wolf story from another forum......scary

[high country]

Here is a reminder for everybody to be looking out for the big bad wolf while your out hunting.

This was taken just outside of Headquarters, Id. She is from Pierce and was out archery hunting when she killed this beast. I guess the Wolf was stalking her and she ended up shooting it at like 10 ft away with her pistol. Just a week prior to here killing this wolf a guy I went to school with that lives in Headquarters had 3 of his hounds killed by Wolves while they were on a bear hunt.

 http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i158/ausm7499/303755_196242723782118_100001891757202_458548_608368079_n.jpg

I have been hearing about a lot of close encounters with Wolf's lately and as you can see these dogs are not small. Yesterday one of my hunting buddies who also lives in Pierce was out doing some scouting for a Moose and heard a wolf howl so he howled back at it and ended up calling it into within 10 yards and shot it with his pistol.

Another guy that I went to school with just posted this on facebook

"We took our family vacation this year (August 2011) to the Cedar's area of the North Fork of the Clearwater. On the 2nd to the last night of our 5 day stay we were literally hunted by wolves while sleeping in our wall tent. A loud noise woke us up in the middle of the night, then the kids started crying (1 year old daughter, and 3 year old son). When the kids started crying, it was a trigger to the wolves that were outside of our tent 30 feet away. They began going nuts howling, and we realized they were completely surrounding our tent. We tried to quiet our kids, but all of the noise really had them worked up. We ran the wolves off, and attempted to go back to sleep. Within 10 minutes they were back, and we realized that they were dead set on hunting us, so we slept in our car the rest of the night. At daybreak we tore down camp and came home for our last night of "vacation". Before this event, I only had some skepticism about Wolves hunting people, based on reading many books from Alaska outdoorsmen. But this cemented it."

I didn't pack my pistol at all during archery season but will be from here on out. I think what is happening is that the wolves are exhausting there food supply (primarily elk) and are starting to get hungry and desperate. After hunting for over a week in what use to be some of North Idaho's most pristine elk country its an increasingly sadder story every year, the wolves are decimating the elk herds. We are seeing very few as in a hand full of younger elk and cows. This is because the calf mortality rate is nearly %100 percent due to wolves.

[grizzlyadams]

Someone has to step in and do something about these wolves. We all complain about it but what do we do. Our silence and lack of determination have givin control to the enviromentalist movement. Our numbers as a hunting and conservation community are far greater. Its time we let our voices be heard on this issue before someone gets killed. It's only a matter of time if it hasn't happened already. It's not enough anymore to just talk about taking action...it's time to do it....but in what manner? Anybody have any ideas?

[BOWHUNTER45]

yeah seriously these people who want these things out there have no clue what they are doing ! He or she looks like they have been eating good ...

[jackelope]

That pic was posted on here recently.

Grizzlyadams-
Check out Washington for Wildlife-upper right corner of the screen.
http://www.washingtonforwildlife.org/cgi-bin/oc/register.cgi

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

atta girl!  i love the 357 layin next to the wolf.

[longknife]

Damn, thats a big dog! Looks sleepy now,,,,good for her!

[Condor58]

So, I don't get it.  I read some of the comments and it sounds like most people think wolves should be blasted into extinction again.  I, on the other hand, think they are part of the food chain and I am glad they are being re-populated.  Same goes for the Grizz.  Then again, it seems like some are "scared" knowing the big bad wolf is out there when they are hunting.  If so, why do you hunt?  Don't go into the woods hunting if you are afraid.  I am more concerned with poor drivers or drunk drivers on the highways. 

Aren't deer populations at record highs?  Even though populations drop and rise with nature, when there is a die off, wolves feed on those that could not survive.  One more thing, is this incorrect?:  http://wildlifecontrol.info/deer/pages/deerpopulationfacts.aspx

And, does anyone know the population figures for elk and deer (other than "oh my God, they have been decimated by wolves") year over year or where I can find them.  I like facts. 

As for the "friend on Facebook" if you are going camping out in the wild, there will be wild animals.  Don't go camping if you are afraid of wild animals.  Maybe the wolves were just curious at this pack that had invaded their territory and were investigating.  I think if they were "literally Hunted by wolves" the wolves would have hurt someone. 

I had to chuckle when I saw a member named "GrizzlyAdams" say we have to do something about them wolves.

Hey, did any of you read the story about the two guys in Montana who were hunting and one was reported to be killed by the Grizzly that his young (and obviously too inexperienced partner) shot because he thought it was a black bear?  Turns out, the grizzly didn't kill the hunter, the young guy accidently shot his buddy while he was trying to shoot the grizzly who was attacking after having been wounded and then tracked.  There again guys, if you are going to be "he-men or women" and you go hunting for predators, you run a risk.  If you are not willing to face the risk, don't go hunting.

