Kill the wolf?

[chickm1]

I hear all sides of this. If you listen to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the wolves are the epitome of a threat to the whole ecosystem. Western sheep and cattle ranchers will pretty much back that up. We must maintain a balance in the population, or we stand a chance to have another animal go extinct. That cannot happen. I seriously doubt the wolves in the west, will get to the problems caused by feral hogs and coyotes in Texas.

 

[Mram10us]

I hear all sides of this. If you listen to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the wolves are the epitome of a threat to the whole ecosystem. Western sheep and cattle ranchers will pretty much back that up. We must maintain a balance in the population, or we stand a chance to have another animal go extinct. That cannot happen. I seriously doubt the wolves in the west, will get to the problems caused by feral hogs and coyotes in Texas.

They took our selway elk herd from mid 20k to less than 3k in short order after being introduced. I hunt way back where we never saw a wolf and game was flourishing. We saw 6 wolves in a spot of ours and didnt see a deer in the 3 days there. The canadian greys werent here in the past and should have never been brought in.

 

[xsn10s]

Where legal I'd dump then in a heartbeat. Back in 1997-1998 the area in Alaska was so over populated with them they didn't even issue a tag, perfectly legal to shoot them. The guide begged us to shoot them on sight.

 

[chickm1]

They took our selway elk herd from mid 20k to less than 3k in short order after being introduced. I hunt way back where we never saw a wolf and game was flourishing. We saw 6 wolves in a spot of ours and didnt see a deer in the 3 days there. The canadian greys werent here in the past and should have never been brought in.

At 20K, it sounds like you were over-populated. Biologists in Idaho say that wolves account for less than 1% of the total predation of Idaho elk. While cougars account for the largest predation, at only 2%. Life mortality accounts for the biggest loss, as cow elk have achieved a longer life span, and it has come of age.
https://www.cdapress.com/outdoors/20181122/increasing_idahos_elk_numbers_is_predator_management_goal

https://idfg.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/seasons-rules-big-game-elk-2017-2018.pdf

 

[chickm1]

Where legal I'd dump then in a heartbeat. Back in 1997-1998 the area in Alaska was so over populated with them they didn't even issue a tag, perfectly legal to shoot them. The guide begged us to shoot them on sight.

I didn't say not to shoot them, I said that eradication should not be a goal.

 

[xsn10s]

Most places won't let you shoot them. Idaho is one of the few places that will. I'll dump them given the chance and legalities.

 

[26Reload]

Once again...if you don't live in it you will not know....
Let's just say.....maybe some of the loss of elk numbers are just displacement...meaning the elk migrate out to never return...one explanation...
Another....elk are not breeding as readily because they are being harassed constantly..by man and wolves...elk numbers have fallen...areas that once held none are now abundant....
Ranchers begging the f&g to do something about all the elk in their crop lands..but still not allowing peolle to shoot to remove some...but even so...the elk know if they go back up in the mountains the wolves will be right on them again.......the elk aren't stupid.......but there are a lot of stupid people.........

 

[HARPERC]

.....I didn't say not to shoot them, I said that eradication should not be a goal......

What method would you employ to check their numbers.

 

[chickm1]

Rely on the F&W recommendations.

 

[26Reload]

Rely on the F&W recommendations.

That's a hell of a joke......stay with pigs.....and ranchers whom keep bitching and whining......easier for all.......

 

[xsn10s]

Here in Oregon we can't even touch them yet. Since it's getting close to Christmas and I don't want to cause any ill will I'll leave this one alone. My stance has already been voiced.

 

[North Idaho Hunter]

I have a hard time understanding how people that don't live in the area - without seeing real time, whats happening to the deer and elk populations- can sit their and logically think that they can make concrete choices on how to manage them.

 

[HARPERC]

......Rely on the F&W recommendations........

"We're from the government and we're here to help".

Pretty lame response.

 

[Troutslayer2]

Insert advice to "3S" from someone who has never, and will never see a wolf here.