Wyoming Wolf Hunting Success
April 29th, 2008 David King - King's Outdoor World
There are a few photos going around of some Wyoming wolf success since the de-listing of the wolf. In Wyoming, there are some designated areas where the wolf is considered open game similar to the coyote. However, all wolf kills must be submitted to the Fish and Game within 10 days. Many people are concerned that the wolves are going to be wiped out because of this. I don’t think there is reason for concern. I don’t have the most current numbers, but a couple of weeks ago there were a total of 10 wolves taken so far that has been recorded. Some of these 10 wolves were trouble wolves that were found and taken by authorities. Not quite the slaughter that many of the anti’s have made it out to be.
Let’s remember, the wolves are not going to be killed off. Wyoming and the other western sates are going to watch the population very carefully and monitor how many are being killed. They must maintain certain numbers so all this talk of wiping out the wolf again in the Rockies will not happen. Wolves are here to stay, so it is good that we can finally manage them.
Early word is that the wolves are very difficult to hunt, as many locals have been hitting the hills to get a chance at them but with no success. The photos included above were taken by Big Piney and Pinedale Wyoming. Can you believe the size of those things. Amazing. The photo below is a wolf taken near Daniel by a trapper from Lyman.
Anyone with some stories on some recent wolf hunts/adventures let me know.
Entry Filed under: News and Stuff
27 Comments Add your own
1. jeremy | April 30th, 2008 at 5:46 am
What concerns me about these “hunts” is the use of snowmobiles. Has anyone in Wyoming even heard of “fair chase”.
The Boone & Crockett club defines fair chase as “the ethical, sportsmanlike, lawful pursuit and taking of any free-ranging wild animal in a manner that does not give the hunter an improper or unfair advantage over such game animals.”
Accordingly, using any of the following methods in the taking game is considered Unfair Chase.
* Spotting or herding game from the air, then landing, pursuing & shooting
* Herding, pursuing or shooting game from motor boat or motor vehicle (TAKE NOTE)
* Use of illegal electronic devices for attracting, locating, or observing game, or for guiding hunter to such game (check state & provincial laws)
* Hunting game confined by fences or enclosures, or game transplanted solely for the purpose of commercial shooting
* Taking game illegally or using illegal methods against regulations of the federal government or any state, province, territory or tribal lands
If you need a 4-wheeler or snowmobile to kill game, then you’re not a hunter–in my book.
2. Wyo Native | April 30th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
These wolves were killed pior to delisting on 3-5-08 by the USFWS for livestock depredation west of LaBarge Wyoming. These pictures were in our local papers and circulating in emails well before delisting took place.
3. Art | May 1st, 2008 at 11:06 am
Jeremy, I understand the point you’re trying to make, and most of us agree in most cases. However, you are implying that these guys shot the wolves from their snowmobiles. I seriously doubt that was the case. Also, Wyoming is a vast open country, as you can easily see by the photos. Do you really expect hunters to trek 30 or more miles on foot in the snow? If using snowmobiles made hunting wolves so easy then there would have been alot more than just 10 taken by now. Be realistic, this isn’t West Virginia were you’re entire (leased) hunting grounds consist of a maybe a dozen acres.
On a different note… those wolves are gigantic!!! I hope they kill them all. No one and nothing benefits from the reintroduction and that encludes the ecosystem.
4. Gander | May 1st, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I agree with Jeremy. Not sure how these were pursued. Hunt em, but do it ethically.
5. Scott | May 2nd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Wolves do not deserve to be hunted ethically!!! when they kill your pack of hounds and tear newborn calves from cows and eat around the birth canal of the cow elk and leave it there to die, were do they deserve the respect from a hunter? They kill for sport and nothing can stop them. if you disagree then it is clear that you do not live in the west were they were introduced!!
6. PensFan | May 2nd, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Art, actually they do benefit other animals. Animals eating carcasses of wolf kills. The wolfs killing old and diseased animals, helping to lessen the chance of overpopulation and increased disease. But the wolves need to be managed so they can be an integral part of the ecosystem..
And I am from Northern Saskatchewan, not some yuppie from out East.
7. AW | May 5th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I feel that wolves fall outside the ethic boundry since they were introduced so ethically, take them how you can get them…..
Go WYOMING go!!!!!
