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Are wolves really the problem
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<blockquote data-quote="longrangefreek" data-source="post: 845795" data-attributes="member: 10074"><p>I have been reading this thread and have been trying to figure out how to chime in without jumping into an arguement. This thread asked the question " are wolves really the problem?" The answer I have to that question is absolutely yes. I will be honest when the the reintroduction first came about in Idaho in 1995 I was all for it. I was young and had no clue as to how these preditors were going to affect our elk and deer herds. I saw nothing wrong with the reintroduction. By 2001 I was starting to see an issue growing. Elk herds were getting smaller the elk were acting different and were more scattered than I was used to seeing. I really thought nothing of it at the time. I hunted an area in Idaho that had the largest herd in the state roaming at that time. Elk hunting was awsome. We would see so many elk every year. stories I can tell my children cause they will never get to see what i saw in there lifetime. </p><p> </p><p>By 2006 my elk hunting areas were really beginning to take a hurt. I saw more wolf sign every year. Started hearing the wolves more every year. Elk herds were dropping and dropping fast. even faster in other units. something here was definately wrong. it was not due to over hunting cause fish and game had dropped all cow hunts in that area for a couple of years now. the success rates were dropping every year and more and more wolves were being spotted. </p><p> </p><p>in 2010 I went into the back country of Idaho for a 10 day hunt n that 10 days we heard a pack of at least 12 wolves and a couple singles and another pack of 6. there were atleast 20 wolves in this one area. the elk were scarse. Now I went to another part of the zone after that hunt and saw 6 more wolves and once again very little elk. I was really started getting angry cause my hunting area went from top knotch to absolute Sh!!. the elk herds were even worse than the year before. By last year I saw 2 bulls total in all the days I hunted and about 10 cows and no calves. I saw 12 wolves in one drainage i hunted. We actually watched them take down 2 elk the first morning there. I know that since being able to hunt the wolves the fish and game has said that they are seeing more calves per hundred cows but the herd has already taken a huge hit. it will take years of excellent management and control of the wolf population to get the elk herds back to close to where they were. sure we can say that other preditors contributed to the decline of the elk herds, but when you look at the herds before 1995 in Idaho Montana and Wyoming the only logical explanation to the drastic decline in these states ar the reintroduction to the wolves. the elk had never seen a preditor like this and the wolves took full advantage of the easy prey. we are now seeing major decines in Moose and deer populations. why the drastic drops well history tells the story. the wolves food source in deminishing so it is time to change the diet a little.</p><p> </p><p>I have a friend that lives in the Bitterroot valley and the elk population from 10 years a go to now is scarry. almost completely gone. I could go on and on how the wolves have negatively impacted our natural resource here in Idaho but I won't. It is essential to the elks survival that we as hunters do our part to control the wolf populations by meeting the wolf qoutas that are given to us every year. a few extra would not hurt either. We are only putting a dent in the problem as fast as they breed. we must stop pointing fingers at each other and come together to help our herds survive. Whether you are a rancher or a city slicker. we need to stop the fighting and put that energy towards keeping our elk, deer and moose herds thriving for our children to enjoy. </p><p> </p><p>YES THE WOLVES REALLY ARE A PROBLEM. A major problem in my state and others and I hope that other states around us do not experience the declines we have. wolves are being seen more and more in other states and I hope that they are controled before they affect those states like it has affected ours. Until it affects you at a personal level it is real easy to assume we are all overracting. We are not overracting we are living in reality every day we step into the woods.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="longrangefreek, post: 845795, member: 10074"] I have been reading this thread and have been trying to figure out how to chime in without jumping into an arguement. This thread asked the question " are wolves really the problem?" The answer I have to that question is absolutely yes. I will be honest when the the reintroduction first came about in Idaho in 1995 I was all for it. I was young and had no clue as to how these preditors were going to affect our elk and deer herds. I saw nothing wrong with the reintroduction. By 2001 I was starting to see an issue growing. Elk herds were getting smaller the elk were acting different and were more scattered than I was used to seeing. I really thought nothing of it at the time. I hunted an area in Idaho that had the largest herd in the state roaming at that time. Elk hunting was awsome. We would see so many elk every year. stories I can tell my children cause they will never get to see what i saw in there lifetime. By 2006 my elk hunting areas were really beginning to take a hurt. I saw more wolf sign every year. Started hearing the wolves more every year. Elk herds were dropping and dropping fast. even faster in other units. something here was definately wrong. it was not due to over hunting cause fish and game had dropped all cow hunts in that area for a couple of years now. the success rates were dropping every year and more and more wolves were being spotted. in 2010 I went into the back country of Idaho for a 10 day hunt n that 10 days we heard a pack of at least 12 wolves and a couple singles and another pack of 6. there were atleast 20 wolves in this one area. the elk were scarse. Now I went to another part of the zone after that hunt and saw 6 more wolves and once again very little elk. I was really started getting angry cause my hunting area went from top knotch to absolute Sh!!. the elk herds were even worse than the year before. By last year I saw 2 bulls total in all the days I hunted and about 10 cows and no calves. I saw 12 wolves in one drainage i hunted. We actually watched them take down 2 elk the first morning there. I know that since being able to hunt the wolves the fish and game has said that they are seeing more calves per hundred cows but the herd has already taken a huge hit. it will take years of excellent management and control of the wolf population to get the elk herds back to close to where they were. sure we can say that other preditors contributed to the decline of the elk herds, but when you look at the herds before 1995 in Idaho Montana and Wyoming the only logical explanation to the drastic decline in these states ar the reintroduction to the wolves. the elk had never seen a preditor like this and the wolves took full advantage of the easy prey. we are now seeing major decines in Moose and deer populations. why the drastic drops well history tells the story. the wolves food source in deminishing so it is time to change the diet a little. I have a friend that lives in the Bitterroot valley and the elk population from 10 years a go to now is scarry. almost completely gone. I could go on and on how the wolves have negatively impacted our natural resource here in Idaho but I won't. It is essential to the elks survival that we as hunters do our part to control the wolf populations by meeting the wolf qoutas that are given to us every year. a few extra would not hurt either. We are only putting a dent in the problem as fast as they breed. we must stop pointing fingers at each other and come together to help our herds survive. Whether you are a rancher or a city slicker. we need to stop the fighting and put that energy towards keeping our elk, deer and moose herds thriving for our children to enjoy. YES THE WOLVES REALLY ARE A PROBLEM. A major problem in my state and others and I hope that other states around us do not experience the declines we have. wolves are being seen more and more in other states and I hope that they are controled before they affect those states like it has affected ours. Until it affects you at a personal level it is real easy to assume we are all overracting. We are not overracting we are living in reality every day we step into the woods. [/QUOTE]
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