Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Wolves => Topic started by: Hunterman on January 06, 2014, 10:46:07 AM

Title: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: Hunterman on January 06, 2014, 10:46:07 AM: This is not intended to be a better than post, just information. I've been reading some, not all of the wolf post hear, and the responses of some. I started to wonder just what experiences/sightings y'all have had with wolves without hunting for them.

I have had a few interactions with wolves in my life, in Alaska, and Montana ( before they admitted to having wolves). On one occasion I watched a pack (about 6 or so ) take down and kill a young moose in Alaska, not pretty, but effective. Nature at its best. This was at about 300 yards through bino.'s. Cool to watch, but ugly to witness. On another occasion (also in Alaska) I stumbled onto a couple while out berry picking berries. I jumped them at about 20 yards. Scared the bejebies out of me. My shorts were never the same.

In Montana, I was hunting with my cousins husband outside of Thompson Falls. As we rounded this bend (yes road hunting) we saw on this hill side 8 wolves resting. This sighting lasted all of about maybe 5 or 6 seconds before the hillside exploded with dogs running every direction except towards us. Less than 50 yards. Same day, we were hunting another ridge line, and came face to face with a wolf. I was walking a trail working this ridge line when this wolf ( probably from the same pack as earlier) came up from the other side of the ridge over a log and saw me about the same time I saw him. Before I could get my rifle up he spun and was history. Never have I seen an animal that big spin and move so fast in my life. This one was at 15 to 20 feet.

That's my stories, some will call BS, but the ones that know me well they've heard it before.

Hunterman(Tony)
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: boneaddict on January 06, 2014, 10:47:42 AM: Close enough to hit him between the eyes with a rock.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: Woodchuck on January 06, 2014, 11:03:26 AM: I had one at about 80 yards this last deer season in this state.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: vandeman17 on January 06, 2014, 11:04:04 AM: Old man and I hear them howling not too far away from us in NE corner this late archery deer season.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: gaddy on January 06, 2014, 11:07:54 AM: 20 to 25 yds & not happy about it.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: nwwanderer on January 06, 2014, 11:13:19 AM: 6 one year and 5 the next year through the spotting scope, a mile and more. Salmon river, Idaho. One bunch some deer interaction and the other group some horse interaction. No kills, just being dogs.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: pianoman9701 on January 06, 2014, 11:14:50 AM: 20 yards and didn't much like it.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: Special T on January 06, 2014, 11:48:15 AM: 100 yards a couple miles outside of sedro woolley 4 of them stalking elk while i was partisipating in the late rifle hunt. Didn't scare me then cause i thought they were coyotes. I NEVER go there hunting anymore with out a pistol.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: 6x6in6 on January 06, 2014, 11:52:43 AM: 50-100 on two separate occasions in Wyoming.
Right around 100 in Montana.

All 3 times, they didn't know I was there, or at least never led to me believe that they knew.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: elkfins on January 06, 2014, 08:44:15 PM: You need an option for never heard one, never seen one...
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: Vulcan on January 06, 2014, 09:26:50 PM: I work at a state of the art veterinary office here in SoCal and Wolf Mountain Sanctuary brought in one of their wolves for cancer treatment and it allowed me to pet it and it rubbed up on me. Pretty cool experience but would not want to experience one in the wild.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: Ricochet on January 06, 2014, 09:43:05 PM: Took this pic at about forty feet in Canada. Haven't seen one here in Oregon, yet. :bash:

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi17.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb60%2Frenegade54%2F_DDC1709.jpg&hash=c3bb3fe7c69a6e8fd8cbb0f2149db579c6940f04) (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/renegade54/media/_DDC1709.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: steen on January 06, 2014, 09:48:30 PM: Saw one in the Dayton Unit cross the road 20 yds in front of us while driving in the dark.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: lokidog on January 06, 2014, 09:49:43 PM: I've only ever seen them at the dump near our cabin in Ontario, but have heard them away from the dump.

Ricochet, that thing looks like a werewolf. :yike:
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on January 06, 2014, 09:57:23 PM: Quote from: elkfins on January 06, 2014, 08:44:15 PM
You need an option for never heard one, never seen one...

I think that would be the normal answer for most people that enter the woods now. But I also believe that number of non-encounters will diminish as we move forward with a lack of Wolf management in this state.

