Idaho wolf hunt

[xsn10s]

Just got back from 3 days out hunting wolves in the Boise River Basin. There were no packs in the mid-elevation areas currently. I spoke with the camp tender of a local sheep outfit with two bands of sheep in the area and they had not seen nor heard any as of late.

There was an over abundance of coyotes in the area. All it took was one lone Wolf howl and every drainage lit up with coyotes. I was able to call several of them in and got a big male that was coming in ready to fight.

The ticks were horrendous. I had to strip down coming back to camp and hang the clothes out and spray them to get the ticks off of them and sit in camp picking any off of my body.

I will head back up to the area in September while deer and elk scouting and see if any packs have moved back in.


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I heard ticks are bad in the whole Treasure Valley right now. Good thing you went before this big heat wave we're having.

 

[Chorizo]

The Idaho Legislature, made up of farmers and ranchers, changed wolf regs this year and I fear it's a mistake. That's the job of the IDF&G. This may bring the ire of the feds down on us. It certainly will bring more enviro lawsuits.
Don't get me wrong, I would certainly love to take a wolf. I just think the Legislature stepped out of their AOR and walked over the F&G.

They needed stepping on....no, STOMPING ON. The IDFG has dragged their feet and screwed around too long because wolf tags are revenue and the IDFG is a hot bed of eco-liberal, anti-hunter, pro-predator biologists that resist any reasonable measures to keep the wolf numbers at 400-500 wolves (about 3 times the minimal level) We currently have over 1200, yet they scream the sky is falling because we don't have "enough" wolves to make the feds happy.. The legislation brings the wolf numbers down to a reasonable level.

 

[Idgunner]

They needed stepping on....no, STOMPING ON. The IDFG has dragged their feet and screwed around too long because wolf tags are revenue and the IDFG is a hot bed of eco-liberal, anti-hunter, pro-predator biologists that resist any reasonable measures to keep the wolf numbers at 400-500 wolves (about 3 times the minimal level) We currently have over 1200, yet they scream the sky is falling because we don't have "enough" wolves to make the feds happy.. The legislation brings the wolf numbers down to a reasonable level.

I know this is a hot topic and don't want to start a ****ing contest. I've worked with the IDF&G for several years and can tell you that they were frustrated to no end by the feds and the enviros. They also have opposing factions within the F&G, those who want to hunt the wolves as predators and those who want to protect them at all costs. They are balancing ideologies between the Idaho legislature and the USFWS. If you have not done so, you may want to spend some time with the folks at your local F&G office.

 

[Chorizo]

I have spent time, sponsored legislation, had legislation passed, and worked closely with F&G as a BLM field manager. I know them well and what I am talking about. I was and am still an active player "on the field" No lectures, "education" and recommendations needed, thank you.

 

[Peddler 76]

Just got back from 3 days out hunting wolves in the Boise River Basin. There were no packs in the mid-elevation areas currently. I spoke with the camp tender of a local sheep outfit with two bands of sheep in the area and they had not seen nor heard any as of late.

There was an over abundance of coyotes in the area. All it took was one lone Wolf howl and every drainage lit up with coyotes. I was able to call several of them in and got a big male that was coming in ready to fight.

The ticks were horrendous. I had to strip down coming back to camp and hang the clothes out and spray them to get the ticks off of them and sit in camp picking any off of my body.

I will head back up to the area in September while deer and elk scouting and see if any packs have moved back in.


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Gamehide makes Elimi-Tick clothing and it works great. I've been using it for years.

 

[Idgunner]

I have spent time, sponsored legislation, had legislation passed, and worked closely with F&G as a BLM field manager. I know them well and what I am talking about. I was and am still an active player "on the field" No lectures, "education" and recommendations needed, thank you.

Ok then. No offense intended. Obviously we've had different experiences working with them.

 

[HRM Johnny]

Gamehide makes Elimi-Tick clothing and it works great. I've been using it for years

Thank you very much for sharing that @Peddler 76.

 

[-WARDOG-]

Smoke a pack a day!
I hunt wolves but haven't gotten one yet. They are clever and wise to most calls and they stay a long ways away most of the time. IDFG reports a 1% success rate for wolf hunters so I don't feel too bad. Most of the guys that score wolves around here were actually hunting something else and the wolf presented a target. I save my hunting receipts for reimbursements through FFWM.
I live just 20 miles from wolf ground zero where they were released. They have NO friends in this neck of the woods.

 

[Chorizo]

I grew up ranching sheep in Idaho. Sheep mountain out of Blackfoot Idaho was part of our summer range. One of our herders killed three black wolves the summer of 1972, long before the feds "reported" releasing wolves. We reported the kills to IDFG and they said it couldn't be possible, until we told them they were black and big. They came up and gathered the carcasses and it caused quite a stink as the feds had to fess up that they had released an experimental population in the Tetons and they had prospered and moved over the range into our sheep range.

