Wolves

[Special T]

I've noticed that a few of the original bell ringers that were worried about the affect of wolves have become Silent... And several members that were calling people alarmistsand conspiracy nuts are now singing a differnet tune...  How many of you are honest with yourself that you have changed your mind? Just kind of curious...

[GoldTip]

Nope I haven't changed my opinion one bit.  They are here now (Montana and Idaho) and should stay now that they have been re-introduced. They are spreading their range into Washington and that is fine too.  Only, and this is a big only, if they will be managed with sound goals for other wildlife, hunters and livestock in mind.  I have always said that I would be the last hunter to kill the last wolf in the lower 48.  That being said, I also wanted to be the one who killed the first wolf when there was a hunting season.  They MUST be managed correctly.

[boneaddict]

I haven't changed my mind a bit.   I think we are in deep *censored*.    I would like to hear how all the Alta muzzel permit guys did this fall.  I wonder how many of them glassed over DOZENS of trophy class deer.  I wonder how many shot two points cause thats all that were left.   

[Lowedog]

Still feel the same.  Until I see evidence to prove otherwise I don't believe wolves have come to WA any way but on their own.  I concur with everything GoldTip said in his post.

[teanawayslayer]

I glassed lots of good trophy class deer.  They were there and are still there.  Yeah sucks came home with a 2 point.  I gave it my best shot. I waited until the last to harvest that 2 point.

[jackelope]

I am still on the same page as I have always been, fully agreeing with Lowedog and GoldTip.
 

[6x6in6]

Not changed.
Agree with the GoldTip and Lowedog.

[wildmanoutdoors]

I for one have never voiced my opinion. I have took in allot from reading here though. My consensus was with the KILL em all mindset. The other night I watched a documentary on a certain Wolf in Yellowstone and the packs in its vicinity. I was amazed by the social aspects of the Wolf and its packs, how they operated, how the females knew not to let there brother or Dad breed with them. Really is amazing.
But in this 1 hour show they also showed countless hunts bringing down Elk after Elk. By what I saw if wolves make a serious comeback we as hunters wont stand a chance. When wolves were around back in the day Elk were everywhere. And so were Wolves, We killed Elk off almost to extinction like Buffalo and took out the Wolves completely in the lower 48.

Wolf populations will rebound FAST and Elk populations decline and or stay the same now. If we don't manage the Wolf heavily the Elk will be decimated whether we hunt them or not.

As a hunter I say kill em all. Its weird being a human and getting to decide who stays and who goes. Almost not right....if ya think about it.

 

[denali]

Yes, I've changed my mind over time, our family vacationed in jellystone in 96 thought having wolves in YNP and wilderness areas was not a bad idea?

well many years and many lawsuits has opened my eyes     I have family and friends though out eastern Washington that farm and ranch.   I/WE will protect our livestock and way of life      flame on, call me a poacher, I don't give  a fig.

Wyoming has the best plan - if they leave NP or wilderness ares = fair game , shoot and let them lay.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Wolf populations will rebound FAST and Elk populations decline and or stay the same now. If we don't manage the Wolf heavily the Elk will be decimated whether we hunt them or not.

As a hunter I say kill em all. Its weird being a human and getting to decide who stays and who goes. Almost not right....if ya think about it.

I have not changed my mind. I still don't want them here. But I am more acceptable to the thought of them coming back on their own. Not so accepting of our WDFW reintroducing them to prime hunting grounds. 'Man' has replaced the predator called the Wolf.  There's not enough game for both of us. The wolf has got to go.

I agree with danali.. Protect your livestock and way of life. Farming and ranching is tough enough without competition from ruthless killers that do kill to train their young and for fun.

But, I do respect the Wolf. The family and natural rules within a pack. The dominance heirarchy..  Mating for life.. All that stuff.

-Steve

[7mag.]

There is a good reason that wolves were hunted to near extinction in the lower 48. They are too dangerous for our futile game dept. to handle. If not put in check soon, we will have a major problem in this state and others like, Montana, Idaho, etc.

[carpsniperg2]

There is a good reason that wolves were hunted to near extinction in the lower 48. They are too dangerous for our futile game dept. to handle. If not put in check soon, we will have a major problem in this state and others like, Montana, Idaho, etc.

That is my thought as well. Add livestock problems with that and you have my answer.

[boneaddict]

I glassed lots of good trophy class deer.  They were there and are still there.  Yeah sucks came home with a 2 point.  I gave it my best shot. I waited until the last to harvest that 2 point.

Thats good to hear.  I was under the impression listening to everyone that this was a tough year.   I sure didn't see what I normally do there

[JackOfAllTrades]

I wasn't hunting in a predator infested area... I did not see as many local deer as I have in some years. But there have been other seasons that appeared the same. I really made some poor choices though. I did not hunt the animals I had scouted pre-season. That's my fault for hunting migratory routes with my boys.