-Steve
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: Ricochet on January 06, 2014, 09:58:55 PM: Quote from: lokidog on January 06, 2014, 09:49:43 PM

Ricochet, that thing looks like a werewolf. :yike:

Not a very handsome wolf for sure. Obviously old and blind in one eye, he was alone and not doing well. Probably the only reason he hung around long enough for me to photograph him.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: kentrek on January 06, 2014, 10:11:43 PM: While waiting to get a six point double (idaho rifle elk) we had a pack light up the canyon from a few hundred yards away...spooking our bulls in the process...ive never had so much hate directed towards an animal in my life...hunted 11 more days with out anymore opportunities

Seen one running away fast outside of Lewiston toward Pullman on wawaahhhi rd ??
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on January 07, 2014, 07:54:32 AM: Only 44 people on here have seen or heard a wolf???
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: rtspring on January 07, 2014, 08:10:08 AM: 50 or so yards in Little Naches.. Years ago
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: headshot5 on January 07, 2014, 08:19:02 AM: Quote
Only 44 people on here have seen or heard a wolf???

The thread has only been viewed 366 times (at this moment) since this poll began and 46 people have had encounters or heard/seen, so that is roughly 12.5% of people who have looked at this thread. Give it a little time and I bet that percentage will increase.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: woodman on January 07, 2014, 08:29:19 AM: Quote from: WAcoyotehunter on January 07, 2014, 07:54:32 AM
Only 44 people on here have seen or heard a wolf???

The part of not hunting one made me not answer before. I have seen one at around 100 yards, but I shot it while bear hunting above the border.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: 7mmfan on January 07, 2014, 08:43:15 AM: Was confronted by 4 adults with pups at about 10' while walking in to fish the Skagit about 10 years ago. Was told that they were "hybrids" but they looked like wolves to me and had pups. There were gray ones and black ones. Pretty intimidating to run into a snarling p'd off 100# wolf in an alder thicket let me tell you. :bdid:
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: Idabooner on January 07, 2014, 08:50:00 AM: I've seen several over the years in the Methow. Closest about 75 feet, circled my fire for half the night in the moon light.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: troyspinetar on January 07, 2014, 09:02:36 AM: We heard some howling across the lake from where we were camping up at Hozomeen Lake. Never saw any though. Majestic and creepy at the same time.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: elkfins on January 07, 2014, 10:56:34 AM: Quote from: JackOfAllTrades on January 06, 2014, 09:57:23 PM
Quote from: elkfins on January 06, 2014, 08:44:15 PM
You need an option for never heard one, never seen one...

I think that would be the normal answer for most people that enter the woods now. But I also believe that number of non-encounters will diminish as we move forward with a lack of Wolf management in this state.

-Steve

I totally agree with you. But at this time, I cannot vote in the poll because the option never heard, never seen is not there. The poll is flawed because it won't give an accurate ratio of encounters to non-encounters.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: Northway on January 07, 2014, 11:09:17 AM: 150 yards or so in western Montana. They were hanging around a kill site that was obscured from view.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: KFhunter on January 07, 2014, 11:19:49 AM: I haven't had any close encounters, but I'm ready ;)

I've heard them talking and I've trailed them but have yet to bump noses.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: wafisherman on January 07, 2014, 11:23:48 AM: Saw one in east Texas. Very rare red wolf.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: Elkaholic daWg on January 07, 2014, 11:25:12 AM: 1989... about 15 feet as we seemed to be on the same (blood trail) elk between Whiskey Corner camp and 4 Corners (colockum) Big black one out from under a tree
Happened so quick it scared the hell outa me
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: Special T on April 25, 2014, 04:09:26 PM: My mom and wife saw a wolf on lake cavanaugh rd. I think it was 20-30yards crossing the road. I asked my wife why she didnt pin it to a tree. Her answer? Your kids were in the car dummy!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: JLS on April 25, 2014, 04:32:58 PM: 150 yards or so.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: wolfbait on April 25, 2014, 06:57:03 PM: Four ft, two were looking in the kitchen window. What is that WDFW say? Wolves are shy? Whats one more lie from WDFW?
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: Lucky1 on April 25, 2014, 07:42:00 PM: Probably about 75 to 100 yards. Crossed the road by us when we were bear hunting in northern Minnesota. Saw another one there on the road about 200 yards away. This was about 20 years ago. I think they just started hunting them in Minnesota last year or the year before.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: 4fletch on April 25, 2014, 07:47:08 PM: two yrs ago near Cle Elum , call called one in to 15 yrds, seen two at 200 yrds, cow called two in to 35 yrds all in the same area. heard wolves at night decades ago in North Bend
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: bigmacc on April 26, 2014, 11:31:47 AM: Sometime in the early 90,s my dad,myself and one of our pardners got stuck in bumper high snow on a road while doing some late november scouting in eastern washington.Our pardner had a video camera and was videoing some of the "trying to get unstuck" comedy :chuckle:,i noticed some movement in the trees on the uphill side of the road and about 50 feet in front of our truck walking down the bank was either about a 120lb yote or a wolf,we videoed it for about 3 min.It stood in the middle of the road facing us,front legs spread and head down just staring us down.On the video you can hear us saying "Man thats a big yote",we whistled and yelled at it as it started taking steps towards us,as it got closer you can hear us saying "is that a wolf?".It got to about 30 to 40 ft from us, took a hard right turn and casually walked over the edge and into the timber.As i said it was much bigger than my 90lb lab and did not act like a yote,this was mentioned to some game guys we knew at the time and we were told "there are no wolves around here".We took there word for it cause back then there wasnt supposed to be any wolves or moose for that matter in the area we were in.Guess we should have been a bit more skeptical because a few years earlier we had seen a cow and calf moose in the same local :chuckle:
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: wolfbait on April 27, 2014, 02:51:32 PM: Early 90's that would be when the USFS told folks not to say anything about the wolves we were seeing as they were planted wolves. Imagine that!
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: Rick on April 28, 2014, 07:39:24 PM: Quote from: rtspring on January 07, 2014, 08:10:08 AM
50 or so yards in Little Naches.. Years ago

