twisp rancher in trouble for killin 3 wolves !!!!!!

[Jack Diamond]

 

[Skillet]

There is a world of difference between a trophy bull elk hell even a spike elk and a wolf.  The wolf isn't just a predator like the cougar, bear or even a coyote but the difference is the wolf is on steroids compared to those other guys.  If you guys want the population of wolves to be high enough to manage, then we've already lost.  Why doesn't that make sense to you? 

Because it's not true.  A pound of wolf takes roughly the same energy to sustain as a pound of cougar.  How many pounds of cougar do we have in this state?  I still get to buy tags every year... And by some accounts I've read here, the wolves won't be eating deer and elk nearly as often as they'll be eating cattle, dogs, women and children... 

I don't think what they did was smart at all but It also doesn't bother me that some wolves died. I think some here are on the line of supporting the damn things and don't even realize it.  SSS

That's what I'm saying, too - the guys that pulled this stunt are idiots.  Wolves aren't the only thing they *allegedly* killed illegally, either, which seems to keep getting swept under the rug.  They're just common criminals, but one of their targets was one that has become the poster child for everything that's wrong with Washington big game hunting here, especially since Dale bought the site.

I've never denied being OK with a few wolves in Washington (I guarantee I'm not the only one with that opinion reading this site, either, even though a lot of folks won't say it do to the wolf fever that's running a little hot here).  Hell, we can't even keep people out that aren't supposed to be here - no way we can keep wolves out.  They're coming, good bad or ugly - it's my opinion we might as well get on the inevitable side of things and work towards supporting a severely restricted population with hunting to control the surplus.  As I've said before, the plan is a bad one now, but plans can be changed.  It just takes effort, and credit to Dale for making lot of headway in garnering support for limiting the number of wolves in Washington (perhaps purchasing this site was part of the strategy - if so, it was a good decision).  Idaho and MT never had the chance, due to the federal protection wolves enjoyed during that population boom.  To compare Idaho and Montana's current reality to our future is a red herring.  We will have that chance, and we would all be fools to ignore that opportunity and become complacent about vigilante methods in place of management.  I will be one of the first in line to apply for my wolf tag when that time comes.  That way, I'll get to display the pelt honorably instead of shipping it up to Canada like a petty thief trying to fence a TV.

   Flame away...

[trophyhunt]

I don't think it's possible to have just a few wolves here, if they are left protected to do what they will until the numbers are high enough to have hunts we will be in the same boat as Id and Mt.  I think we would be in worse shape then the other states because we simply don't have as much wilderness as they do.  I just think the deer and elk will suffer terribly and they already have enough hurdles to jump over.  Remember the oldtimers got rid of the *censored* wolves for a reason and it wasn't just for a bounty. I'm not here to make any enemies, I just think we don't need them here or have the room for them.

[Skillet]

You've made no enemy in me, and gave me some things to think about.  I think in the end we all want the same thing - the ability to enjoy our hunting heritage and pass it down through many more generations.  This issue brings out the passion in people, which is a good thing.  I really do hope you're wrong about there being no room for them here, though - because they are coming.  Those things can travel too far too quickly and with MT, ID and BC as "incubators" around us, we're going to get more than our fair share.
I'm just advocating we go about minimizing the threat legally and not try and protect those that don't do it legally.  They are outside the law and should not be welcomed into the hunting community, as I understand it to exist. 
This de-listing that rode on the budget bill through congress is the best thing that could have happened to us - we get to have a say in determining our own fate, as opposed to ID and MT for years and years.  I know some say it's just a "feel-good measure" to make us think we have a seat at the table, but until that's proven out, I have a real hard time believing the hunting community won't get a voice in this one.  The issue is just too charged and we won't stand for being left out in the cold.

[trophyhunt]

Ending on a good note! I better get off this computer now and get some stuff done, the wife is giving me the eye.  Good luck in the draw, unless you have less than 6 points

[BOWHUNTER45]

Ending on a good note! I better get off this computer now and get some stuff done, the wife is giving me the eye.  Good luck in the draw, unless you have less than 6 points

this happened to me yesterday and this morning my monitor went out so I had to go buy a new one .... crazy !!!

