Wolves not scared

[Musky Buck]

Some of my uncles are really perplexed about the upcoming deer season rifle style, I have 13 uncles, their main trailcams in Ottertail county are full of wolves and few if any deer to speak of, they're really wondering what it may be like this year. I told them there must be deer around someplace or the wolves would hit the road, I'm curious to talk with them once the season opens to see if they see some of them or not or what deer they see, should be interesting.

[BobT]

I wonder...are the wolves becoming less fearful of man or is it possible that there are just moer encounters with them due to the higher population and reduced habitat for them.

I've had similar situations as the OP story with deer and other animals. While driving in the car I've seen deer in the ditch grazing and I've stopped, got out of the car, talked to them, and made all kinds of noise only to be ignored. I remember thinking, why don't you do this when I'm hunting?

When the realtor and I came out to see my current home before I bought it, there was woodchuck in the yard. I thought it was a bit out of the ordinary for a wild creature to be munching on grass just 40 feet away so I decided to see how close I could get to him before he'd turn tail. To my surprise he actually charged me!

I think they (wild critters) have a sixth sense about when they are threatened and when they are not and some of them more than others.

I also wonder how we think that hunting them will instill a fear. Are those that are hunted going to somehow go back to the den and share the bad news?

[Finlander]

BobT wrote:

I also wonder how we think that hunting them will instill a fear. Are those that are hunted going to somehow go back to the den and share the bad news?

They read it here!

[bigbucks]

Tell me the wolves werent close

You forgot the periods, so the wolves weren't close...

Okay it was lame, it's Friday, I'm kind of bored & I wish I was hunting.

[96trigger]

Why don't you start a thread on APR. That might get entertaining.

[bigbucks]

I just hope a lot of the guys that got tags are in places where they regularly see wolves during deer hunting. I think THEY will kill some wolves. I know of a few guys who got tags that are in areas where they know there are wolves, but they've never seen one. I don't think many of those tags will be filled.

Bear I think I'd rather be in 4th or 5th sniper position, at least then I might last until the end of the movie...

[Bear55]

Some of my uncles are really perplexed about the upcoming deer season rifle style, I have 13 uncles, their main trailcams in Ottertail county are full of wolves and few if any deer to speak of, they're really wondering what it may be like this year. I told them there must be deer around someplace or the wolves would hit the road, I'm curious to talk with them once the season opens to see if they see some of them or not or what deer they see, should be interesting.

If there are any smart deer left they probably hit the wet stuff. My up north deer don't spend a lot of time on the high ground, its too easy for the wolves to keep up with them. However once you get in a bog or other wet stuff and the wolves can't keep up as well.

[Mike Sertich]

Well said. I have more fear of Fords and Chevies that I do wolves. I am in or near the woods everyday. I have dogs and grandkids. I worry more about them getting hit by a truck on the road than attacked by a wolf . We need to be more sensible, get our egos out of the way, emjoy the wild for what it is.......wild. And yes, I am highly allergic to wasps,bees,hornets. despite my fears of getting hit, I still go without trepidation, knowing that "fear" won't impede my enjoyment of the woods anymore than driving on I 35 and fearing the crazies that are there too. Oh by the way, i saw a Ford hit a deer tonite on my way home from the hockey game. Deer lost. Bounties on Fords!!!!!

[Bear55]

Have to agree Mike, humans and the things they drive and do are far more scary than wolves.

[Kyle]

I really think there's a chance for more wolves being legally taken than what the quota is set at. Think about it, how many people do not have cell service and internet service to check quota status while they are out for the weekend or week? So many people have been seeing wolves in the last couple years, with 250,000 hunters being in the woods, I don't think its going to take much time at all to kill 400 wolves. This possible scenario is probably part of the reason why the quota is set so low.

[highlife4me]

I wonder how many hunters will register coyotes as wolves by mistake. Side by side it would be hard to make the mistake but to somebody who has never seen a wolf it may be hard for them to identify.

[going4it]

I think in most areas that there are wolves there are a lot less coyotes. I have been hunting up north for 20 years now, never saw a coyote.

On your own adventures summed it up the best when they were justifying their reason for hunting the wolves. "You can not hunt the prey and not the predator. It is going to throw the numbers way out of whack." Which many feel is already the case up in N. MN.

[Bear55]

I really think there's a chance for more wolves being legally taken than what the quota is set at. Think about it, how many people do not have cell service and internet service to check quota status while they are out for the weekend or week? So many people have been seeing wolves in the last couple years, with 250,000 hunters being in the woods, I don't think its going to take much time at all to kill 400 wolves. This possible scenario is probably part of the reason why the quota is set so low.

There is some good info in another thread, I will see if I can find it. Anyway the DNR consulted a wolf expert from Alaska, he would be suprized if we harvest more that 75 wolves total. I don't think its going to be all that easy to get one. If you are a skilled trapper those might be your best odds.

[Arctic]

I hear wolves howling at least a couple of times a week and see them on occasion. I wouldn't lose too much sleep worrying about getting attacked by these critters.

I'm always amazed by the folks who get all bent out of shape whenever someone gets killed by grizzlies, cougars, or on exceedingly rare occasions--wolves. You are probably thousands of times more likely to get killed by lightning in wild country--or in a car accident on the drive there--than by ANY wild critter.

[Musky Buck]

No doubt Arctic, figure about 450 thousand of us sneaking along in the dark for 9 or 16 days in the AM or PM, haven't seen a lead story on the news yet about anyone being attacked by anything in my 29 years of rifle hunting. I used to dream it in my early days, owls freak me out more than anything else if they get confused etc. at early or late light.

[Scott K]

I do agree, that the chances of being attacked by a wolf is rather slim. My recent encounter, I was within 10 yards of one, he didnt show any aggression at all, but that didnt surprise me, it was the fact, that it knew I was there, it was down wind of me, I was flopping my arms and yelling at it, and it just kept walking to me. The surprising part is, they werent afraid at all, in fact, I may as well been a tree standing there, because it had no care in the world I was there.

Wolves are predators, as are we. Predators dont live together very well, when they both are after the same prey. Whether that be, cows, ducks, deer, etc.. When wolves start intertwining into our lives, they need to be controlled. Just because a wolf isnt likely to attack humans, doesnt mean they arent a nuisance, and shouldnt be controlled. They do effect our lives in different manners.

I normally bring my 2 labs with me to the cabin, this time I left them home. What would have happened if my dogs were outside when these wolves showed up? I am pretty sure it wouldnt have turned out well. How about if my kids were out playing in the driveway, they werent scared of me, I am sure they wouldnt be scared of kids. The way it turned out, it wasnt a bad thing, I actually thought it was kinda neat. But if I had my dogs outside when the wolves decided to get that close, I am certain, my dogs wouldnt have allowed them to get that close to me, and there would have been a dog fight, and if that would have happened, I would have grabbed the gun and there would have been 2 less wolves. If I had little kids playing outside while they showed up and chose to get that close, I cant imagine the wolves would have liked the outcome either.

Humans try to prevent stuff that will cause them harm, or possible death. That is why the laws encourage people to wear helmets, seatbelts, have speeding and other traffic laws. Among millions of other laws. Keeping wolf numbers down, to prevent such attacks, is no different. I am not likely to put my head in a hand towel machine, but for some reason, there is a sticker on them to warn me, if I do, it may cause death.

[gopher_nation]

For me, the scariest thing to encounter in the woods is a turkey exploding into the air from beneath your feet. Probably the toughest test for my heart in its 30 years.