between Stanley and Atlanta. Way back. Hope they are not in there???

[andrew_12gauge]

what were you scouting for in 39? elk? deer opened up there this weekend just got back

Yeah, we are after the elk come November 1st.  Last year was an absolute bust for us, so we are looking over several areas we haven't been to try and learn more of the land.  Talked to a few deer hunters who were seeing loads of elk, but we never saw one.  We weren't really trying to pinpoint them, as we were mainly just looking over the lay of the land.  I have learned that too much can change between now and opening day to put much stock on what we see now anyway.

Nearly every camp we saw had deer hanging though.  Nothing too big, but lot's of deer being taken.

you must have been down low, because nobody we talked to up higher saw much of anything for deer, but drivin through the lower elevation stuff on the way out seemed every camp had deer hangin

[ShirtGuy77]

We are fairly low, down around Prairie.  Tried to get up in the Trinity area but couldn't due to snow.  That area in and around Prairie is said to have a few packs running around, so we expected to see something in there some day.  Word in the General Store is they have contracted someone to come in and take care of a pack on House Mtn.  Apparently they have been tracking people up there.  The Alpha female for the pack is said to be all black, and intimidating.  We tried to scout around House this weekend but were limited there as well due to snow.  Also heard of a good population around Trinity Lakes.  Saw a lot of sign of them there over Labor Day.

[andrew_12gauge]

ok the closest i got to prairie this weekend is the y stop on my way out i spend most of my time over in the middle fork boise drainage rather than the south fork

[turbo]

S-S-S!

[MichaelJ]

S-S-S!

Why?  they are legal to shoot ya know!

Michael

[turbo]

S-S-S!

Why?  they are legal to shoot ya know!

Michael

Ok, fill the tag then S-S-S.

[Dirty Mike]

wow!

[trophyhunt]

sss... never notch the tag!!!