O M G! Wolves in northern Lincoln County

[lokidog]

Sorry for the delay on the pic, just caught up to this.  Here is a photo, the shell is a 30-06.  This mud was dry and hard.

[calib]

i had seen 4 of them the winter of the big snow storm   must have been 3 winters ago just south of edwal/ harrington. no mistake it was wolfs seen them once at 400 yards then at 100 yards ran like clydesdales

[meat_in_the_pot3]

Yes I know that Elk have swam the river. The Coulville Indians planted a bunch of Elk on there land several years ago and shot up the herd so much that they swam the river to get away! I would think a wolf could to, but only in search of food if there was no food on there side of the river. All the locals in northern Lincoln county want to keep the Elk thing quite. The wolf thing on MY hunting ground now, makes me very angry. I am going to go back over there between X-mas and New Years for some yotes. Maybe I can see a wolf then in the snow and take some pics and post them.

I think you mean the Colville Indians, not the Coulville Indians for starters. Secondly I think you should get your facts straight before you go and say something as ignorant as they planted a bunch of elk on there land (incorrect use of their)  several years ago and shot up the herd so much that they swam the river to get away. If you knew anything about what you were talking about you would realize that directly across the river from Lincoln County is the Hellsgate Wildlife Reserve, which is a limited draw area for Colville Tribal Members, that is only open for archery season elk once a year, and furthermore is only open for deer when it is decided the population could use a hunt strictly for conservation purposes. Not only do these elk on the reserve not get pressured, but the reservation as a whole has some of the highest elk numbers in the state. The elk did not swim the river because of tribal members shooting up the herd and pushing them into the water, but rather they swam the river because elk migrate from one area to another quite frequently. Deer, Moose, Bighorn Sheep, and Bears all swim the river back and forth from Lincoln County to the Reservation and vice versa, it also happens further down the river back and forth into Douglas County. I know this to be fact because not only was I born in Coulee, but i lived my entire life on the Colville Indian Reservation up until the time i left for college, and I have witnessed this happening my entire life. I have spent the last 5 years working for the National Park Service, with a large portion of my time dedicated to being on the river and you would be amazed at the amount of animals that swim across on a regular basis. As far as the elk go on the Colville Indian Reservation, it has been one of the greatest success stories in the pacific northwest, so much so that the US Fish and Wildlife gave a grant to the Colville Tribe for its role in conservation, which they in turn are putting into the reintroduction and population recovery of Bighorn Sheep. This last winter nearly 3 dozen sheep were transplanted into this same reserve, which just so happens to also be directly across from the Lincoln herd of Bighorns that the state manages. Sure enough by spring there were bighorns swimming back and forth quite regularly. Big game animals migrate, and it has nothing to do with the  tribal members across the river. If you got away from the west side of the state for longer than just opening weekend of rifle season maybe you would fully understand the habits of these animals, and also realize that the Colville Indian Reservation has some of the best hunting this state has to offer, with large populations of trophy animals, and i can tell you one thing, that does not come from poor wildlife management practices.

[boneaddict]

Clemans sheep by the way.  You might recall the big capture efforts or traps there last year or year before.  Its good country for them.   

No one should be critical of how the Colvilles manage wildlife.  They do a really good job.  I never appreciated their help with the harvest in the north half, but thats a whole different topic.  They also participate in heavy predator management.  Something this state should emulate.  Too many screwed up liberal tree hugging whites for that to happen though.

[high country]

Bone, you took my thoughts word for word.

Welcome aboard meat in the pot. Good post, it sounds like you may be one of the 2%ers at the nps who are not a total fool.

[Special T]

MITP3, Since you seem to have good information regarding the ability of the Coulville Tribe maybe you can help me understand something.  What kinds of predator management  are you allowed on the Rez? What kind are allowed in the Ceded hunting area? What tools that that tribe uses that others (tribes) could emulate?  I know that the Quinault use Bear baiting and have awesome bear hunting. It is also my understanding that running hounds is OK? I think that because tribes are less inhibited, by bunny hugging do gooders, they will likely be the driving force to help our wildlife state wide. I have also heard rumor that the Coulville are thinking about petitioning the Feds to manage wolves. What insight can you lend us?

[meat_in_the_pot3]

MITP3, Since you seem to have good information regarding the ability of the Coulville Tribe maybe you can help me understand something.  What kinds of predator management  are you allowed on the Rez? What kind are allowed in the Ceded hunting area? What tools that that tribe uses that others (tribes) could emulate?  I know that the Quinault use Bear baiting and have awesome bear hunting. It is also my understanding that running hounds is OK? I think that because tribes are less inhibited, by bunny hugging do gooders, they will likely be the driving force to help our wildlife state wide. I have also heard rumor that the Coulville are thinking about petitioning the Feds to manage wolves. What insight can you lend us?

