Wolves not scared

[Scott K]

So this past weekend I was in Wisconsin for the youth deer hunt. I have a hunting shack there. Any how, I was sitting in the hunting shack, and seen 2 deer walking up the driveway, no big deal. A couple minutes later I look out down the driveway, here are 2 wolves standing on the driveway in the same spot I seen the deer. One of the wolves followed the deer back down the driveway. The other one just hung out 30 yards from my hunting shack. I walked outside, towards it, hoping I could spook it away. It wasnt afraid of me. I walked out, wind at my back, blowing directly at the wolf, and walked towards it, waving my arms, and yelling at it, kinda make small attempts to run at it, but being cautious as well. I came within 20 yards of it, and it finally jumped off the driveway, and walked into the edge of the woods, then stopped and looked at me about 15 yards away. I tried yelling, and jumping towards it again, and it ran 10 feet, stopped and looked back at me, then slowly walked away.

I went back inside. A couple minutes later, I seen the other one walking back up the driveway. So I walked out there, and tried to spook that one. He just slowly walked up toward me, and it got me a little un comfortable, because he was just sniffing with his nose in the air, and it looked as though he was hunting me. He pretty much cut in where the first one did, and stopped and stared at me, for a good minute. I grabbed a stick, and threw it at him, and he walked away.

Neither of these wolves had any fear of me at all. Not even when I tried to lunge at them. It was kinda a cool experience, but spooky at the same time. Its kinda scary thinking about it, since I regularly roam my land, and let my kids roam it freely all year. What would have happened if a couple young kids were wandering in the woods, would the wolves look to them as a snack? The wolves didnt leave the area either, because my son seen them a little later on under his stand.

[Boar]

wow thats crazy but scary too.

[mainbutter]

Humans are the only creatures on this earth that think they can let their youth roam unsupervised and be safe at the same time. I just don't get it.

Then again, the places I lived growing up either had moose and big coastal brown bear tracks in our yard regularly, or had venomous snakes sighted regularly nearby.

Minnesotans don't know how easy they have it, even with a pack of wolves around, this state has got to be the safest place for outdoor recreation in North America

P.S. It's always good to do any outdoor activities in groups of at least two, for reasons that have nothing to do with wild predators. A nice side effect is that groups of people are a great deterrent to the 1 in a million large mammal attack.

[Getanet]

Did you guys see the story on the Strib site yesterday about the grouse hunter who had to shoot a wolf chasing his dog near Park Rapids? Apparently the dog ran off, and came flying back to him with a wolf on his tail. The story said the guy shot the wolf approximately 8 yards from where he stood.

http://www.startribune.com/local/173416761.html

I hunt central MN, and while I know there are wolves in the area I hunt, I've never seen one. I would like to someday, but not that close!

[Scott K]

I took a picture of the second one that came by me, but it is a terrible picture, and can barely make anything out, so I didnt post the picture.

[lichen fox]

Wolves are definitly not afraid of dogs, that's probably true just about anywhere, but it seems unusual that they should not be afraid of people...in our area wolves run the other way like heck when they see a pickup or a hunter!! I guess in Wisconsin, they must have lost all respect for cheeseheads, just like alot of other birds, and mammals!

[picksbigwagon]

So you threw a stick at the second wolf, what would you have done if it had picked it up and brought back to you?

[highlife4me]

Wolves are definitely loosing there fear of humans. The past few years we have heard of many "close" encounters with wolves. I have not heard of anybody being attacked yet but I wouldn't put it past them. I hope after the wolves are hunted it will put the fear of humans back into them. I have seen a few wolves in the wild and hope to observe them again but their population is getting way out of hand.

[Scott K]

So you threw a stick at the second wolf, what would you have done if it had picked it up and brought back to you?

run like crazy!

[Odonata]

We have "moved" into wolf habitat with our expansion of hunting shacks and everyday life. Wolves have been here long before we have been woodland creatures. Their population has come back and we are seeing more of them. Before deer lived in this area moose and woodland caribou lived here too. We accepted this shift as logging provided better habitat for deer, and we hunt deer, it's a large commercial business. Wolves may have become less wary, that may be cause for concern. However, that same fear caused them to be nearly eradicated. I'm not dismissing the natural fear of a toothed animal that is an effective predator, but fear is often linked to change, unknown, and misunderstanding. I applied for a wolf permit this fall. I also understand the uneasy feeling walking in the bush alone, or with my kids, knowing wolves inhabit our hunting property. But let's remember, what that fear is founded on. History? A reasonable source for information is the world-wide study of wolf attacks on humans done by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) in 2002. The finding of the report was that during the 100 years of the 20th century there were between twenty and thirty attacks in North America (including Alaska and Canada, which have relatively high populations of wolves). Of these, three were fatal, all because of rabies.

