wolves and how they've effected hunting and lost sales in your town?

[SIDEHILLARCHERY]

what I read and hear about is that states are allowing wolf hunting in some areas. what I want to know is for any one who's city has been effected by wolves do you see it effecting local business as well? Has it been getting better since they've issued wolf tags?

 

[Blakebuilds]

I know where I grew up in Idaho the wolf packs scattered and killed elk to the point that last year my Dad, his friends and my nephew didn't even see an elk. There are plenty of pic's on the internet of piled up elk carcasses that the IDFG gathered that the wolves only ate some of the more fatty organs. I also know that many of the outfitters in Central Idaho had some pretty bleak years and a number of them shut down. I can only conjecture that reducing the wolf numbers is helping to reduce the carnage on big game populations that have not had to deal with this type of predator for nearly 100yrs. I also believe that the herds will be slow to recoverfrom where they are now even if there were no wolves. My dad's friends from UT will probably not be coming up to get completely skunked again. The non-resident license and tags are just too much to not even see an animal.

 

[lavacrawler]

Been seeing quite a few ads for guides in central and northern Idaho scheduling Wolf hunts for next to nothing, trying anything they can to get the Elk back so they can scrape a living.

 

[ghost]

Used to hunt Idaho every year. Not anymore. The area we hunted has been pounded by the wolf. Very-very sad.

 

[Montana_BackCountry]

I'm a Montana born and raised archer who grew up with elk hunting.  As a child I remember elk as abundant and loud.  Now I find them in smaller groups which exhibit caution in bugle and who's tracks are tred over by wolf.  I saw several wolves this season and spent more than one night awake with howling less than a hundred yards from my tent.  They are here.  They have made an impact.  I can't hate the wolf for being a wolf.  I cannot understand the management of wolves.  My anger and frustration is aimed at the humans who thought wolves would somehow stay in Yellowstone and continue to lie about population.  I have a friend in the FWP who tells me to take any population estimate that goes public and triple it to get a more realistic account of the wolf epidemic.  The wolf must be managed as a pest. My heart goes out to them for being mismanaged and placed in this position.

 

[Montana Wild]

More guys need to get off their butts and take some action and actually say they made an attempt to hunt/trap wolves.  It's practically year round now in Idaho.

 

[Smtn10pt]

Its too bad the NR tags for Montana wolves are so expensive.  If they were cheaper I'm sure more would be sold!

 

[GoatT]

Right now we are having a rough time with coyotes.  The state has put a bounty on them and they have hurt our deer population quite a bit.  We don't get many wolves where we are at, but other predators have hurt our hunting opportunities.

 

[MT_mulies]

I'm with montana_backcountry....You can't hate wolves for being wolves but you can hate the way they are managed. I think they should be managed like coyotes in most states where you can hunt them and shoot them as you see them. The reason wolves were extirpated wasn't because of over hunting but more by poisoning. I mean if coyotes can survive with every sportsman out there trying to get one then I'm sure the wolf can too.

Wolves do help out riparian areas, and areas of over grazing, but that is only in the cases where herbivor populations are to high which is pretty much only in Yellowstone. The picture below is a picture of yellowstone. (see picture below) On the left is before wolves, on the right is after wolves in the same spot. The ecosystem is way better after wolves were introduced in the park. But the elk popluations were also to high to maintain elk for very much longer. They were reaching Carrying capacity.

I do come from a ranching family, and a ranching community in Montana. So my overall view is that they need to be handled properly to keep them in balance cause they are here to stay and we need to learn how to manage so they aren't effecting elk herds, livestock, and other domestic animals as much. Maybe if we throw some tree huggers into a wolf pack and let em fend for themselves they will change their mind on wolves haha. just kidding.....

 

[Diesel]

I am from Montana and many areas I hunt have been shut down, reduced to special draws.  The other areas I hunt I still see elk tracks but also almost every time out i cross wolf tracks.  They sure can ruin a hunt fast if they are in the area..........

 

[TooLucky406]

On a side note, while hunting for cats, three hounds where killed by what is reported to be from "Sport Killing" by wolves in the Ninemile area, just 20 miles from Missoula, MT. This is extremely sad news that not only do we have to worry about our elk getting decimated by wolves, now our shedding, window drooling, never have enough food, best lil buddy, are now in danger!....enough is enough!!!

 

[Montana_BackCountry]

The wolf i laid eyes on this year was right across the interstate from 9 mile. not surprising.  Lots of them in there.