Predator hunting has very broad seasons on the reservation,but unlike the state you cannot hunt them with an artificial light.  Cougars can be hunted year round, except in the reserve which is only open Dec 1st through March 31st, and once again a special tag is required to be in both the Hellsgate Reserve as well as the Omak Ridge Reserve.  Same goes for bobcats. Coyotes just like WA state are open year round, there is no limit on either of these 3 animals. Bears are also open year round on the reservation except for in the reserves where once again a special tag is required and the season is only open April 1-July 15. Hounds can be run for all predators on the reservation, by tribal members, as long as the dogs are registered with Colville Tribal Fish and Wildlife. As far as ceded land goes bobcats can be hunted Nov 1st-March 15th, but dogs are not allowed to be used, cougars can be hunted Aug 1st-Oct 31 and once again dogs can not be used. There is a hound season on the north half which is Nov 1st- Mar 15th and tags are required, and you are only allowed one a year. Bear baiting is not allowed on either the reservation or the ceded land, and also the Colvilles do not allow non members to hunt, I am pretty sure the Quinalts have a bear season over there where you can pay for a guided hunt or whatever but over here there is no option for that. These do seem like pretty broad seasons and possesion limits as far as Cougars and Bobcats go, but I can tell you the numbers on both these animals are still extremely high, there is not that many members as a whole that run dogs, it is very time consuming and takes a lot more effort than people think, and even with broad seasons, how often do you really just see a cougar in the woods when you are out and about haha pretty rare in most cases. The tribe is trying to set up some sort of Wolf management plan for 2012 pending on funding, but there is a plan of action that is in the works.

[GrainfedMuley]

Yes I know that Elk have swam the river. The Coulville Indians planted a bunch of Elk on there land several years ago and shot up the herd so much that they swam the river to get away! I would think a wolf could to, but only in search of food if there was no food on there side of the river. All the locals in northern Lincoln county want to keep the Elk thing quite. The wolf thing on MY hunting ground now, makes me very angry. I am going to go back over there between X-mas and New Years for some yotes. Maybe I can see a wolf then in the snow and take some pics and post them.

I think you mean the Colville Indians, not the Coulville Indians for starters. Secondly I think you should get your facts straight before you go and say something as ignorant as they planted a bunch of elk on there land (incorrect use of their)  several years ago and shot up the herd so much that they swam the river to get away. If you knew anything about what you were talking about you would realize that directly across the river from Lincoln County is the Hellsgate Wildlife Reserve, which is a limited draw area for Colville Tribal Members, that is only open for archery season elk once a year, and furthermore is only open for deer when it is decided the population could use a hunt strictly for conservation purposes. Not only do these elk on the reserve not get pressured, but the reservation as a whole has some of the highest elk numbers in the state. The elk did not swim the river because of tribal members shooting up the herd and pushing them into the water, but rather they swam the river because elk migrate from one area to another quite frequently. Deer, Moose, Bighorn Sheep, and Bears all swim the river back and forth from Lincoln County to the Reservation and vice versa, it also happens further down the river back and forth into Douglas County. I know this to be fact because not only was I born in Coulee, but i lived my entire life on the Colville Indian Reservation up until the time i left for college, and I have witnessed this happening my entire life. I have spent the last 5 years working for the National Park Service, with a large portion of my time dedicated to being on the river and you would be amazed at the amount of animals that swim across on a regular basis. As far as the elk go on the Colville Indian Reservation, it has been one of the greatest success stories in the pacific northwest, so much so that the US Fish and Wildlife gave a grant to the Colville Tribe for its role in conservation, which they in turn are putting into the reintroduction and population recovery of Bighorn Sheep. This last winter nearly 3 dozen sheep were transplanted into this same reserve, which just so happens to also be directly across from the Lincoln herd of Bighorns that the state manages. Sure enough by spring there were bighorns swimming back and forth quite regularly. Big game animals migrate, and it has nothing to do with the  tribal members across the river. If you got away from the west side of the state for longer than just opening weekend of rifle season maybe you would fully understand the habits of these animals, and also realize that the Colville Indian Reservation has some of the best hunting this state has to offer, with large populations of trophy animals, and i can tell you one thing, that does not come from poor wildlife management practices.

No I do not have all the facts. This information was told to me by some of the locals that live in Northern Lincoln county that I hunt. It was by word of mouth. I just passed on what i was told.

[TommyH]

http://www.krem.com/your-news/132147253.html

posted to KREM 2 this morning crappy video but you can hear a faint wolf calling back to him

hello !! sorry for the crappy video!! phone dosent take video to good, that was in gmu 121 hunters pass area, it howled alot befor i ever thought to get the phone out, saw it at 30 yards was grey/black and running twards me! the buck knife in my hand gave me no comfort at all!!

[Special T]

MITP3 I'm glad the tribe is making thier intentions known. Hopefully the tribe and sportsmen can work together in the N area where we both hunt. 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Sorry for the delay on the pic, just caught up to this.  Here is a photo, the shell is a 30-06.  This mud was dry and hard.

lokidog ...where did you take that picture ? I think it is more like a cougar track ...see how round shaped it is ....and no toe nails are showing in the dirt which most likely would be if it was a wolf 

[mulehunter]

   Its cougar trax.  On right three button look like arrow flat.  I believe its cougar trax.

Mulehunter.

[lokidog]

There are toenail marks there, look closer.  All of the tracks had nails showing.  I sent some others to Bearpaw.  I can post more but I'm going to bed.  I am in Missoula heading north in the morning.