Add one more year to my streak

[Empty Quiver]

They say the Cubs are a perennial favorite to lose.


 Since moving to Mn. roughly ten years ago I have not killed a deer. This week was no different.


I did get to watch a wolf hunt through my patch of timber though.   The lack of deer and a wolf sighting at 75 yards might just be related...Ya Think. Next morning listened to about a half dozen of them sing as I walked to my stand at 0 dark thirty. Kinda strange thoughts go through ones head while listening to them at what sounds like 2-300 yards away.


It was cool to be that close to a wolf in the wild. They deserve a life as do I and the deer. I won't miss the meat as I have most of an elk in the freezer. I enjoyed several days at deer camp with my daughter and good friends.


   I would like to shoot a deer again though.

[LanceR]

Empty, I think you'll be happy to note that the US Fish and Wildlife Service recently ended an extended public comment period on a proposal that includes de-listing the Western Great Lakes grey wolves.

Here's the link: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/wolf/delisting/index.htm

Take a look at the link right under the top picture for the map of the affected area.

I'm in New York but happen to sit on the state Fish and Wildlife Management Board.  We had a meeting today and discussed this since there was a connected issue in the same proposal that affects NY.

Hope this puts a little light at the end of the tunnel.  The FWS recognizes that the western Great Lakes state fish and wildlife agencies need some Federal legislative and regulatory relief on the grey wolf issue.

Good luck.

Lance

[Empty Quiver]

It sounds like Mn. has been pretty good about addressing wolf problems after the fact. Budget problems have eliminated the profesional wolf hunters, but they will allow farmers / ranchers to take care of business if a problem can be demonstrated.


I'm not crying to eliminate wolves here. As long as they are treated as game animals and controlled with an eye towards sustainability, I'm good. People need to realize you will NEVER see wolves like you see deer. You can not equate the two on that basis. Many who would like to see a wolf in the wild are not willing to get up off their half moons and spend time in the forests.


The wolves were never eliminated from Mn. so a certain sustainability has always existed. Unfortunately this year they were in my neighborhood. I've got a case of the NIMBY's.  I'll get over it, I suppose, if I have to. Seeing a wolf doing its thing ain't all that bad on balance.

[bulletstuffer]

  "People need to realize you will NEVER see wolves like you see deer."    Seems like your seeing more wolves than deer. 
 
I hunted the north woods and found more wolf scat than deer also    I have heard the packs howling on almost every trip up north.  They say moose population is declining also.  Couldn't be the wolves  
 
Maybe issue wolf tags to the hunters vs paying for professional wolf hunters.  Kind of that private sector vs public sector to get the job done    
 
Good luck next year,
 
Bulletstuffer

[curteric]

bulletstuffer

[Empty Quiver]

"People need to realize you will NEVER see wolves like you see deer."    Seems like your seeing more wolves than deer. 
 
I hunted the north woods and found more wolf scat than deer also    I have heard the packs howling on almost every trip up north.  They say moose population is declining also.  Couldn't be the wolves  
 
Maybe issue wolf tags to the hunters vs paying for professional wolf hunters.  Kind of that private sector vs public sector to get the job done    
 
Good luck next year,
 
Bulletstuffer

Numbers wise I typically see plenty of deer, this is actually the first wolf I've seen while hunting.


I agree with you on the hunting as a management strategy.  Might take some tweaking to get it right, but once implemented would be a bit of a revenue stream and eliminate paying someone to do what people would gladly pay to do.


As it stands now, if you have a problem with wolves killing livestock, you can receive permission to kill them.