Wolf season opener?

[shoots-straight]

Hey guys, there's been a lot of discussion lately on opening up wolf season Sept. 1. I need to hear you opinions.

My thoughts are:

1). Wolf hides don't prime up until mid Oct. so why?
2). Would put more guys in the field, with rifles, during bow season. I hear rifle shots far to often here as it is. It's surely happened before. Do we want more rifles in the field then? I think you would see more guys packing rifles, (just in case they see a wolf) while the are bugling elk. Big bull comes in to 70 yards, and Boom!
3). There's a hunters orange requirement to address.
4). Would the benefit of killing a few more wolves outweigh the negatives?
Even though most wolves seem to be in the back country then.
5). I hate to see our Archery only season eroded anymore than it is. This bothers me.

Here in the Root, we have a bunch of poaching going on in Aug, Sept. and Oct. I think this would give the wrong people the incentive they need to be in the hills then.
Last thing we need is more poaching, and rifles going off then.

Thoughts?

 

[belly-deep]

Bear starts up the 15, so it would only be two more weeks.

I agree with you on the hides though. I wouldn't want to shoot a wolf in September and have it tanned.

 

[Elkmagnet]

Its working great in Idaho. I was able to see a very very happy hunter who cow called in a pack and killed one with his bow it was the "trophy of his life" he said. I have called in more in September than any other month.

 

[drahthaar]

I hate the thought of rifles in the woods when elk are bugling. Probably the cynical bastard in me, but I don't have much faith in people any more. I think poaching is huge problem. Just stand on a ridge in the south fork of the flathead and listen to the rifle shots going off, big guns, not plinkers in the campgrounds along the reservior. I would whack a wolf with a lesser hide with my bow, because its with my bow, but I would really rather have the nicer hide.

 

[2rocky]

Draht +1.

Seems reasonable to have the opening day per weapon concurrent with deer/elk/bear seasons.

 

[mixedbag]

I'd vote for leaving as is if I had a voice in Mt.;season dates that is.I really think you should allow trapping for them,and a second tag if you fill your first.I didn't realize poaching was that big out there.If it is, then there shouldn't be guns out in archery.Also, the hides will be junk in Sept.might as well put your time in for a trophy animal when it will look decent to display
May want to consider lowering NR prices for tags.Alot of us are out there for rifle season and the tag cost is ridiculous.This may help alot with the quotas

 

[Randy11]

I think September 15 makes sense. Rifle season for bears is open by then.

The way I look at it is poachers are poachers, something like this probably won't turn somebody in to one. Lots of guys were driving around all winter looking for wolves, and I didn't hear anything about guys killing deer/elk.

The hides I saw from September wolves this year didn't look that bad. It wouldn't stop me anyways, I'd shoot a three legged bald one if I had the chance.

 

[1_pointer]

I think September 15 makes sense. Rifle season for bears is open by then.

The way I look at it is poachers are poachers, something like this probably won't turn somebody in to one. Lots of guys were driving around all winter looking for wolves, and I didn't hear anything about guys killing deer/elk.

The hides I saw from September wolves this year didn't look that bad. It wouldn't stop me anyways, I'd shoot a three legged bald one if I had the chance.

Ditto! BOY and his family killed 2 in September and I thought the hide quality was more than good enough for me for the trophy.

 

[Elkmagnet]

And besides if during the elk rut wolves are getting shot at when they come in to a bugle or cow call maby they will be a little more timid and as a result put less pressure on the rutting elk. The more cows that get breed first cycle the better the calf recruitment.

Oh also

Vocal elk = fun hunt for me - win win.

 

[shoots-straight]

And besides if during the elk rut wolves are getting shot at when they come in to a bugle or cow call maby they will be a little more timid and as a result put less pressure on the rutting elk. The more cows that get breed first cycle the better the calf recruitment.

Oh also

Vocal elk = fun hunt for me - win win.

I'm not sure the wolves are any worse than humans when it comes to interupting breeding cycles. Unless they are now driving around in ATV's too.

 

[Jon Boy]

Exactly, poachers are poachers, it doesnt matter what the seasons are for them. The longer the wolf season the better. I am also mainly an archer.

 

[drahthaar]

Yeah, you guys are right. Poachers are poachers. But most poachers, IMHO, don't go out saying, "I'm gonna rifle a bull today", most poachers are out plinking while camping, driving around in their truck, or on their ATV, or bear hunting in Sept, etc. Then an opportunity presents itself, and they mull it over real quick(where are they, time of day, how to get it out, etc), then pull the trigger. They are just opportunists, just like I consider guys that shoot out of their truck, or from the road, poachers. That is why I don't like giving a-holes any more opportunity than they already have. Especially when bulls are rutted up and stupid.

But along with those thoughts, I am reminded of my friend and I talking about wolves, and about some conversations he has had with many other hunters. We came to the conclusion that most hunters are FOS, big talkers. They are gonna shoot every one they see, gut shoot'em, kill puppies, etc, etc, blah blah blah. The internet is full of them too. They are all talk. There are so many guys that didn't even try for one after hunting season ended, many didn't even buy a tag. They could make wolves a varmint and it still would make a hill of beans worth of a difference. It takes effort to trap, takes effort to head to the woods every day after something you have very little chance of even seeing, it takes money to keep pouring gas into a truck, and it takes time, time from work, time from family.
We got our wolf season back, and there were very few people hunting them, and least what I saw, where I went. And I hunted right up to the last day in two different HDs because I was failing miserably. I am down to just laughing at all the big BSers I run into in town, and see online.

