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Big Game Hunting => Wolves => Topic started by: wolfbait on January 18, 2020, 08:18:01 AM


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Title: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: wolfbait on January 18, 2020, 08:18:01 AM
Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?                                       



http://namlhunt.com/ml-wolf-impact.html?fbclid=IwAR00WlDsPKaiD7kfqhQD3I3QGzloiY-hT6Kg3Zt8KxmOQNChZhgkhKy3GHo
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on January 18, 2020, 10:46:27 AM
Nope, Wolves haven't taken away any hunting opportunities from me.  I can still hunt and be successful.  What has taken opportunities from me is timber companies  and expanding human developments.
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: buckfvr on January 18, 2020, 11:37:40 AM
Unless they shorten or close seasons because of the wolves, then none of us have lost opportunity "to hunt".  However, maybe some guys feel they have lost opportunity to "kill" what they are hunting because of the lower number of deer/elk etc available because of the predator problem which includes wolves.

Make no mistake about it, here in n.e. wa., all of us who hunt know beyond a doubt there are far fewer deer/elk/moose available and it shows in harvest reports.  None of us here see anywhere near the number of deer we were seeing a handfull of years past.  WDFW knows this but still goes the smoke and mirrors route.
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: Loup Loup on January 18, 2020, 11:52:59 AM
I have not purchased a deer or elk tag for the last two seasons. I don't hunt to hunt. I hunt to harvest.
On the other hand, this is a great time to be a hunter and or trapper of bear, cougar, and wolf.
I am maximizing my efforts to take advantage of the abundant opportunity to be successful harvesting these predators, thanks to the mismanagement of our game.
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: msg on January 18, 2020, 05:03:36 PM
I hunt to hunt because I love it, and I hunt to harvest because it feeds my family. I believe all that put in for Quality or OIL tags has already been affected by loss of opportunity that is only going to get worse. Sadly it is going to trickle down much further. I may be wrong but I do not believe the Washington ungulate population can withstand the predator onslaught without opportunity loss for deer, elk, moose and sheep. Then if you throw money into the equation, I am sure there will be those that can no longer afford it as prices keep escalating. More youngsters that will not get the opportunity. I believe Idaho is going up next year with some non-resident reductions. The article above should be printed and distributed to every sporting goods store in the NW for all to read. Disgusting!
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: elkboy on January 18, 2020, 05:08:29 PM
I have gone 4/5 on whitetails (all 4x4 bucks or better) on an Idaho property where the landowner swears every year the wolves have killed "all the game".  Not to say wolves or other predators can't have a localized impact, but I don't see the difference where I hunt.     
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: msg on January 18, 2020, 06:14:59 PM
You have a good spot, where I  hunted elk last year in Idaho we talked to several locals that were just cutting firewood. They all said, the deer hunting used to be incredible here!
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: no.cen.wa on January 19, 2020, 06:48:24 AM
I have hunted mule deer in north central washington for over 55 years, from the canadian border to Methow/Carlton, since the wolves have arrived the population has sharply decreased. If you haven't seen a decrease you will when they arrive. One of the places in western washington will be the Olympic's, it will devastate the the elk and deer herds just the same as eastern washington. The wolf is a killing machine and their pack mentality, will take more of our deer and elk than we think. We need to do everything we can to get the word out.
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: Skyvalhunter on January 19, 2020, 08:31:58 AM
That is exactly the goal of of the pro wolf groups. They are hoping this will reduce the number of hunters or those hunting in wa or other states. Looks like there goal is going in the direction they want.
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: 444Marlin on January 19, 2020, 08:45:06 PM
Yes, wolves and cougars are part of the problem.
And also:
Poachers
Diseases/Hoof Rot/West Nile
Chemicals that timber companies are using.
Fire/Drought/Tough Winters...not enough fire in some areas.  Not enough snow pack in some areas.
Too many cow tags. Too many late season hunts.
Party Hunters, Guys taking marginal shots and not following up and then continuing to hunt...
Loss of habitat, urban growth.
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: dvolmer on January 20, 2020, 12:50:55 PM
Yes, wolves and cougars are part of the problem.
And also:
Poachers
Diseases/Hoof Rot/West Nile
Chemicals that timber companies are using.
Fire/Drought/Tough Winters...not enough fire in some areas.  Not enough snow pack in some areas.
Too many cow tags. Too many late season hunts.
Party Hunters, Guys taking marginal shots and not following up and then continuing to hunt...
Loss of habitat, urban growth.