Same here
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: rtspring on April 28, 2014, 08:06:49 PM: Quote from: Naches Sportsman on April 28, 2014, 07:43:22 PM
Quote from: Rick on April 28, 2014, 07:39:24 PM
Quote from: rtspring on January 07, 2014, 08:10:08 AM
50 or so yards in Little Naches.. Years ago

Same here

About 15 miles from rtsprings camp. In the norsepeak. Heard them. Also seen tracks off of 1914.

Seen two! At maybe 75yds on 1902. Back in the 90's
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: Broker on April 28, 2014, 09:50:16 PM: I saw a single one in Montana a couple of years ago. We saw a pack on prince of wales island in an briefly. They were quick.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: deltaops on April 28, 2014, 10:14:04 PM: Have not seen any yet, but if I do, I would have to take a second look at it through my scope just to be certain of my target.

Disclaimer- I did not say where I would be looking at it through a scope so do not assume I am in a State that is illegal to shoot them. I may just be in a State that allows them to be hunted with a valid license. Thank you, that is all. Carry on!
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: BLR 243 on April 28, 2014, 10:44:55 PM: 250 yds in Montana
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: smittyJ on June 07, 2014, 07:35:58 AM: 40 to 50 yards while riding a 4wheeler west of Ellensburg, 2008 I believe.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: Southpole on June 07, 2014, 07:54:37 AM: 80 yards, Curlew on Empire Creek Rd. 4 years ago. Husband saw a black one many, many years ago on Segelson Pass out of Whitehorse (between Darrington and Oso).
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: GameHunter1959 on June 16, 2014, 11:35:45 PM: Quote from: deltaops on April 28, 2014, 10:14:04 PM
Have not seen any yet, but if I do, I would have to take a second look at it through my scope just to be certain of my target.

Disclaimer- I did not say where I would be looking at it through a scope so do not assume I am in a State that is illegal to shoot them. I may just be in a State that allows them to be hunted with a valid license. Thank you, that is all. Carry on!

I will be blunt...
If I see one, it had better be able to run 2900 feet per second. I'm not taking any chances of being torn apart alive. :mgun:
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on June 17, 2014, 10:09:43 AM: Quote from: GameHunter1959 on June 16, 2014, 11:35:45 PM
Quote from: deltaops on April 28, 2014, 10:14:04 PM
Have not seen any yet, but if I do, I would have to take a second look at it through my scope just to be certain of my target.

Disclaimer- I did not say where I would be looking at it through a scope so do not assume I am in a State that is illegal to shoot them. I may just be in a State that allows them to be hunted with a valid license. Thank you, that is all. Carry on!

I will be blunt...
If I see one, it had better be able to run 2900 feet per second. I'm not taking any chances of being torn apart alive. :mgun:
You're kidding right? You have a better chance of choking on a piece of cheese than you do of being "torn apart" by wolves.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: iusmc2002 on June 17, 2014, 10:38:06 AM: Quote from: WAcoyotehunter on June 17, 2014, 10:09:43 AM
Quote from: GameHunter1959 on June 16, 2014, 11:35:45 PM
Quote from: deltaops on April 28, 2014, 10:14:04 PM
Have not seen any yet, but if I do, I would have to take a second look at it through my scope just to be certain of my target.

Disclaimer- I did not say where I would be looking at it through a scope so do not assume I am in a State that is illegal to shoot them. I may just be in a State that allows them to be hunted with a valid license. Thank you, that is all. Carry on!

I will be blunt...
If I see one, it had better be able to run 2900 feet per second. I'm not taking any chances of being torn apart alive. :mgun:
You're kidding right? You have a better chance of choking on a piece of cheese than you do of being "torn apart" by wolves.

