Wolves again

[longwinters]

3rd dog killed in Atlantic Mine area by wolves.  This one was chained and in a fenced yard.  Gotta love wolves.


Long

[ironglow]

In the mid seventies, my sister & bro-in-law in Alaska told me the animal-rightsers & eco-freaks joined together and and eventually got wolf hunting halted in AK.  I cannot seem to recall if it was a ban on all wolf hunting or just aerial wolf hunting.  In any case the wolf population started to boom.
   Within a couple years the moose herd was really knocked down.. almost depleted.   Then the wolves being hungry, started raiding back yards.  I recall one picture they sent me which showed a dog's skeleton, pretty well picked clean, but with the collar and chain still in place.
  How is your deer herd doing?  Are there any natural predators there to keep the wolves from over running everything..If not, what is the DEC's plan to handle them?

[petemi]

I have five and a half dogs, and I worry about it all the time.  The Half dog is my son's and he's here half the time    Years ago, I told DNR if wolves attacked my horses, dogs, chicken or cattle I'd shoot, then call them to come get their wolf.  I'd go to court over it because I believe a person has the right to protect their property.

Pete

[ironglow]

  Are the wolves in all of michigan, or in the UP only?

[spruce]

So far the only problems have been in the U.P., but I'm sure a few have made it down to the northern L.P. as it's only a 5 mile walk across the ice at the Straits of Mackinac.
 
I've read that each wolf consumes about 25 or so deer per year.  The DNR estimates there are around 700-800 wolves in the UP (IMO a really low estimate) so when you do the math it's clear they have a significant impact on the herd - to say nothing of dogs, cats, and domestic livestock!  Wolves are at the top of the food chain so they're population is either controlled by man, or when they run out of food.
Our first (legal!) hunt is scheduled to take place soon - if the anti's don't block it.  A small number of permits will be issued in areas where they've had the most problems.
 
Wolves are still legal game in Alaska.  It was aerial shooting that was stopped. 
 
I think it was an episode of Wild West Alaska where they did a segment on restoring some shotguns and the firing mechanism for an old single engine plane where they mounted 4 or 5 semi auto shotguns under the wing to use for shooting wolves back when it was legal!
 
We've seen wolves here at the house several times the past few years.  Have to take precautions whenever we have the dog outside.
 
Couple years ago had one about 50 yards from the house, acted like he owned the place.  Story had a happy ending.

[Lloyd Smale]

if one killed my dog id dedicate the rest of my life to hunting down and gut shooting every flipping wolf i could find.

[petemi]

The farm having the greatest problem with wolves here is Richlo Dairy.  They have three large farms north of Engadine and farm my place and several others also.  They've lost sheep, lambs, calves and a heifer.  When they have a wolf problem, DNR issues a control permit, usually for two wolves.  I'm on the permit, so I don't have to play the lottery game.  My Handi .243 is my wolf gun.  It's MOA at 300 yards.  I haven't been in the right place at the right time yet, but it will happen.  We're only allowed to shoot if they are attacking or about to attack livestock.  It's been quiet for a while, but with lambing time on us, they'll be back.

Pete

[Lloyd Smale]

go get them pete!!

[1sourdough]

 When it's time to get serious set down that rifle & pick up some MB-750s.

[ironglow]

  .
  These posts are from 2013, so how is the wolf situation in Michigan today? How about an update?

[Buckskin]

When it's time to get serious set down that rifle & pick up some MB-750s.

No kidding, if you can't poison or run them with dogs then trapping is next best thing.  Waiting for one to attack a sheep might be kinda fun but not nearly as productive, especially since they usually work at night.