Wolves confirmed in the Blues

[Rufous]

A buddy of mine who works for the Walla Walla Union Bulletin newspaper called me a bit ago to tell me that he was at a "Eyes in the Woods" meeting last Saturday. There were two local wardens also at the meeting and they said that biologists have laid eyes on wolves in the Blues. My buddy told his editor about it and they will likely be doing an article about it, hopefully in the near future. I will let you know more as I learn it. I sure thought I saw some a couple winters ago and have seen scat that just had to be wolf. I have seen lots of cougar scat and this looked different.

[BLUEBULLS]

there's atleast one pack as well as other stragllers. these were taken on skyline drive last fall, this black wolf was seen by several people I know over a period of time.
 they're blurry because they were taken at first light, the wolf was about 80 yards from the road.

[Skyvalhunter]

Looks like you got a good bead on him!!

[SkookumHntr]

You guys havnt taken care of this problem yet! Im sure they will be

[Woodchuck]

bluebulls, is that right on the flats coming in from eckler?






oh, SSS

[jackelope]

it's not new news.

[BLUEBULLS]

bluebulls, is that right on the flats coming in from eckler?






oh, SSS

it's just before the Cougar canyon turn off, in the CRP.

[Woodchuck]

holy crap, down low, i drive right by it all the time, gonna have to slow down and look a little more careful next time, see if i can get a pic or two

[yakimarcher]

THese *censored*s are showing up eveywhere

[jackelope]

THese *censored*s are showing up eveywhere

they've been in the blues for a while now.

[BLUEBULLS]

THese *censored*s are showing up eveywhere

they've been in the blues for a while now.

Yeah but i have a feeling they're building quick now. The moose sure are, hopefully the wolves will prefer moose hindquarters. I've heard that they eat a lot of moose because they typically don't run like an elk or deer. 

[haus]

no moose when I was tromping around there from 99-04. Though I'd heard reports of a NE WA moose getting a wildhair and heading straight south through the palouse till it hit the blues. don't recall what year that was though. I'm assuming others came in from the east? Be cool to see one down there 

[Woodchuck]

there are actually a few running around, most that i have seen are just outside the city limits. in fact a couple of our local boys in blue chased a calf out of town and into the highway where it got hit and killed, i believe that was last summer.

[yakimarcher]

i wish they would start eating tree huggers

[Caseyd]

there are actually a few running around, most that i have seen are just outside the city limits. in fact a couple of our local boys in blue chased a calf out of town and into the highway where it got hit and killed, i believe that was last summer.

Just last week the airport was closed and they had to have planes circle while they hearded several moose off the runway.

A few weeks ago there was a moose calf in my familys fields in Waitsburg (Lower Waitsburg Rd)

[Pathfinder101]

The moose calf killed last summer was right over by my house.  More and more moose in the Blues.  I know a guy that thought he had a herd of elk coming at him last Sept, saw dark legs, drew his bow... and a pair of moose stepped out. 
I can't wait to see what the Union Bulletin writes about this wolf thing; I am guessing that they are doing "research" right now (and by research, I mean that they are calling all the anti-hunting groups, wolf activists, Whitman College professors -they will refer to those guys as "locals", and the stupidest biologist they can find -probably a plant biologist, but they won't mention that...).  I hate that our "local" paper is owned by the Seattle Times

[Woodchuck]

I refer to the local paper, as "The Useless Bulletein"   as a whole they are pretty bad.


on another note i am surprised your friend thought he had elk coming through while hunting in the blues

[Pathfinder101]

I refer to the local paper, as "The Useless Bulletein"   as a whole they are pretty bad.


on another note i am surprised your friend thought he had elk coming through while hunting in the blues

You are right.  He must have been "moose poaching".  No way he was elk hunting.  LOTS more moose in the Blues than there are elk..

[BLUEBULLS]

I think there are a lot more moose up there than people realize. Plenty of bulls, cows and calves, including plenty of twins!!!I would estimate around 200 in the Wa blues. Lots of them in the foothills and plenty clear up into the wilderness. I just hope the elk can outrun them when the wolves start chasing.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Wolves are showing up everywhere... Nooksack many sightings,  no pics other than a rack or two.  Nile - I have pics of tracks .... and I am sure a Mod on here has tracked a couple there also.... I have been told by olditmers that the wolves in both areas have been there for a while,  just not the numbers being seen now.  Just a matter of time until we resemble Idaho if something isn't done.  No I am not against wolves,  I think they need to be managed just like any other wildlife is. 