 

[Wyodeerhunter]

yeah, you guys are right. Poachers are poachers. But most poachers, imho, don't go out saying, "i'm gonna rifle a bull today", most poachers are out plinking while camping, driving around in their truck, or on their atv, or bear hunting in sept, etc. Then an opportunity presents itself, and they mull it over real quick(where are they, time of day, how to get it out, etc), then pull the trigger. They are just opportunists, just like i consider guys that shoot out of their truck, or from the road, poachers. That is why i don't like giving a-holes any more opportunity than they already have. Especially when bulls are rutted up and stupid.

But along with those thoughts, i am reminded of my friend and i talking about wolves, and about some conversations he has had with many other hunters. We came to the conclusion that most hunters are fos, big talkers. They are gonna shoot every one they see, gut shoot'em, kill puppies, etc, etc, blah blah blah. The internet is full of them too. They are all talk. There are so many guys that didn't even try for one after hunting season ended, many didn't even buy a tag. They could make wolves a varmint and it still would make a hill of beans worth of a difference. It takes effort to trap, takes effort to head to the woods every day after something you have very little chance of even seeing, it takes money to keep pouring gas into a truck, and it takes time, time from work, time from family.
We got our wolf season back, and there were very few people hunting them, and least what i saw, where i went. And i hunted right up to the last day in two different hds because i was failing miserably. I am down to just laughing at all the big bsers i run into in town, and see online.

s s s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tjones]

Designing the space shuttle, solving JFK and shooting wolves all done while sitting on a bar stool.

 

[drahthaar]

s s s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's a laugher.

1st S-- gotta be out in the woods, then you have to actually see one, nope! TOO MUCH EFFORT.

2ND S-- Are you kidding me, WAAAY TOO MUCH EFFORT.

3RD S-- LOL. IMPOSSIBLE.

 

[Elkmagnet]

I'm not sure the wolves are any worse than humans when it comes to interupting breeding cycles. Unless they are now driving around in ATV's too.

I backpack hunt wilderness for elk so I have never had a hunter or atv ruin a setup but it seems like 25% of the time I go into a calling sequence I call in wolves. So where I hunt they are much worse. If you think about it the elk can get away from the roads when pressed or breed at night but the wolves hunt them wherever they go day or night all breeding season I think that's worse.

 

[shoots-straight]

I backpack hunt wilderness for elk so I have never had a hunter or atv ruin a setup but it seems like 25% of the time I go into a calling sequence I call in wolves. So where I hunt they are much worse. If you think about it the elk can get away from the roads when pressed or breed at night but the wolves hunt them wherever they go day or night all breeding season I think that's worse.

There's evidence to suggest that human disturbance is more profound than wolves. You might have been paying attention to the study going on in the Root. We are in the middle of a 3 year study on elk mortality. We have a large herd of elk that live most of the time on a private ranch. (CB Ranch, owned by CEO of Intel corp). Anyway a lot of those elk leave the ranch to calve, and don't return until labor day weekend. That's one of the busiest times of the year in the forest, with wood getter's, ATVs running all over, bow, and upland bird season opens up. Our local Bio, said it's uncanny at how those elk just bust for the private ranch on that weekend. People in the woods, elk out. It's mainly in the road-ed regions. Oh, and there's always a pack of wolves on that ranch. It's mountainous, and forested. The wolves don't know their trespassing.

 

[Elkmagnet]

There's evidence to suggest that human disturbance is more profound than wolves. You might have been paying attention to the study going on in the Root. We are in the middle of a 3 year study on elk mortality. We have a large herd of elk that live most of the time on a private ranch. (CB Ranch, owned by CEO of Intel corp). Anyway a lot of those elk leave the ranch to calve, and don't return until labor day weekend. That's one of the busiest times of the year in the forest, with wood getter's, ATVs running all over, bow, and upland bird season opens up. Our local Bio, said it's uncanny at how those elk just bust for the private ranch on that weekend. People in the woods, elk out. It's mainly in the road-ed regions. Oh, and there's always a pack of wolves on that ranch. It's mountainous, and forested. The wolves don't know their trespassing.

My observations / comments were on apple's that study is on oranges.

My hunting area would have more in common with the private ranch because there are almost no people during archery season. I guess it will really vary from area to area..

 

[theat]

I have no problem with a sept 1st opener but I could see how waiting until the 15th to coincide with the bear, M,S,G rifle opener would make sense as well. I spend a lot of time in the woods during archery season and have never seen a bear hunter away from the road, and have only encounter a few sheep and goat hunters in my local wilderness while I was chasing muleys. I really doubt too many archery hunters will pack a rifle into the woods along with their bow on the off chance of seeing a wolf. On the other hand most people I see driving on the back roads around here have rifle along no matter what time of the year it is. They already have all the tools to poach an elk/deer so I dont think that having a long wolf season will give them any more incentive to poach. Hopefully if road hunters go out that time of year looking for wolves they are of the mindset that they are trying to help the deer and elk by eliminating a predator not becoming an illegal predator themselves.