[bearpaw]

Legally speaking, I will say it again, I only see two options of action:

Try to get the Commission to adopt a more reasonable wolf plan.
Try to get legislators to overule an unreasonable wolf plan.

We are in a worse position than Idaho because the majority of Idahoans want rid of wolves and wolves were never on a state endangered list in Idaho. What we want as hunters has little bearing, the only issues that will matter in this debate are facts. We need to pound the facts coming out of idaho regarding wolf impacts on other wildlife, livestock, and human safety. I think we also need to pound on the fact that Washington is not required by federal law to have a self sustaining population and it is argueable they are already part of a larger self sustaing wolf population that roams several states and provinces in two countries.

[trophyhunt]

 :yeah:Great points. I only wish most hunters agreed with you like I do.

[yorketransport]

Just a comment on the search warrant. He tried to FedEx the package to Canada. FedEx doesn't need a search warrant to open a package. Especially a suspicious package. I have personally witnessed at least 4 suspicious packages (which I picked up) being opened by authorized FedEx personel. This simple fact would have saved a couple of Tacoma area drug dealers a lot of money and jail time.

If a package is leaking or damaged, FedEx can and will open, inspect, and re-box it. People should really read the fine print, it explains all of this. If you're not breaking any laws though, you don't have anything to worry about.

And for all of the "SSS" folks, just because you didn't see any one watch you do it, doesn't mean I didn't see it.  Just like I tell my kids, no matter where you are, there's always somebody watching you.

Andrew

[teanawayslayer]

I don't know the whole story but,

If a wolf or anything else for that matter is coming on my property and trying to cause harm to anything that lives on my land, humans, livestock, and such... bet your ass thats a dead wolf.  Wouldn't even think twice about it........

Well said

[pianoman9701]

I don't know the whole story but,

If a wolf or anything else for that matter is coming on my property and trying to cause harm to anything that lives on my land, humans, livestock, and such... bet your ass thats a dead wolf.  Wouldn't even think twice about it........

Well said

Yeah, but are you poaching moose and deer, and mailing wolf pelts to Canada? This guy goes way beyond protecting his cattle. Not to mention, his actions were just plain stupid and scream "come and get me, throw me in jail".

[teanawayslayer]

I don't know the whole story but,

If a wolf or anything else for that matter is coming on my property and trying to cause harm to anything that lives on my land, humans, livestock, and such... bet your ass thats a dead wolf.  Wouldn't even think twice about it........

Well said

Yeah, but are you poaching moose and deer, and mailing wolf pelts to Canada? This guy goes way beyond protecting his cattle. Not to mention, his actions were just plain stupid and scream "come and get me, throw me in jail".

Allegedly. I know for a fact it's bs. Wdfw will try and get something out of nothing.  Especially to ruin a guys reputation

[pianoman9701]

Allegedly. I know for a fact it's bs. Wdfw will try and get something out of nothing.  Especially to ruin a guys reputation
[/quote]

Allegedly is correct. That you "know for a fact it's BS" tells me you know these people and their actions in this specific matter from 1st hand knowledge. Please share with the rest of us.

[THunt]

Dale you are 100% correct on the wolf situation.

[Little Dave]

My estimation of what happens long term with wolves is a perpetuation of the unsatisfactory situation we have now.  Constant pressure to increase the wolf population, huge sums of public funds committed to the effort, significant losses to livestock and game near release sites.  We will never have a fairy-tale style even distribution of wolves throughout the state, no well buttered piece of toast.

Wolves can cover a lot of ground.  There's a plotting of locations that's not to hard to find of a collared wolf that moved between Colorado and Alberta.  That distance is more than the distance between the Olympic Mountains and the Yellowstone pleateau.  So the thinking person has to figure that there's something about our very small corner of the West that is already making this state unsuitable because there's been a huge population of wolves just east of here for years ... and it doesn't really matter what factors are causing that unsuitability.

While this might seem to some like a statement advocating an increase to the wolf population, it is not.  Dumping wolves or any number of other extirpated species should be a low priority for the state.  The very effort is on the order of dumping sugar in the ocean to make the water taste sweet.  It shouldn't be done on the public's dime.

I hope the courts will favor reason in the alleged poaching case.