[gramps]

Wolves...I was playing around with a wolf howl (in the Blues) last winter and got a response.  I didn't see anything, but got a howl in return.
Moose...there has been a cow that has lost a set of twin calves for 3 yrs in a row just west of town.

[Pathfinder101]

Wolves...I was playing around with a wolf howl (in the Blues) last winter and got a response.  I didn't see anything, but got a howl in return.
Moose...there has been a cow that has lost a set of twin calves for 3 yrs in a row just west of town.

The twins a couple of years ago got hit on the railroad tracks over by Last Chance Road.  Then the calf got hit on the highway last year.  Traffic in Walla Walla is tough on moose calves..

[boneaddict]

The game department has KNOWN about them for a LONG TIME. 

[Pathfinder101]

We should have an emotiocon with a little smiley face wearing a WDFW hat with his eyes shut and fingers in his ears...

[gramps]

True Bone...I don't know, but I think once they officially admit that the wolves are in the Blues, their responsibilities and work load increases.   How long do they have to know about them before they admit it??

[mtncook]

My hunters have seen them in the last 4 years, first a group of 4 then 2 last year. We hear them at night and see tracks.They describe them as ghost like, how they can easily be gone.
Myself I have not seen a wolf just coyotes. 

mtncook

[littlemac]

THese *censored*s are showing up eveywhere

they've been in the blues for a while now.

Yeah but i have a feeling they're building quick now. The moose sure are, hopefully the wolves will prefer moose hindquarters. I've heard that they eat a lot of moose because they typically don't run like an elk or deer. 

Here's how the Yukon feels about it:

[Caretaker]

I killed a cow elk this past season during the MH hunt, south of Spokane.  I was not after a cow but was deer hunting, got my dear in the morning and seen elk tracks on the way out, bob33 was with me, checked the regs real quick and yup, can take elk during this season also.  I've never seen elk in this area before, suspected they were pushed from Idaho.  Since then I've thought the good blues hunting wouldn't last but 2 maybe 3 years since it's just a matter of time the damn wolves would make their way into the blues.  Man, am I glad I got drawn this year.

[boneaddict]

They describe them as ghost like, how they can easily be gone.

Very good desription.  I sat and watched a bunch of them in the spotter one morning and it was quite difficult keeping a bearing on them even when they didn't know I was there.  It can EASILY be seen why they are often referenced in the supernatural.  Then if you ever do stare one down, it will give you chills you didn't know it was possible.

[BLUEBULLS]

The blues can't handle more than a wolf pack or two, It's not a big area, the deer herd is not big at all and the elk herd is very sensitive. I kind of hope a wolf bites onto my leg when I have a little protection in hand. would that be legal?

[Woodchuck]

in this state, probably not 

[mtncook]

Did you get it when I wrote, Myself I have only seen coyotes.


mtncook

[jackelope]

True Bone...I don't know, but I think once they officially admit that the wolves are in the Blues, their responsibilities and work load increases.   How long do they have to know about them before they admit it??

They have officially admitted it...all you have to do is ask the biologists.

[gramps]

I did not make my self clear.  I have talked to Forest Service and Game Dept. employees and they say they are aware of the wolves on the east and west side of the Blues.   I am not aware..hope someone will can confirm...that they "officially" say that a resident pack is present or otherwise meets whatever criteria there is for one or two of the 15 pair that is in the wolf plan.

[DeerThug]

I had a spring bear tag there last year.  Saw 2 wolves.  Grabbed the predator call.  DUMB thing to do. The were right on top of me - came within 10 feet of where I was at.  Shot in the air and they turned in side out.  The then ran down the valley and my son and buddies got a good look at them too.  And yes these were not coyotes.  I saw them up close and personal.  So yes it is confirmed that wolves are in the blues.

[steen]

Duh!  Saw one on my 2009 Elk hunt in Dayton.  They are there, no secret.  They are also in the Twisp area and many more areas in Wa.  They were planted in Twisp, who knows why.  It's hard to understand why they'd put wolves in an area you want to increase the mule deer population.  Hope I don't see one this fall while hunting in my favorite spot.

