Wolves in the Index Area?

[grizzlyadams]

Ran into 2 bear hunters while I was out bear hunting who swear they called in wolves. I have been hunting this area for weeks now and tend to believe this is very true. I have seen tracks all over that same area way to big to be coyote, but always figured someone had their large breed dog out there, but then I noticed that these large tracks were from more than one dog and they tracked right along fresh deer tracks.

This was in the Stevens Pass area. Has anyone heard of wolves in this area? Mainly just south of Index.

[3nails]

 You know, I just got to thinking that with the dwindling food source (elk) in MT and ID and the new hunting pressure, we might end up with a lot of wolves moving in in a hurry. This whole nightmare could be upon us all before were even close to ready. Idaho is just a two day jaunt for a wolf.

[Elkrunner]

Did you get any pics of the tracks?

[grizzlyadams]

No, I didn't think of it. I was too preoccupied with a bear above a cliff in a cut. Trying to figure out how I was going to retrieve him without ropes if I was to nail him. I passed because I did not have the gear with me for steep country, plus it began to rain.

I will be out there this Sunday and I will get pics if I run across more tracks so I can post them.

[Elkrunner]

Good luck this weekend!

[Cap.Silver]

So should you as hunter be on guard while hunting ? Are there any cases where wolfes attacked humans? I would hate to be circled by pack of 10 wolves while they show their teeth  Is the road off Index running along the river been fixed yet at the 5.3mile wash? Do you know ?

[grizzlyadams]

So should you as hunter be on guard while hunting ? Are there any cases where wolfes attacked humans? I would hate to be circled by pack of 10 wolves while they show their teeth  Is the road off Index running along the river been fixed yet at the 5.3mile wash? Do you know ?

No the road has not been fixed and as far as I know they are not going to fix it. As far as wolves circling you. Just keep a side arm with an extra mag. They go down like any other animal.

[Skyvalhunter]

Yes they are going to fix the road but it won't be too soon. Construction of the new alignment is scheduled to begin in 2013 and be completed in 2015. If you want to keep up with the project go here:
http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Public_Works/Services/Roads/Projects/indexgalenard.htm
I have lived in the area my whole life and hiked most of it. I have not seen any wolves, not to say they are not any there. Alot of the area is steep and thick. I have ran into some rather large canine tracks at a few lakes and other places but have not seen or heard any wolves. There have been rumors up and down the valley for years but the same goes for rumors of grizz too.

[boneaddict]

This whole nightmare could be upon us all before...

The nightmare has already occured.

[Huntboy]

The nightmare has already occured.
[/quote]

[timberghost72]

Very well could be wolves here. I have recently talked to 2 different people, one from forest service and one other person and they have said there are possibly 2 black wolves in the Green Mt. area just east of Granite Falls so its is very possible for them to be near Index as well.

As soon as modern season is over for me I am going to head up to a few spots I know of armed with my camera and see if I can call them in.

[Special T]

I have heard 3rd hand (for what its worth) of wolves in that general area. My brother is a loggin Mech and the work from there to the CAN border. He has heard from his crew that they have seen wolves up in the hills E of Granite. No documantation, but it wouldn't suprise me. 

[grizzlyadams]

Well as far as the rumors go, ya...they fly around. Thats basically why I was aking if anyone else has heard anything. The hunters said that the wolves were howling back to the call. They said absolutely not coyotes, not even big coyotes. So who really knows. I guess it could very well be wolves.

As far as the Grizz around Stevens Pass, Absolutely true. Saw one about 4 years ago in an area around the top of a pass in a high meadow. Absolutely no mistaking it was a grizz. Reported it to WDFW, they said that they have had other reports but doubted them back then. I know what I saw, whether they believed me or not. I've seen enough grizzlies to know. Now they confirm that there is at least one that they know of in that area and that they have a radio collar on it. I would trust what a hunter says over and above what WDFW says only because WDFW usually has an agenda. The only question is do these hunters that said they called in the wolves, really know what wolves look like?

Hence the reason for my post.

[Special T]

Just shows that you have to bring a digital cam with you out hutnting!

[timberghost72]

Well as far as the rumors go, ya...they fly around. Thats basically why I was aking if anyone else has heard anything. The hunters said that the wolves were howling back to the call. They said absolutely not coyotes, not even big coyotes. So who really knows. I guess it could very well be wolves.

As far as the Grizz around Stevens Pass, Absolutely true. Saw one about 4 years ago in an area around the top of a pass in a high meadow. Absolutely no mistaking it was a grizz. Reported it to WDFW, they said that they have had other reports but doubted them back then. I know what I saw, whether they believed me or not. I've seen enough grizzlies to know. Now they confirm that there is at least one that they know of in that area and that they have a radio collar on it. I would trust what a hunter says over and above what WDFW says only because WDFW usually has an agenda. The only question is do these hunters that said they called in the wolves, really know what wolves look like?

Hence the reason for my post.

That is true. I have been told first hand that there is a Griz that roams from the Stevens Pass area up toward Darrington. Been there for 4+ years now. It seems it doesn't matter who sees it, be it a  LEO, Forest Service, hunter, hikers etc. Unless WFDW confirms it or there is pictures/proof I guess it doesn't exist.
Edit...Oooops.Misread the post. I read over the radio collar part

[jess]

i have seen wolf tracks in glacier peak wilderness along the white river so as a wolf walks this is only about twenty miles away...

[Knocker of rocks]

Now they confirm that there is at least one that they know of in that area and that they have a radio collar on it

They have a collar on a Cascade Griz?  Wow!

[grizzlyadams]

Now they confirm that there is at least one that they know of in that area and that they have a radio collar on it

They have a collar on a Cascade Griz?  Wow!

Thats what I was told by WDFW. They said they collared it within the past few years. I don't know if you could get that in writing, but that's what I was told.

[grizzlyadams]

 

Look at that...I jacked my own thread. Back to wolves now.....

[grizzlyadams]

i have seen wolf tracks in glacier peak wilderness along the white river so as a wolf walks this is only about twenty miles away...

That kind of cements it for me. Thats not even a 1/2 days walk for a wolf. So I guess its possible.

[Knocker of rocks]

Now they confirm that there is at least one that they know of in that area and that they have a radio collar on it

They have a collar on a Cascade Griz?  Wow!

Thats what I was told by WDFW. They said they collared it within the past few years. I don't know if you could get that in writing, but that's what I was told.

Must have happened very recently, or WDFW was speaking of Rocky Mountain/Selkirk System grizzly bears. 
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015482252_grizzly02m.html

[bobcat]

I have no doubt that there could be wolves in that area. My brother and I saw three wolves in, I believe 1991, just north of Lake Wenatchee. That's not really all that far from Index.

[Skyvalhunter]

Back when bear bait hunting was allowed (80's) some guys had a smaller grizz comming into their bait station off of Tonga Ridge and reported it to the WDFW but I couldn't confirm it first hand.