8. Art | May 5th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
PensFan, I’ll agree with you that my statement was a bit reckless. I’m sure that wolves play an important part to Caribou heard health way up north and perhaps taking out weak or sick moose. But I don’t believe this species belongs this far south. The resident wolves, coyotes, cougars and bears were doing a fine job of culling the sick and weak. The lower 48 ecosystem really does not benefit from the addition of giant Canadian wolves that easily kill strong and weak alike. I’m just glad to see that some wolf management is finally taking place. Does that sound a little better?
PS GO PENGUINS! Beat the Flyers!
9. Jack Dollarhide | May 7th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Three years ago I was in Pinedale for the fishing derby.One moring before going to the lake.I was reading the local paper.In the paper there was a article on the history of the local wildlife.There was one thing that I remember from the story.that was that there was no Moose in the Pinedale area until three years after the last wolf was seen. So ,what does that say. Moose or wolves.
Not Moose and Wolves. take your pick one or the other.You can not have them both, together.
Jack from Wyoming
10. T.R | May 9th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Yeah,
it’s time to put down “Canadian wolf” from US…. when you see damage that they have done on the elk, moose, sheep herd… it’s a shame to have let them do that !!!!!
AND remember just one thing…., THE WOLF is the dream of all anti-hunter…. but they don’t understand the impact of wolf on the wildlife… these people are just anarchist!!!!!!!! if they manage to shut down hunting by disparition of game they will be happy…. They’ll look for another target… like shooter, fisher….
11. PensFan | May 16th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
The Canadian Wolf should not be down there, in the states, but the local subspecies of wolf should be. They can be an integral part of ecosystem management. The key is management, because they need yo be managed. And I am a hunter (all big game, upland birds), fisher, outdoorsmen, etc.
12. Brad | June 3rd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Good riddens to all the wolves in the West. I now live in Alaska and we can hunt wolves anyway possible you can even shoot the good for nothing critters out of your plane..
13. Donald M Hubel Jr | June 10th, 2008 at 4:47 am
To everyone and there say. I am a hunter of big and smalgame.Wolves are a buetiful animal . I think wolves do alot of good in the wilderness .I see alot of ranchers,sheep herders,and houseing developments doing all thhe whining about wolves. People need to learn more about them if you have cattle or sheep in the wilderness your going to take a loss,And if you have a home in the wilderness find away to keep them away.We dont need to put them on the endangered species list agian.I have a wolf tattoed onmy shoulder to show how much I care about them.The Old but Young GRAYWOLF!
14. chris rinabarger | July 22nd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
we had a huting season for a reason.
15. Reuben Sutherland | September 16th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Why don’t ranchers and cattlemen fence in their cattle?? Here in Ontario that’s what they do, the cattle still have alot of area to graze and no worries about wolf predation. What do you expect when you let cows roam about freely?? No kidding wolves are going to kill cattle. Those are beautiful wolves and huge!
16. Chris Jacobs | September 28th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I have lived in Wy (working & rodeoing) all over the state, I have freinds that are Ranchers in Big Piney, Daniel, Pinedale, Boulder, & LaBarge, I have seen the Damages from Wolves on Cows, Sheep, Elk, &Dogs. I think there needs to be a regular hunting seson for them just like Deer, Elk , ect.with a drawn permit & regulated amount of permits in each unit . That way there is more controle & Ranchers have the Write to Protect there livestock by shooting the Wolves & Providing PROOF they where Atacking there animals. I think Wolves are Beutiful animals but need to be controled, outside of the Parks they are fare game & I would like the chance to hunt them someday. Best Wishes To All & Happy Trails!
17. Ben Beaman | March 19th, 2009 at 7:15 am
To Jeremy at the beginning of this debate, I can personally guarantee you that these wolves were not taken illegally from a snowmobile. This is no different than using an atv to haul your deer out of the woods. I speak from the position of a Wyoming hunter that uses a snowmobile to get to and from my hunting grounds during the winter. In addition, I know for a fact that King’s would never post pictures of an animal if there was any suspicion that they were taken illegally or un-ethically.
18. Montana Kid | March 24th, 2009 at 9:54 am
For all the wolf lovers out there. Try introducing a wolf into your work inviroment or even your local neighbor hood. The oldtimers killed them for a reason maybe you’ll learn why.
