MN Wolf Management - What would you do?

[Bowfin]

A lot is being said about MN wolves now that we have an abundant population of them in northern MN. This site has its share of arm chair quarterbacks who aint shy bout giving everyone their view of the truth on a subject. In an effort for some interesting discussion and to prolong my weekend procrastination of doing some work around the house, here's the question:

If you were able to decide how MN wolves were managed, what would you do?

My 2 cents:

I would get them off the Federal Endangered Species act permanently to put the management of wolves in the hands of the State. I would then put a sustainable wolf lottery hunting season in place based upon local wolf population estimates and hold annual wolf hunting seasons.

IMO wolves are an important component in our northern forests and I personally enjoy hearing and seeing them in the woods. There are plenty of other places in the lower 48 where folks can go and hunt without wolves if they want to. However, wolves are only an animal not to be worshiped or put up on some political pedastal as has been the case in this country. By keeping wolves on the T&E list judges are compromising the purpose of the T&E list and alienating the major user group of our forest - hunters. Putting a sustainable hunting season on wolves will help control their population and cause wolves to earn respect with hunters much the same bears did when the DNR put in place a separate bear season in the 80's. Wolves would go from being the unmanaged, bloodthirsty, no good animals responsible for everything from the reason I didn't shoot a deer last year to why the moose are declining to a respected managed species many hunters would buy a license to hunt.

[paul pachowicz]

In country where a yearly paycheck is based on what is brought to market the question changes from "what WOULD you to" to "What WILL I do" Pretty obvious answer. Personaly, I think it should be left up to the state on how to handle any preditor.

[goblueM]

Bowfin, sounds like a pretty solid plan. No reason for wolves to be protected under the ESA anymore. There need to be more success stories, and examples where the Act works as intended.

There could easily be a hunting season in northern MN, probably could sell 750 permits and have no huge impact on the wolf population. I say why not, as long as the MN DNR has an acceptable management plan, they should be under state management

[mrklean]

There could easily be a hunting season in northern MN, probably could sell 750 permits and have no huge impact on the wolf population. I say why not, as long as the MN DNR has an acceptable management plan, they should be under state management

+1

[HunterLee]

Plain and simple- do what ND and SD are doing with their big cats. Set a managed area of where the wolves are supposed to be and manage the numbers there, but anywhere outside of that zone kill them.

I have no problem with them, but lets keep them in the big woods where they belong and not in the wide open farm areas. The only reason they are moving out here is that they are running out of room in the core area.

Its not brain surgery to figure that the moose calves are getting killed by something, and that the moose continue to decline as the wolves keep going up. Its a no brainer, the same thing happens way up north and thats why they thin them out.

Also when the wolves are getting mange that means there is to many just like coyotes and fox mother nature will fix problems herself. Plus I want one on my wall.

[JayinMN]

I'm pretty much on the same boat as bowfin.

[swamptiger]

If the states had control of wolf management, it could be set up similar to the way other furbearing predators are currently managed, with a trapping season with a hunting option. The season could be conducted when the fur is in prime - that way the fur is utilized, and not wasted.

There will always be some nuisance control, regardless, but the population could be sensibly managed in this way, under a system that is already in effect.

[creepworm]

Yup, Bowfin hit the nail on the head in my opinion.

[grate8]

Wolves would go from being the unmanaged, bloodthirsty, no good animals responsible for everything from the reason I didn't shoot a deer last year to why the moose are declining to a respected managed species many hunters would buy a license to hunt.

Sorry Bowfin, allowing the state to manage wolves won't make imbeciles smarter.

People who claim wolves are the reason they didn't get a deer are silly.

The moose are declining because of habitat loss and global warming.

Shooting a few wolves won't make these people more intelligent. I got my buck last year in an area with an active wolf pack. I saw a wolf cross the road when I left for home. There's a lot of deer and I love wolves.

[Steve Foss]

Wolves would go from being the unmanaged, bloodthirsty, no good animals responsible for everything from the reason I didn't shoot a deer last year to why the moose are declining to a respected managed species many hunters would buy a license to hunt.

