Seen a Wolf?

[haus]

Just curious to hear if anyone has some recent wolf sightings outside of the N/NE part of the state. When, if it was communicated to the WDFW, what the response was, and how bout some PHOTO's! 

[h2ofowlr]

SSS

[carpsniperg2]

 

[jackelope]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,20145.0.html

[haus]

SSS

well look at it this way for a minute. 3 out of 4 proposals include reintroduction throughout the state. The way wolves are portrayed by WDFW, environment groups, USFWS, NPS, etc etc...its as if the wolves are helpless little creatures and need us to give them a grand tour of the state, this image of poor lil' woofy is fed to Washingtonians over and over again.

If its proven that wolves are expanding steadily through out our state on their own then it will only be to the benefit of us as hunters, it will only be to the benefit of protecting our wildlife populations from getting KO'd like they have been in ID and MT. Why....... such evidence would seriously warrant reconsideration of the current 2009 draft plan. It would sway public opinion, its difficult for environmentalists to feed nonsense to the general public for animals that the general public doesn't view as being victims. Environment groups can only gain public support if they can prove(in their own way) a species is weak and helpless.

Want examples? 1. Our once highly regarded elk populations are being spun as an overpopulated nuisance that is detrimental to the ecosystem, wolves are being spun as the weak persecuted victim of market killing greed and ignorant simple minded settlers. Who's the public rallying behind? wolves. It took 10 years of spin to shift public opinion in the wolves favor in our state.      I can post up the media stories if ya really need me to, but you don't have to look far just google it

2. Wallowa County Oregon. A county ordinance was just past requesting that the state legislature declare a state of emergency due to the major spike in livestock kills by wolves and increasing contact between people and wolves. Their wolf plan has been shoved back into the state legislature for redrafting. Permits to kill wolves have been issued by the state to some ranchers in Wallowa County already. Public opinion is shifting in Oregon because the truth is getting out. Wolves are not victims, they don't need our help and protection in order to expand, they're going to expand rapidly unless we manage their populations.

So do the environment a favor and get proof! Otherwise our states going to end up just like Idaho....chasing their tail and about 5 years behind the 8 ball.


As wolves get closer to the meat n' potatoes of our states elk population we're going to see a rapid spike in the wolf population. Its only a matter of time until this happens. Do your fellow hunter a favor and pack a good quality camera with you while your hunting, that camera is going to protect the future of our elk and deer herds far more than any bullet will.

 


alright put me on the roaster and fire away 

[WAcoyotehunter]

So do the environment a favor and get proof! Otherwise our states going to end up just like Idaho....chasing their tail and about 5 years behind the 8 ball.


As wolves get closer to the meat n' potatoes of our states elk population we're going to see a rapid spike in the wolf population. Its only a matter of time until this happens. Do your fellow hunter a favor and pack a good quality camera with you while your hunting, that camera is going to protect the future of our elk and deer herds far more than any bullet will.

Good idea.  We hear so much about the wolves being unafraid and people seeing so many, get some pictures and build a case with evidence that will PROVE they're around.  It's important that the DFW knows the real population and they don't have the staff to cover the whole state.

hopefully someone here from the Methow will find and document this 2nd pack that we keep hearing about. 

[Lowedog]

2nd pack?  I thought someone said there were at least 5 packs in the Methow? 

[WAcoyotehunter]

I'm doubtful of that claim.  Let's start small... baby steps.  Finding the 2nd pack would be a nice start.   

[jackelope]

It's nice to see someone else logical enough to realize the packs have to be documented in order to work towards delisting.
Thanks Haus!

hopefully someone here from the Methow will find and document this 2nd pack that we keep hearing about.

That would be good.

[whacker1]

Yes, trail cam pics and once you have the pics hopefully you can find some hair in the same area for DNA samples.  DNA is the evidence needed to confirm for WDFW, and even then - document the hell out of it, so it can't be refuted.  Time, location via gps coordinates, sample taken, who the evidence was delivered, too, etc. 

[bobcat]

Not recent, but back in the early 90's my brother and I saw three wolves north of Lake Wenatchee.

[runamuk]

yep thats why when I hear rumors I spend time looking hoping to document them so far none that  I have seen or heard yet on the wetside but if we get proof they have to start listening...also with enough photo and physical evidence the papers might also listen and publish articles ....  if there truly are more wolves out there you need the evidence to make a case for delisting......

[wolfbait]

Yes, trail cam pics and once you have the pics hopefully you can find some hair in the same area for DNA samples.  DNA is the evidence needed to confirm for WDFW, and even then - document the hell out of it, so it can't be refuted.  Time, location via gps coordinates, sample taken, who the evidence was delivered, too, etc. 

You are right on Whacker. Now in order to confirm wolves they have to be DNA tested. If folks would trot over to one of Bearpaws wolf sites http://washingtonwolf.info/, you can see that we already have pictures of wolves in the Methow. Three years before the lie of first wolf pack in 70 years trail cam pictures and wolf hair was given to the local WDFW biologist, it was laughed off. The reason that the wolf pack of 08 was finally confirmed was because a local in Carlton called in a report of a pack of wolves hanging out at a school bus stop. As for the wolf pack up in the war creek area, I have learned that a game warden told s.fitkin about that pack also. Quite sure the WDFW do not or will not confirm wolf packs unless they are forced to.

[Curly]

How about instead of pics and hair, an actual wolf is provided for proof...........

 


(I came close to shooting one back in '91......but I would have just pissed him off since all I was packing was a .22 pistol)

[Idabooner]

Question!  Can or would the WDFW get DNA from wolf poop?  There's poop every where, seems to me they could get DNA from several different areas say in the Methow and get a better idea how many packs were around.  Does it have to be hair with a picture?