So, to mitigate that danger, make sure you chew your cheese completely before swallowing and smoke the wolf :tup:
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: GameHunter1959 on June 17, 2014, 11:22:42 PM: Yes I am kidding. I use to fear cougars until I had one walk into me at 25 yards last year. The thing turned so fast and was gone. I am leary of wolves thou. If I was ever in danger, then maybe I would feed it a barrel of balistic tip salad.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: HunterStrait on June 18, 2014, 10:32:20 PM: No, i have not seen or heard one yet, but i have seen tracks up above the tucannon in the blues.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: wolfbait on June 18, 2014, 10:41:13 PM: Quote from: WAcoyotehunter on June 17, 2014, 10:09:43 AM
Quote from: GameHunter1959 on June 16, 2014, 11:35:45 PM
Quote from: deltaops on April 28, 2014, 10:14:04 PM
Have not seen any yet, but if I do, I would have to take a second look at it through my scope just to be certain of my target.

Disclaimer- I did not say where I would be looking at it through a scope so do not assume I am in a State that is illegal to shoot them. I may just be in a State that allows them to be hunted with a valid license. Thank you, that is all. Carry on!

I will be blunt...
If I see one, it had better be able to run 2900 feet per second. I'm not taking any chances of being torn apart alive. :mgun:
You're kidding right? You have a better chance of choking on a piece of cheese than you do of being "torn apart" by wolves.

I bet Candice would have argued that little pile of BS, if she could!

DNA and Investigation Confirm Candice Bernier Killed by Wolves http://www.skinnymoose.com/bbb/2011/12/07/dna-and-investigation-confirm-candice-bernier-killed-by-wolves/ (http://www.skinnymoose.com/bbb/2011/12/07/dna-and-investigation-confirm-candice-bernier-killed-by-wolves/)
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: WAcoyotehunter on June 19, 2014, 07:07:31 AM: Of course- the single verified wolf mortality in the US in a century. Jogging in wolf rich country, with an IPod in, seems like a bad idea. Better lock and load if you see any bees....

Average Number of Deaths per Year in the U.S

Bee/Wasp 53
Dogs 31
Spider 6.5
Rattlesnake 5.5
Mountain lion 1
Shark 1
Alligator 0.3
Bear 0.5
Scorpion 0.5
Centipede 0.5
Elephant 0.25
Wolf 0.1
Horse 20
Bull 3
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: wolfbait on June 19, 2014, 09:16:32 AM: Quote from: wolfbait on June 18, 2014, 10:41:13 PM
Quote from: WAcoyotehunter on June 17, 2014, 10:09:43 AM
Quote from: GameHunter1959 on June 16, 2014, 11:35:45 PM
Quote from: deltaops on April 28, 2014, 10:14:04 PM
Have not seen any yet, but if I do, I would have to take a second look at it through my scope just to be certain of my target.

Disclaimer- I did not say where I would be looking at it through a scope so do not assume I am in a State that is illegal to shoot them. I may just be in a State that allows them to be hunted with a valid license. Thank you, that is all. Carry on!

I will be blunt...
If I see one, it had better be able to run 2900 feet per second. I'm not taking any chances of being torn apart alive. :mgun:
You're kidding right? You have a better chance of choking on a piece of cheese than you do of being "torn apart" by wolves.

I bet Candice would have argued that little pile of BS, if she could!

DNA and Investigation Confirm Candice Bernier Killed by Wolves http://www.skinnymoose.com/bbb/2011/12/07/dna-and-investigation-confirm-candice-bernier-killed-by-wolves/ (http://www.skinnymoose.com/bbb/2011/12/07/dna-and-investigation-confirm-candice-bernier-killed-by-wolves/)

My wife saw three wolves yesterday in lower Alder cr, 75 yds out, last years pups.

WOLF ATTACKS ON HUMANS http://www.aws.vcn.com/wolf_attacks_on_humans.html (http://www.aws.vcn.com/wolf_attacks_on_humans.html)
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: SuperMag on July 15, 2014, 01:25:10 PM: My closest was 11 yards, me and my buddy were coyote hunting up in the wedge and we called in 5 wolves. The lead one ran by me at 11 yards, The second was posted up at 45 yards scanning the field. 3 more showed up about 100 yards away. Then they all started howling back and forth. It was a crisp cool early morning and you could see the steam coming out of their mouths as they were howling. This was my first encounter with wolves. It was very cool experience to have. I just wish it was legal to shoot them. We didn't find a single deer or elk track around in a couple miles.
Title: Re: Up Close and Personal, or Distance
Post by: ShedHead20 on July 15, 2014, 02:02:44 PM: I ran into a wolf at about 25-30 yards during shed season in the Blues in 2012.