[Squatch]

NWWABOWHUNTER

Where in the Nooksack have they been seen?  I haven't heard much of them being in that area? There's a very small deer & elk pop. not sure they would have enough to eat?

[carpsniperg2]

hope there is a few less if the bump into the right people

[400out]

holy crap, down low, i drive right by it all the time, gonna have to slow down and look a little more careful next time, see if i can get a pic or two

You might have to use a mounted scope out the window of your truck to  see them, rest it on the mirror so you can really see

[WAcoyotehunter]

I did not make my self clear.  I have talked to Forest Service and Game Dept. employees and they say they are aware of the wolves on the east and west side of the Blues.   I am not aware..hope someone will can confirm...that they "officially" say that a resident pack is present or otherwise meets whatever criteria there is for one or two of the 15 pair that is in the wolf plan.

Right. 

Did you get it when I wrote, Myself I have only seen coyotes.

mtncook

I think they got it...BTW- this might not be the best place for a guide to be boasting about poaching wolves under the guise of ignorance. 

[wolfbait]

I did not make my self clear.  I have talked to Forest Service and Game Dept. employees and they say they are aware of the wolves on the east and west side of the Blues.   I am not aware..hope someone will can confirm...that they "officially" say that a resident pack is present or otherwise meets whatever criteria there is for one or two of the 15 pair that is in the wolf plan.

Right.  

Did you get it when I wrote, Myself I have only seen coyotes.

mtncook

I think they got it...BTW- this might not be the best place for a guide to be boasting about poaching wolves under the guise of ignorance.  

Poaching wolves, Hmmm ,,the wolves are poaching the game herds, the ESA is a joke, the other side twists, bends and has broken several parts of it in order to get where they are today. If the WDFW claim there are only 5 wolves in the state of Washington, then the rest must be big coyotes and they should be treated as such.

[Woodchuck]

Well said wolfbait

[jackelope]

Well said wolfbait

except for the part about WA only claiming there are 5 wolves in the state.
 

 

[Woodchuck]

MEANIE!!!

[wolfbait]

Well said wolfbait

except for the part about WA only claiming there are 5 wolves in the state.
 

 

Whats your Quote now? How many wolves JL?

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Squatch you have a PM.

[jackelope]

wb-
you said 5 wolves.
I don't know how many nor do I claim to know how many. I know that if you figure out who the right person to ask is, they will tell you that there are more than 5 confirmed. I would have thought you of all people would know that much. Isn't that pack in the northeast made up of 6 wolves? Then there's the 1 confirmed pack by you(how many wolves are there...your guess is as good as mine), then if you ask the right people they'll tell you about 1 or more down in the Blues, and if you keep asking they'll probably tell you about a couple more here or there.

Have you truly ever actually spoken face to face with anyone from the WDFW who would know the answers?

[SkookumHntr]

Well said wolfbait

[wolfbait]

wb-
you said 5 wolves.
I don't know how many nor do I claim to know how many. I know that if you figure out who the right person to ask is, they will tell you that there are more than 5 confirmed. I would have thought you of all people would know that much. Isn't that pack in the northeast made up of 6 wolves? Then there's the 1 confirmed pack by you(how many wolves are there...your guess is as good as mine), then if you ask the right people they'll tell you about 1 or more down in the Blues, and if you keep asking they'll probably tell you about a couple more here or there.

Have you truly ever actually spoken face to face with anyone from the WDFW who would know the answers?

"If the WDFW claim there are only 5 wolves in the state of Washington, then the rest must be big coyotes and they should be treated as such".  What part of "IF" don't you understand jack? As far as the count on wolves in just the Methow I have a a pretty good estimate and I can guarantee it is a hell of a lot more wolves than WDFW are reporting. Actually I have talk to a couple of folks that work for WDFW and you are right their are those who do not tell lies. It's to damn bad that they are not in charge of the wolves in Washington, because there would be one hell of a lot less of them. The problem that I see is WDFW are not confirming wolf packs that they know damn well are there. Which brings us back to the point if they refuse to confirm then they are just big coyotes.