collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Wolves and big game breeding cycles?  (Read 1934 times)

Offline Fowlweather25

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2011
  • Posts: 1622
  • Location: Rochester, wa
Wolves and big game breeding cycles?
« on: January 31, 2012, 01:28:12 PM »
Just curious here could just be me, but we lose a TON of big game animals to wolves and cougars. Has anyone ever put any thought into the fact that just a wolf or a cats presence stresses the big game animals tremendously? So in the fall and winter months when breeding is at it's yearly peak and deer and elk are at their most vulnerable, wouldn't it make sense that just the stress of these two apex predators alone could be enough to stress out the does and cows to the point that their heat cycles are interrupted, thus causing them to go unbred?
What would life be without the thrill of the hunt?

Offline Killmore

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 754
  • Location: Ellensburg WA
Re: Wolves and big game breeding cycles?
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2012, 03:45:52 PM »
Yep, and even if they get bred they can abort at anytime from to much stress.

Offline Machias

  • Trapper, Curman, Bowhunter
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 19059
  • Location: Worley, ID
Re: Wolves and big game breeding cycles?
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2012, 03:47:10 PM »
Montana State just did a study 2 years ago I think.  The elk in the study were being bred as normal, but what had changed drastically was the quality of the feed they were able to consume had gone down since they spent alot more time in the dark timber instead of the meadows and the added stress in winter caused them to abort more often.  Both of those issues caused a striking decrease in calf recruitment.  So it was not X number of wolves eat X number of elk, it was that plus drastically lower calf to cow ratios.
Fred Moyer

When it's Grim, be the GRIM REAPER!

Offline sebek556

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2011
  • Posts: 2603
  • Location: ne,wa
Re: Wolves and big game breeding cycles?
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2012, 03:47:58 PM »

Offline Machias

  • Trapper, Curman, Bowhunter
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 19059
  • Location: Worley, ID
Re: Wolves and big game breeding cycles?
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2012, 04:07:50 PM »
That's the one, thanks!!
Fred Moyer

When it's Grim, be the GRIM REAPER!

Offline Fowlweather25

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2011
  • Posts: 1622
  • Location: Rochester, wa
Re: Wolves and big game breeding cycles?
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2012, 06:06:23 PM »
Wow so I wasn't full of crap?! Huh!
What would life be without the thrill of the hunt?

Offline sebek556

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2011
  • Posts: 2603
  • Location: ne,wa
Re: Wolves and big game breeding cycles?
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2012, 06:09:04 PM »
 :chuckle: nope your good

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Breaking news: Lorna Smith and WWF sue WDFW Director and Deputy Director by Bullkllr
[Today at 07:05:02 AM]


Hunter saves deer's life -Cool vid by 2MANY
[Today at 06:20:22 AM]


That first elk encounter… by WapitiTalk1
[Yesterday at 10:28:55 PM]


Now we wait(Montana) by Magnum_Willys
[Yesterday at 09:35:21 PM]


Discretion !!! by Kingofthemountain83
[Yesterday at 03:45:03 PM]


MA10 Blackmouth anyone? by fishngamereaper
[Yesterday at 03:40:06 PM]


Sky Rover Binoculars. Alpha glass, bargain price. by highside74
[Yesterday at 11:59:25 AM]


Youth turkey season 2026 by muleyslayer
[Yesterday at 09:08:31 AM]


Offseason blues by C-Money
[Yesterday at 08:03:51 AM]


2025/2026 trapper reports by greenhead_killer
[April 05, 2026, 08:31:23 PM]


Turkey Vest Recommendations? by shorthair15
[April 05, 2026, 06:18:40 PM]


20Ga Load Testing - Need different shells by shorthair15
[April 05, 2026, 06:17:05 PM]


Holy Smokes what a shock!! by shorthair15
[April 05, 2026, 06:13:26 PM]


Bucket List Elk shed help wanted by Mtnwalker
[April 05, 2026, 03:34:29 PM]


Wall Tents Tips and Tricks by ghosthunter
[April 05, 2026, 02:54:36 PM]


Your biggest spike elk by kodiak06
[April 05, 2026, 02:37:09 PM]


New Zealand in May by Mr Mykiss
[April 05, 2026, 11:22:52 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2026, SimplePortal