Wolves are carnivores. Let's not let fear guide our time afield. If you do, note that bees kill hundreds of people each year. Sorry for the discertation, but fear shouldn't cripple us as sportsman. "food" for thought

[SandPoint]

While I agree with most of what you said, you had better check those facts about the wolves that have attacked had rabies. The school teacher that was attacked and killed/consumed by wolves in 2010 in Alaska were realitivley heathly, one was even called "fat". The feds and Alaska game and fish did a big report on it. Though attacks are still extremely rare.

[Odonata]

Facts are accurate, note the date was 2002; I'm sure there are more recent studies, but that study was comprised of 100 years of data. Not looking for an argument, I'm sure I will still have higher blood pressure during the early AM walks to the stand.

[SandPoint]

No argument here at all. Just thought I'd mention it. I also recall reading another report of a fatality in Canada where the wolves were healthy. The only reason I brought it up is because it seems they are getting braver across their range, not just the upper mid-west.

[titelines]

This is getting less uncommon all the time. In the six years we've had our cabin we've seen more wolves each year, and the encounters are closer each time. Our neighbor up there had a pack living in his "back yard" (several acres of land) and they became comfortable to the point that they'd mark his driveway and not move when he'd drive up to leave his driveway. He can walk to his deer stand from his house and they'd follow him. He's never felt threatened, but he does carry a sidearm with him when he goes out now. He doesn't let his dogs run loose any longer, and certainly doesn't let his kids run around any more either.

[Scott K]

This is how I felt. I didnt feel threatened by them at all, they just reminded me of some stray dogs running through the yard. But in the back of my mind, I knew they could attack me at will. I feel they have gotten way to comfortable living among people. This time I didnt bring my labs with me, but I usually do, and I am glad I didnt.

[1900 IFS]

This sounds very similar to the encounter my dad and I had during our recent MN moose hunt about 2 weeks ago on Sept 29th. A large wolf junp up next to us on a slashing pile on opening night of the MN moose season about 5:30pm. It came within 10yds of us and sat down at about 30 yds and just watched us for almost 5mins until I yelled at it. It showed no fear. I attached another pic of that wolf, taken with a rather poor point and shhot camera, but it was so close, the picture turned out very well. Definatley no fear of us from that wolf.

Thankfully, my wife and I both drew late season MN wolf tags and we will be putting in our

time scouting to make sure we fill both tags!

[CrewJones]

my buddy pulled a tag in wisconsin and is looking for a place to hunt them, he has some land up by land'o lakes but if anyone has wolfs that are around alot PM me and I will get you in touch with him

[Scott K]

CrewJones, when is the Wisconsin wolf hunt? What area is he planning on hunting?

[slimngrizzly]

You guys in wolf country are all crazy!!! Have you seen the movie "The Grey"?!?!? I guess its a very accurate portrayal of how wolves really are! I hope you guys dont have your shacks near "the den" or you better count your days!

[bigbucks]

Now that's funny! Man was that a HORRIBLE movie! Can anyone say cyber wolves?

[slimngrizzly]

Its sad cause im sure thats what a lot of non-hunting folks will think its really like! That was REDICULOUS! And I had such high expectations of Liam from the previews... It was more like a cheap, crappy horror film

[Heartman]

Hunting being used as a management tool. Solid research suggest it to be an effective way to efficiently manage species, if needed. Successful on animals as small as squirrels to elephants.

Wolves may have been here first, but man comes first now. We are atop the food chain - having earned this position over many, many generations - thousands of years.

But 400 wolves? I bet we top out at less than 25% of that total allowed. They learn quickly, as do most animals.

[Scott K]

I could have made it 2 less in Wisconsin last weekend.

[Bear55]

You guys in wolf country are all crazy!!! Have you seen the movie "The Grey"?!?!? I guess its a very accurate portrayal of how wolves really are! I hope you guys dont have your shacks near "the den" or you better count your days!

Ya we deer hunt in teams of 3. One hunter and a sniper to shoot the wolves off the hunter. The 3rd guys is there to backup the first sniper because the wolves alwasy get him. I've been lucky enough not to draw 1st sniper duty 21 years in a row but I'm keeping my fingers crossed, the camp lotter is coming up soon.

[GSP4ME]

Saw several this past week up in Florence County WIsconsin and can send the locations to any who want to hunt them up there. I have three Shorthairs who the two adult males have killed Coyotes in the past and more then once this weekend they were right back at my side looking back into the woods and groweling. Tell me the wolves werent close