From: cvacura@uswat.uswest.com (V)
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Subject: Re: Wolves! They're back?
Date: 30 Dec 92 20:44:03 GMT
Organization: U S WEST Advanced Technologies
Originator: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu

Matt Rein writes:
>BTW, we hunt deer in and out of wolf country here in MN.  The hunting is
>the same in both places as far as I can tell.  

I have to disagree with that.  This last season some wolves moved into
one of our hunting areas in Northern Minnesota.  We saw 10 deer on
opening day, 2 deer and a set of wolf tracks on Sunday morning (BTW
one of the deer was running from a swamp for no apparent reason??),
more wolf tracks on Monday and nary a deer for the rest of the season.
Fortunately, we have other land to hunt and we filled up.  The other
hunters we know who stayed went 1 for 6.

About 10 years ago, one of the last times I hunted there before
moving, I saw 38 deer the first weekend.  That is an incredible number
for MN whitetail.  The next weekend all we saw were a few sets of wolf
tracks.

>As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing more exciting than seeing a wolf
>out in the wild or hearing thier calls at night.

I agree.  I'd love to see a wolf.  Up until the mid 80's my
grandfather was the only one I knew who had seen many Timber wolves in
the area.  He was one of the 'local yocals' who would shoot a wolf on
sight if he could.  They would even gut shoot them so they wouldn't
die close by and leave evidence. Either grandpa was quiet about it or
he never got a chance to shoot at one that I know of.  The last few
years wolves have become much more prevalent.  My father has seen
wolves a half dozen times and has even seen pups.

My mother and brother were picking blueberries when a deer crashed out
of the brush and ran by my brother within arms reach.  When he turned
back to where the deer came from he saw a panting Timber wolf standing
there watching him.  My brother claims the wolf jumped and literally
disappeared in the brush.  He never heard a thing.

Does anyone know if Ontario still has a bounty on wolves?  I know they
did when I lived there.  I know many people who live at the Northwest
Angle who say that's why they get so many wolves.  The 'Angle' is a
small village/area at the top of the bump in the middle of MN northern
border.  People lose dogs there to wolves all the time.  One of the
people I know lost an Irish Setter and all they found was blood and
red fur.  He bought a huge Great Pyrenees (sp) and it was shredded the
same year.  Then he bought an Irish Wolfhound and his only problem was
keeping it in the yard. w He was afraid it would get ganged up on in
the woods.

The Carlson twins, the two most radical wild woods 'Angle' boys I've ever 
known, shot a small deer where they were logging.  They were dragging it 
out at dusk when they heard howling, then later growling and snapping.  A 
small pack of wolves circled? them as they walked.  The wolves never came 
within lantern range.

Wolves do kill just to kill.  We found a dead doe on a lake shore with
one fawn about 100 yards out and a second fawn about 300 yards out.
Their legs and throut were pretty ripped up but not much was eaten.
We found a buck that had been hampered by deep snow practically
skinned alive with nothing significant missing.

I was told by the logger that built my dad's house that a pack of 5
wolves will kill about 25 deer a week when the snow is deep and they
are herded up.  Who knows if it's an accurate.  He was a real wolf
hater.  Perhaps he had cause?

Anyway, I think there's room for both of us as long as wolves are
managed like any other animal.  There are certainly enough deer.  If
the govt wants to get involved they ought to be prepared to pay
ranchers for lost livestock.  They ought to introduce wolves in New
Jersey.  8>) At least deer killed in the wild aren't dumped in a
landfill.

Just my few bits worth on a favorite subject.

Craig

I own guns, I hunt, I drive a motorcycle, I believe there is a God.
I expect my freedom to do those things will disappear in that order.
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