I spend quite a bit of time scouting in the summer and hunting a area in Idaho with alot of wolves. I am packed in 4 miles camped on a ridgeline where you can hear alot of country and we have yet to hear a single wolf howl in the dark in 5 years. Probably over 70 nights camped. I have heard wolves in the daylight more than I can count or remember.
Like mentioned if you are strictly after wolves open up the pocketbook! they are the hardest animal in my opinion to hunt successfully. You can spend days or weeks hunting what feels like ghosts or something that doesn't exist. If you shoot a wolf its your best opportunity to get more wolves they will hang around and look for their missing buddy I learned that this year.