The Legislature has done the right thing. Way too many "deep state" eco warriors in the IDFG that needed over ridden.

EDIT: Here is a local article from a conservative outlet. https://idahodispatch.com/leonardo-dicaprio-targets-new-idaho-wolf-law/

 

[Muskrat Outdoors]

They needed stepping on....no, STOMPING ON. The IDFG has dragged their feet and screwed around too long because wolf tags are revenue and the IDFG is a hot bed of eco-liberal, anti-hunter, pro-predator biologists that resist any reasonable measures to keep the wolf numbers at 400-500 wolves (about 3 times the minimal level) We currently have over 1200, yet they scream the sky is falling because we don't have "enough" wolves to make the feds happy.. The legislation brings the wolf numbers down to a reasonable level.

I disagree with you. Idaho Fish & Game has taken it slow and easy, adding a little more all the time. I live in Salmon, Idaho where wolves were a real problem a few years ago. Now I have trouble finding tracks in the snow. What they have been doing is working. The deer have fawns, and the elk have calves again where there was none a few years ago. I have a friend who is a Game Warden who likes to hunt wolves too. I talked with him today and he said the Anti-hunter/pro-wolf folks have already filed a petition against the bonehead action the state did. That is the first step. Once the petition is denied, the will file a law suit that will most likely end this years wolf hunting and trapping seasons. Their goal is to get wolves re-listed and block management for at least 5 years. You think we have too many wolves now? Just wait! Idaho hunters and trappers take roughly 700 wolves each year....block management for 5 years, that's 3,500 wolves that won't be taken.....and they breed, so you can add about a 1/3 more to that number........any way you look at this, the state screwed up! Leave it in the hands of F&G that is paid to manage them, not a bunch of idiots in office. I am a wolf hunter and trapper and voted against this BS. If they block the season I'll be ****ed! I have lost two elk guiding jobs after the outfitters I worked for went out of business due to lack of game. I have done ranch work for nearly 40 years. Take it easy, or lose it all! The anti's have a lot of power and you can't bully your way through this. If we try, we will lose. Extremes on both sides has been the problem from the start. Save 'em all or Kill 'em all......either one is just as bad and doing our wildlife no good at all. The key is proper management, or we will lose it all.

 

[Muskrat Outdoors]

I know this is a hot topic and don't want to start a ****ing contest. I've worked with the IDF&G for several years and can tell you that they were frustrated to no end by the feds and the enviros. They also have opposing factions within the F&G, those who want to hunt the wolves as predators and those who want to protect them at all costs. They are balancing ideologies between the Idaho legislature and the USFWS. If you have not done so, you may want to spend some time with the folks at your local F&G office.

I agree. Like it or not the wolves are here to stay. We need to learn to deal with them without extremes on either side. Push too hard, and they go back on the endangered/protected list and we will see another population explosion while are deer and elk, not to mention moose, are wiped out. What we have now, hunting and trapping of wolves, is working. I don't want to lose that!!

 

[Muskrat Outdoors]

Smoke a pack a day!
I hunt wolves but haven't gotten one yet. They are clever and wise to most calls and they stay a long ways away most of the time. IDFG reports a 1% success rate for wolf hunters so I don't feel too bad. Most of the guys that score wolves around here were actually hunting something else and the wolf presented a target. I save my hunting receipts for reimbursements through FFWM.
I live just 20 miles from wolf ground zero where they were released. They have NO friends in this neck of the woods.

I trapped one, hunting I have had zero luck. Been gearing up all Summer to go after them this Fall. In fact, I'm making waxed sand as we speak......i DO NOT WANT the anti's blocking this due to the Idah legislation blunder!!! Slow and easy wins the race. They pushed too hard this time and there is a good chance this years season(maybe more) will be blocked. I have this info by a good source.......an Idaho F&G Warden.

 

[Muskrat Outdoors]

I grew up ranching sheep in Idaho. Sheep mountain out of Blackfoot Idaho was part of our summer range. One of our herders killed three black wolves the summer of 1972, long before the feds "reported" releasing wolves. We reported the kills to IDFG and they said it couldn't be possible, until we told them they were black and big. They came up and gathered the carcasses and it caused quite a stink as the feds had to fess up that they had released an experimental population in the Tetons and they had prospered and moved over the range into our sheep range.

The Legislature has done the right thing. Way too many "deep state" eco warriors in the IDFG that needed over ridden.

EDIT: Here is a local article from a conservative outlet. https://idahodispatch.com/leonardo-dicaprio-targets-new-idaho-wolf-law/

They pushed too hard this time. The anti's will push back even harder. They have alread begun the paperwork and first step towards blocking wolf management again. The legislature screwed up big time.

 

[-WARDOG-]

What is this 'Wolf Season' you speak of?