Watched a wolf pack (UPDATE 2-21-10)

[bearpaw]

Wow, too bad you didn't have your camera handy too.

[Idabooner]

Wow, too bad you didn't have your camera handy too.

Wish I had a camera, better yet wish Boneaddict or one of the other guys with a big lens could catch them.  That must be in the wolves circle, that's the third time this year I've seen them near the same place. And others have seen them when I didn't so their around from time to time.

[JackOfAllTrades]

It'd be interesting to put those sightings on a calendar/map. Back in the 80's I kept track of an Elk herd quite extensively. They had a circling route of about 40 miles on a 5-7 day rotation. I couldn't tell you that they were going to be on hillside 'A' on Tuesday, but I could say that they'd be there some time between Monday and Wednesday afternoon for much of the year. They were smart enough not to eat all the food at any given location and then move on. Their patterns did adjust for food and seasons, but it wasn't too hard to find them any given time.  I'm sure that these Wolves are certainly as smart, as they will follow the food. Deer may be the number one part of the diet, so expect them to follow Deer patterns as they move. But if Deer herds are relatively stationary, Do the Wolves in a pack with a home den, have a pattern to follow ranging out from that den? It would be interesting to see how they start ranging farther out from the den as food sources dimminish.

-Steve

[Skyvalhunter]

Well Ida your right there in Gods country!! Too bad the wolves are there also

[boneaddict]

Trust me Jack, I am keeping track.

[Idabooner]

Just talked to two of my neighbors, they watched the 4 wolves for over an hour just sitting up on the ridge before they come down, I first seen them  coming down. Dang missed a lot.

[mulehunter]

Wow  Dang I missed part of story, Very Cool... Wish I am up there!   

Mulehunter 

[Idabooner]

More wolves this morning.  As the sun hit the hill approximately 7:45, I thought the deer were placed different than normal. My gut told me to grab the bino’s and take a look, soon I spotted #2, #3, and #4 wolves standing together at attention looking into a sharp draw that I couldn’t see the very bottom of.  I quickly set up the scope and about that time a cougar came charging out on the tail of #1 wolf, they went about a 100 feet then the other 3 wolves joined in and they put the cat at bay, then circling and charging in at it they made the cat start backing up, about 10 minuets of this they had the cat backed past the kill ( I’m sure it was the cats kill) and it turned and ran with the wolves on it’s tail to a lone pine tree, it treed and 3 wolves kept it up the tree while #1 went to the kill and drug the deer AROUND a very steep side hill for 30 feet (this would have been very hard for a man to do, it took several minuets) the deer rolled once, (I could see it was completely intact)     (the only reason I can think of would be to get the carcass out in the open so they could claim it easier)  It must have taken #1 about an hour to get her fill and get back so #2 could eat which didn’t take so long until he got back and #3 & #4 could eat together, they didn’t eat long until #1 started to leave, #2 followed her and then #3, they were strung out a mile when they all stopped and the back two come back slowly waiting for #4 which was still eating, #1 continued on around the hill to never be seen again.  #2 (a male) took over the kill and soon got a BIG chunk loose and carried it around the hill ˝ mile before he was out of sight, soon #3 followed with a big chunk. The three carried meat for an hour (5 loads) always on the same path and always leaving one at the kill so the cat couldn’t get any.  A couple times one would make a run at the tree like the cat might have started down. I could only see the cat part of the time in the limbs. Finally the three just lied down near the cat tree watching, once they suddenly made a run at the tree, #2 going clear in while the other two hung back a little.  After a long while the wolves just wondered up over the hill out of sight.  I put my full attention on the tree for 20 minuets and about decided the cat must have slipped out when I seen a limb move more than the wind, soon the cat jumped out and went to where the kill was then up to where the kill had started from, about that time another cat come out of the tree and joined her, then another cat appeared from some place. It was a mother and two 2-3 year old kittens.  There was absolutely nothing left for them to eat so they wondered up over the hill probably to make another kill some place. It was 11:50 when the cats went out of sight so this was a long watch.

[boneaddict]

HOLY *censored*!   Thats unreal!   and here I sit at work.  DAMN  thats about as cool as it gets.

[Skyvalhunter]

Well get off your ass and do something about it!!

[CMG]

Idabooner - That had to have your heart pounding the whole time watching something like that! Mine was just reading the story!
  Thanks for taking the time to fill us in on an incredible watch! Keep 'em coming! I have been checking this thread waiting for the next sighting. Didn't see that one coming though! WOW!

[bearpaw]

bone you need to get him into a camera....

[bucklucky]

PLease tell me you had a video camera going?? Thats a ounce in a lifetime deal right there. I love wolves so much.

[bearpaw]

heck any camera, even if it uses gun powder for the flash...

[JackOfAllTrades]

How did I not see this post this morning.. 

Idabooner.. Boneaddict... I've really been thinking about coming over there for a few days in the next couple of weeks. I've got some vacation to burn. -And I mean burn, as I'm over the limit for what I can carry into next year, and well.. With this government job, I'm still acrueing more daily.   Anyway to get to the point, as soon as that pass is open, I wanna come watch doggies. As crazy as that sounds, as much as I hate the thought of them damn wolves in the hills killing deer, I want to learn as much as I can about them. Even if only watching them for a couple hours by chance one time. -And I'm NuckinFutz. I'll go walking that hillside looking for sheds! (I'll be packin!)  Is that ridge/hillside public or private land? How's that area accessed.

Is there anywhere I can pull my camp trailer into, near, with view of that ridge? I've got a video camera to bring too.

PM or email, please.

-Steve