Oh, about the scary wolf population in Washington,

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2011/mar/01/washington-wolf-status-uncertain-pupping-season-looms/

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014352424_wolf28m.html

It would appear no one knows what it is because poachers (and probably some *censored* scared hunters) are killing them when they shouldn’t be.  Hardly “hunters” I would want to be associated with.

I can’t wait to see how you guys explain the scary wolf population in WA when the biologists don’t know what it is.  Note key word “fledgling” in the article.

Alright, you guys owe me some facts, numbers. 

Run, run for the hills, them big bad wolves are a coming granny. 

It only takes one person to incite a riot.  Amazing how many of you big tough guys feed off each other.  To tell you the truth, some of the women hunters I have followed are a lot more level-headed.

[SemperFidelis97]

I think if you do a little research on this site alone there Condor you will find dozens of articles that site the very information you are looking for.  I get the feeling I am not talking to a hunter here just another tree hugging lib looking for his chance to shine by showing up the overly masculine hunting crowd you dont want info if you did you would find it with relative ease.  As far as my feelings on the wolves, they were hunted to extinction for a reason by folks who had to live with them seeing what they are really capable of.  Any wolf that crosses paths with me that poses a threat will be dealt with like I would any predator that shows agression.

[bearpaw]

Condor58
Contrary to to the wolf proponents who have offered no science to support excessive wolf numbers, recent history in Idaho, Montana, and Yellowstone has provided all the science to prove that wolves do not fit into our modern environment unless heavily managed. After destroying the herds they are killing each other. Had you read more in the wolf forum board you would be far more informed.

Considering your own philosophy in your post, I would ask why would you (obviously a non-hunter) join a hunting forum?

We all know the answer..... so I am placing you back to reader only status. 

[high country]

Condor, welcome.....we will not see eye to eye on many issues, but I will welcome your opinion as that is what makes America, America.

You are likely correct that Montana and Idaho had a freak die off of elk which coincided with a massive increase in wolf population.  I would suggest a peek at "Idaho's wolf management and conservation plan" in which you will see the rapid decline in elk population and ironically, the rapid increase in wolves in the same area.....interesting.

Have a peek on page 13 of the study, you will see that wolves kill an average of 1.2 animals per day, and that elk make up the majority of that diet.

Washington does not have the range of Idaho or Montana in terms of space or wildlife. Washington concentrates nearly all of its elk into a few winter feeding areas. If you are familiar with the Sullivan lake feeding station where the bighorn sheep were fed you also likely know that as soon as hounds were no longer allowed to persue the cats that were in the area due to hound hunting being banned, the cougars wiped out the sheep. The feeding had to be stopped and the cats hazed away. Another great west cost plan that looked good on paper, but just killed rare animals. Now, we are going to unleash wolves in the winter feeding and calving grounds for the elk of this state.....if you think they will only kill a couple, you have obviously not toured the st. Joe river in the winter.

The fact is it was incredibly selfish and unrealistic to try to bring wolves to a state that has no where close enough resources to feed them. We are the single highest populated state in the wolf range and 99.9% of pro wolf advocates do not live in an area affected.
 

[high country]

Condor, what is your plan to protect the last few woodland caribou ranging in the kanisku? Pro wildlife groups have fought a long fight to shut people out of huge blocks of land up here to save them, now you push to introduce a new predator? It was a defense that snowmobiles would scare the caribou and cause them to burn calories leading to a winter kill. I strongly doubt a snomobiler will chase a caribou, but I promise wolves will. Then they will hold the caribou by its nose while its pack rips the guts out of the living caribou. Why would you protect the caribou to just use it like a goldfish in a pihrana tank?

[raekmike]

condor, welcome to the forum.....

would sure like to see a pick or two of an animal you've taken.
Do you hunt modern, muzzy, or archery? 

[sebek556]

hey condor I think one of my daughters bunnies needs a hug you game?
on serious note you like facts supposedly, then go to the sources Idaho DFW, Montana DFW, Alaska DFW, WY DFW. stop reading your facts from the wolf people.com and get some real information. if wolves are regulated or not in Wa period, then they are not extinct. Oh and on the big tough guy comment you can talk *censored* after you complete ranger school, or a equivalent.

[Rooster1981]

First I will say thats one big darn WOLF If I saw a wolf that close to me My drawls would still be dripping.

 Second I'm sure everyone is entitiled to there opinion Mr. or Ms Condor58, But to go into a forrum and start a ruccuss, you arent going to get your point accross. Yes wolves exist in the west should they  Do I care what happens to the wolves I dont. WHen my hounds are getting eaten at the bottom of tree's portecting your loved ones from over populated preditors like lions and bears that are breeding like crazy and arent getting the proper managment. you wont see me crying for a few hundred dead wolves.

[whuppinstick]

We all know the answer..... so I am placing you back to reader only status. 

While I agree that it appears Condor is an environmentalist masquerading as.. something trying to imitate a hunter (?), he/she did provide some links and almost useful discussion points.  At least give him a chance to defend himself and post up pictures of animals he's taken?