Some thing has changed in that neck of the woods though. I can't quite put my finger on it.

I talked to a friend that went to his normal Idaho spot this year. He's been going there for 40 years. He did not see Wolves. He did see tracks. What he's noticed in the last few years... The Muledeer and Elk are staying more secluded, like Blacktail. Six guys in the group that stuck it out through some nasty weather after other camps had headed home. They brought back one decent buck.

-Steve

[high country]

ya know, we trust our forefathers judgment on the constituition.......why on earth would I second guess their inteligence on the reduction of wolves.

[seth30]

ya know, we trust our forefathers judgment on the constituition.......why on earth would I second guess their inteligence on the reduction of wolves.

[Special T]

I commend those of you who have changed your mind... It show you are intellectually honest, and more importantly not a psychopath lying to yourself! 

[Lowedog]

I commend those of you who have changed your mind... It show you are intellectually honest, and more importantly not a psychopath lying to yourself! 

 
 

[jackelope]

I commend those of you who have changed your mind... It show you are intellectually honest, and more importantly not a psychopath lying to yourself! 

And those whose minds have not changed are psychopathic *censored* liars?
 

[halflife65]

Yes.  All of you.

Maybe he was referring to people that might have originally been "pro" wolves but changed their minds after reading/learning more about it?  I'm actually not totally sure how to interpret that, either.

[Special T]

I didn't state that very well did I?  I think half-life got the idea tho...

[haus]

I've noticed that a few of the original bell ringers that were worried about the affect of wolves have become Silent...

 hunting season started 

[7mag.]

I didn't state that very well did I?  I think half-life got the idea tho...

Glad you cleared that up, I didn't want to be a psychopath.   

[jordano]

I still think that wolves should be where they naturally migrate to on their own. I definitely do not think they should be introduced ANYWHERE! but.. if wolves start showing up they need to be managed! these ecosystems have not seen wolves in them for a long time.. they are now coming in as a new top predator and need to be managed by wdfw and the federal government to control the wolf populations so they do not deplete all of the game animals' populations..

[boneaddict]

They should be managed like coyotes.  Year around season

[ser300wsm]

They should be managed like coyotes.  Year around season

 

[grundy53]

They should be managed like coyotes.  Year around season

couldn't agree more!

and no i haven't changed my mind. if anything i hate wolves even more after another season of hunting in idaho....

[NWwildman]

I have seen them in Washington can't wait for some kind of season to open. We saw and heard  then in central Washington this year during bear hunting. 

[elkslayer069]

First of all how the hell is WDFW going to manage wolves when they cant manage to wipe their own @%^ ? Hmm answer that.

[Kain]

I have changed my attitude more than my mind.  I always thought that some wolves in WA wasnt a bad thing as long as they were managed responsibly.  I thought the guys calling for SSS were not doing us hunters any good.  I have since lost faith that they will ever be managed and that that was by design.  They will be used by the anti's as a tool to reduces prey levels so low that huntng will no longer be allowed.  Or not allowed at anywhere near what it is now.    So now I would rather have none than let them get a foot hold and those SSS guys well...what I dont know wont hurt my feelings any.

[Elkaholic daWg]

ya know, we trust our forefathers judgment on the constituition.......why on earth would I second guess their inteligence on the reduction of wolves.

NO CHANGE! let our native wolves be and Keep the transplants OUT! They will make the natives extinct. Mackenzie subspecies......SSS

[BeeMan]

  A lady in N/E Washington released 18 hybrids about a year ago that were supposedly 95% wolf, 5% Dog.    I know alot of people that have seen "Wolves" lately, (local farmers).  Nothin illegal about shooting dogs that are harrasing wildlife!!   

[elkboy]

The issue is a bit of a moot point, since the wolves are dispersing on their own into Washington.  A regional approach is really what is needed, such as we have with elk (e.g., "Any elk" units in agricultural areas).  Core wolf populations could be left in some wilderness areas (and would legally already be so managed in National Parks), with progressively greater wolf harvest pressure away from these areas to meet objectives for huntable game populations and sustainable livestock operations.  I suppose I would encourage everyone to ponder the incredible flexibility of the North American Wildlife Management Model: it is flexible enough to allow us MANAGED wolf populations amidst the incredible diversity of other Washington wildlife.  I too would be happy to bag a wolf in a legal manner, but only in a way that contributed to sustaining all other large mammals in our state... and reasonable populations of the wolf itself.  (And I do feel that the "Shoot, Shovel, Shut Up" mentality does our community a disservice).  My two copper cents...    Happy New Year all! 

[NWwildman]

I know lot of people who have the "shoot, shovel, shut up" idea about wolves.

[Skyvalhunter]

Alot or the majority?

[granola/hippyslayer]

what wolves ? lol