Do you think we really need to worry about our hunting dogs and wolves

[JMO555555]

I have been out alot with far ranging setters and once have I seen a wolf. you guys think we should be worried?

[brittman]

Occurances do happen if your dog ventures near their current den site (this moves around in the fall) and/or the alpha female has pups.

Wolf population is high right now. Look at the number of wolves reported into bear bait sites on the other forum in this HSOforum. Is the number higher because everyone is running cameras and now we see them or because there are too many wolves ?

I would love to see the USDA stats on suspected wolf issues in Minnesota over the past 5 years. Data available is mostly 10 - 50 years old now.

Time to run a wolf season is now. Controlled hunting will generate money for the DNR, begin to curb the wolf population, and reinstill fear of man in wolves.

[Ufatz]

YES! Any time you have a dog that works quite a distance from you in wolf country the dog is in danger. If you are sure you are in close proximity to wolves move away (at least I would) and hunt someplace else. Odds are low and I guess we don't have to beccome paranoid about it but a wolf or wolves will grab a dog very quickly.

My tendency would be to keep dogs close-don't let them get way out of sight or sound.

I know many instances of wolves grabbing dogs and while they weren't in MN it makes no difference in the potential danger.

[JayinMN]

I have had three attacks on my dogs in less then a years time and all in different locations. They are far enough from each other that its safe enough to say they were not the same wolves. The first attack was while grouse hunting behind my house Oct 31st last year. I fired the gun 4 times before the two wolves left my lab alone. Its definitely a risk, especially for a far ranging dog you can't get to quickly. If I wasn't close my dogs would be dead.

[swamptiger]

Quote:

YES! Any time you have a dog that works quite a distance from you in wolf country the dog is in danger. If you are sure you are in close proximity to wolves move away (at least I would) and hunt someplace else. Odds are low and I guess we don't have to beccome paranoid about it but a wolf or wolves will grab a dog very quickly.

Agreed. I've lived in wolf country nearly all my life, and my experience is a wolf will take a dog anytime they come in contact with them if you aren't close enough to protect the dog.

[401TE]

I have been out alot with far ranging setters and once have I seen a wolf. you guys think we should be worried?

Yes. I've been in the woods north of Duluth a lot since grouse opener and find wolf scat on every trail that's not grown over. Had an experience the other night that freaked me out and caused me to put a couple slugs in my gun while grouse hunting. The pup and I were "escorted" out of the woods the last few hundred yards of the last trail of the evening by at least two wolves, for sure one on either side of the trail. I'm just glad I have an e-collar and was able to keep my pup on the trail next to me.

[mnhunter2]

I wouldn't be worried, the wolf will only possibly try and eat the dog. When will western style wolf management finally come to minnesota?

[djlong]

I am not going to lie, I live in the cities. With that being said, my in laws have a place outside of Biwabick in the Iron Range that I go up to almost every weekend. I have been going up for the last 7 years both fishing and hunting. I have bear, grouse and deer hunted in the area and never run into a wolf. I spend a lot of time outside walking and in the woods in the forest. While I am always aware that they could be around, I have never felt like I was in danger. I have seen there tracks and know that they are around. I hope I never do run face to face with one. I hunt with a dog and don't let him go to far. If you are hunting grouse, why would you let them range too far? Grouse don't hold like pheasants. Keep your dog close and you will be fine and get more birds. The big bad wolf is not going to get you. If they do try to get your dog, if you keep them close you have protection one click away.

[fivebucks]

Yea but that one click away can get all your guns taken away via a felony charge if you talk about it. I agree with you that keeping your dog close should in most cases keep your dog safe. Like was said above we need some wolf management in this state. MN has 3 times the number of wolves as western states but for some reason they are so darn precious in this state.

[mnhunter2]

The western states will have state control of wolf management long before our DNR will. I think we have a gutless DNR when it comes to wolf management, wonder why the moose are gone?

[caseymcq]

... I think we have a gutless DNR when it comes to wolf management, wonder why the moose are gone?

You may want to actually know what you are talking about before you post something disparaging like that and along with it basically wear your ignorance on your sleeve.

The reason the MN DNR doesn't manage the wolf population, they can't. Wolves are still classified as threatened und the Endangered Species Act and as a result are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Fish & Wildlife Service attempted to de-list wolves in Minnesota (and Wisconsin and Michigan) in 2004 and was subsequently sued by the Humane Society.