[swamptiger]

Another perspective is that under the present protected status, there really is no management plan for wolves - only nuisance control. So if you believe that game can be effectively managed, we are going about it the wrong way. If not, maybe it's time to think about doing away with our game & fish departments....

[Abndoc]

People who claim wolves are the reason they didn't get a deer are silly.

The moose are declining because of habitat loss and global warming.

I think your off the mark alittle bit. I hunt around the Aitkin area, we have a pretty good number of wolves showing up the last few years, yes they have no bearing on me getting a deer, but the number of fawns and yearlings being seen every fall is less and less. The number of kills we find in the woods each year is going up. I don't have a problem getting a deer, but in another 5 years without some type of manangement program being set up, I can see the wolves starting to be come a a problem with us getting a deer. I love seeing the wolves, but I will also be the first one in line for that lottery tag!!

[BobT]

Quote:

Wolves would go from being the unmanaged, bloodthirsty, no good animals responsible for everything from the reason I didn't shoot a deer last year to why the moose are declining to a respected managed species many hunters would buy a license to hunt.

I think this viewpoint is a little extreme. Wolves are not the same as a pack of dogs that chase deer down for sport. Do wolves take deer? Absolutely, it's one of their many food sources but I think we should keep things in perspective.

Quote:

I think your off the mark alittle bit. I hunt around the Aitkin area, we have a pretty good number of wolves showing up the last few years, yes they have no bearing on me getting a deer, but the number of fawns and yearlings being seen every fall is less and less.

You're right that left uncheced, the wolf population can have an impact on the deer herd. The question that needs to be answered however is - what is the appropriate size deer herd? Should it be managed to provide an 80% or higher tag fill success rate for hunters or managed to provide quality deer for hunters or managed the way nature intended? The current population is the highest in recorded history, which suggests that it is NOT the way nature intended, and just because a hunter goes a year without filling a tag does not mean the wolves must be eliminated.

[leech~~]

The moose are declining because of habitat loss and global warming.

This seems to get used for every issue under the sun now a days. If you can't fix an issue just blame it on Global Warming! Wolves have to eat something and if it comes down to Deer, Moose or Rabbit I don't think they are very picky!

[jkcmj]

I say a large bounty. Shouldn't take long to eliminate them...

[HeviShot]

[img:left]

Every year we all hear it, "just shoot them in the gut". Well as much as I am not a fan of the animals diet, they are amazing. I think it is a shame that wolves get killed every year and are just left to run off and die. Every summer I get to spend a couple months around 2 rival packs, and dream of being able to actually harvest this animal and preserve it as it should.

[walleyefisher0990]

I say a large bounty. Shouldn't take long to eliminate them...

Why would you want to eliminate them? Im sorry I just dont understand killing a wolf so you can fill a deer tag and put some antlers on your wall...

[fishfearme]

The moose are declining because of habitat loss and global warming.

This seems to get used for every issue under the sun now a days. If you can't fix an issue just blame it on Global Warming! Wolves have to eat something and if it comes down to Deer, Moose or Rabbit I don't think they are very picky!

I guess you can tell that to the Polar Bears too!

[leech~~]

I guess you can tell that to the Polar Bears too!

And they relate to the climate in Minnesota how? See post topic: MN Wolf Management.

[fishfearme]

This was to your response to the denial of climate change.

[leech~~]

This was to your response to the denial of climate change.

Sorry, I can only deny a "Theory" until it's proven!

[BobT]

Quote:

The moose are declining because of habitat loss and global warming.

The habitat loss in northern MN may have more to do with uncontrolled wildfires resulting from denying loggers access to clean up the mess caused by wind damage.

[TooTallTom]

Moose and wildfires co-existed long before loggers came on the scene.

Maybe the State should include a regular burning program in its forest (and wildlife) management practices?

[goblueM]

the state does use plenty of prescribed burning, however burning in large remote areas of forest is not really practical

more of a prairie and small woodland operation

I'm not really sure that disruptions in the fire regime are even remotely tied to declining moose health.

I've read that a lot of it is malnourishment and huge problems with ticks and diseases

[grate8]

Sorry, I can only deny a "Theory" until it's proven!

By the time it's proven, we're screwed. People who are much, much smarter than you are saying "We need to seriously consider this."