Good list but you missed a big one!  uncontrolled native hunting!
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: 444Marlin on January 20, 2020, 03:51:51 PM
It's not a problem in the areas I hunt.  I think the anger and frustration it produces outweighs the actual impact on the overall populations.
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: Cougartail on January 20, 2020, 05:41:06 PM
It's not a problem in the areas I hunt.  I think the anger and frustration it produces outweighs the actual impact on the overall populations.

I don't base my assessment of animal populations on my hunting success or wildlife seen during hunting seasons. Late trapping season tells the story. Sign and sightings have diminished for the last 20 years.

Even with my thermal I see few deer and elk in areas I hunt.
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: buckfvr on January 20, 2020, 05:56:04 PM
It's not a problem in the areas I hunt.  I think the anger and frustration it produces outweighs the actual impact on the overall populations.

You think.........right.     If you dont live and hunt where there ARE wolves then you dont know the impact.  Period.  We are beyond anger and frustration and those who arent experiencing the problem first hand,  cant possibly understand it.
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: bigmacc on January 20, 2020, 06:00:59 PM
Well, as of right now we still have the "opportunity" to hunt and enjoy getting out there, on the other hand the "opportunity" to put meat on the table (in many areas) has been drastically reduced because of booming predator populations. I think that there are "others" that are trying to rob us of our hunting and hunting opportunities and nurturing wolves and other other major predators is just one of many tools to achieve the goal.... :twocents:
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: millerwheeler on January 20, 2020, 06:16:56 PM
I think PREDATORS   as a whole all of them have a roll but am I the only one who sees more landowners saying no more ,  or charging un realistic fees for access . Also they say  there is less hunters but certain areas I hunt I feel there are alot more hunters and some areas I hunt there gone . I do think we need to get a handle on the predators I try my hardest to harvest every one I see . Dunno. That was a good read though more people need to read it
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: ribka on January 20, 2020, 06:24:23 PM
It's not a problem in the areas I hunt.  I think the anger and frustration it produces outweighs the actual impact on the overall populations.

I stopped watching Portlandia and no longer go to Portland because of the huge wolf problem there

 guess if you live in a progressive urban area, where wolves don't reside, it aint a problem. The non hunting progressives in Seattle feel the same and want more wolves in eastern Washington.
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: 444Marlin on January 20, 2020, 06:58:17 PM
It's not a problem in the areas I hunt.  I think the anger and frustration it produces outweighs the actual impact on the overall populations.

You think.........right.     If you dont live and hunt where there ARE wolves then you dont know the impact.  Period.  We are beyond anger and frustration and those who arent experiencing the problem first hand,  cant possibly understand it.
That was my response to the comment about native hunting being left off my list. Not wolves.
I listed out many of the things that I believe impacts my hunting opportunities.  I included cougars and wolves.
Title: Re: Are Wolves And Other Major Predators Robbing You Of Hunting Opportunities?
Post by: 444Marlin on January 21, 2020, 05:41:54 PM
It's not a problem in the areas I hunt.  I think the anger and frustration it produces outweighs the actual impact on the overall populations.

I stopped watching Portlandia and no longer go to Portland because of the huge wolf problem there

 guess if you live in a progressive urban area, where wolves don't reside, it aint a problem. The non hunting progressives in Seattle feel the same and want more wolves in eastern Washington.
I must be missing something. I don't hunt in Portland.
I said, YES in my first post and listed a bunch of other things that I feel are influencing my opportunity to hunt in addition to wolves and cougars.  And when someone mentioned I left off 'unregulated native hunting', I responded that I didn't think it (native hunting) was a problem where I hunt.

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