19. Shann Martin | June 4th, 2009 at 12:14 am
looking forward to hunting & trapping wolves in the lower 48 for now ill continue to try & get one or as many as i can when i go to Alaska or Canada, my best year was 134coyotes by trapping & calling i think a wolf would be the ultimate, i plan on using all 4weeks of my vacation to try & harvest a wolf along with as many coyotes as i can possibly get. For every predator taken a few more elk,moose,deer,& antelope fawns will make it, Hopefully the hunt season for 09 will actually go through, keep your fingers crossed & shoot straight wolves are way smarter than coyotes no need in educating them anymore than necessary.
20. Miya Pinion | June 11th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Oh, c’mon wolf lovers. This reminds me of the Bambi lovers we used to have here in the east US. They were all up in tears over deer harvest until the browse line in local forests went way above their heads. Your wolf population is eating it’s way through all the western US elk herds. With reasonable regulation, you won’t kill them out, but they DO need to be regulated. Any wildlife management plan that does not also allow for the harvest of predators cannot hope to achieve balance. Think about it.
21. bison | August 6th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Wolves are a predator, like coyotes, like mountain lions, like black bears, and a stable population can be maintained by hunting them as has been proven with all of these species. Last time I checked there was no limit on bear or lion tags, but they are quite plentiful in Idaho and Montana. People who assume wolves are going to be wiped out by a state run hunting season are sorely mistaken. Just because Idaho sets a quota of 518 wolves; it doesn’t mean 518 will be killed. People don’t give the wolf much credit for being able to survive. They were only eradicated in the 19th century when poisoning was allowed.
For the people that understand the importance of a season, not only to control the population, but to form a coalition of hunters who now want to wisely manage and conserve a new game species, vist www.huntwolves.com for information about the new wolf hunts.
22. Ross | September 29th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Personally helping to restore the wolf population…and raising several on my own…i still think it is wrong to hunt wolves…and though i live out east…i have a house in montana and one in alaska…never had a healthy wolf attack me or my neighbors for that matter…
personally it just depends on your viewpoint
23. colt fir | October 20th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
ethnically yea wright everybodys heard about how many ranchers are realy started to go down hill well in my mind wolves were nearly extinct once and they should be again because we need to survive to.
24. Michael | October 26th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
To Ross, comment #22:
It doesn’t “depend on your viewpoint” because these aren’t subjective issues.
Wolves being reintroduced into the ecosystem here in Wyoming are causing problems.
I see comments suggesting ranchers “pen or fence in their animals.” That is a naive statement. The government comes along, decides to take an action affecting thousands of lives and the solution is for the private citizen to take the penalty?
These animals kill for pleasure. They are a danger to populated areas and should never have been reintroduced into an ecosystem that had rebalanced. Now the citizens are expected to pay the price for it while wolf advocates sit on the sidelines saying, “tough, deal with it” while they themselves are totally unaffected and have no actual stake in the situation.
25. clarence | October 30th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
First off, to anyone who thinks wolves kill for pleasure, that is down right ignorant. NO animal kills for pleasure; humans are the only ones who do that. I am an avid wolf lover and if their population becomes out of control, then yes, control it but of course the ecosystem is going to have to re-adjust to their reintroduction. Wolves were once the most highly distributed predator in north america.. they were for a reason and it’s our fault that all these re-adjustments in nature must be made. They were here first- stop whining about your cattle what do you expect? They are just doing what they do…and why go after hard game when you can get an easy target?
26. Tina Mac | November 7th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
It pains me to see the wolf being hunted and killed but it is needed in some cases to maintain proper balance. To colt fur comment # 23 what the hell. we are the most ever populated creature on the planet and we do the most distruction i think it is unfair for you to say that. (my opinion) I love wolves but support the ethical hunting and regulation.
27. Scot | November 8th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
We used to have a nicely managed cougar population here in north-eastern Oregon. Then the enviro-wenies out in the valley voted to ban the use of dogs to track them to “protect them from unfair slaughter”, and the population has exploded. In the county where my daughter’s grandfather lives, that used to have some of the healthiest deer and elk populations in the state, there are almost no deer left at all. The fish and wildlife people round up every the can find with a gun to help them once a year go out and shoot every cougar they see. Now instead of a useful population method that ignorant city-dwellers did not understand or like, we have the useless slaughter of a lot of cougars and the other animals that they destroy to boot.
Way to go greenies!!
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