Timber wolve sightings

[ASMOLEY]

I hunt in Itasca State Park and it seems that every year we are seeing more and hearing more wolves. This year one guy in are party saw a pack of timberwolves chasing a doe and her two fawns. I don't how it turned out but i can bet that those wolves ate good that night. I think they have had a substatial impact on deer populations in our area or they just spook them out.

[buzzsaw]

Itasca State Park ya say, have you eaten at the Headwaters Cafe? If so, read the story of the wolf on the menu. I hunt in Alida, about fifteen minutes north of the North entrance.

[Philo]

Didn't see any first hand, but we heard a ton of them howling one night this fall in the BWCA. Really a creepy sound when you are camping out there with them

[89Bronco]

First year I was bear hunting I was trying all kinds of ways to bring bears in. One article I read was to use the ol' predator call and call them in. After about a half hour or so I heard some noise from straight ahead. Here comes the lead wolf with another close behind. They both go right underneath my stand and one circles around to the right and the other circles around to my left. Then here come three more all in a row, slowly picking their way through the woods toward the two "standers." It was very cool to watch, but it was a VERY quick walk back to the truck after they cleared out!

I saw one other one while bear hunting two years ago near Crane Lake close to Voyaguers Nat'l Park. It was early morning and you know how it is when you're on the stand and you get that "I'm being watched" feeling? I looked to the left and he was just standing there watching me through the thick brush.

Haven't seen any this year but we have a few tracks and scat around.

[tealitup]

My family owns land north of two harbors about 50 miles - if you have heard of Fairbanks or Basset Township -

There is no other private land around us (landlocked) from Superior Nat'l Forest. The wolves have taken over up there. Every two to three years a pack will den about 25 yards from a tree stand of mine. Its a nice sight, but when I see them the stand is a bust. Over the past 6-7 years there have been about 30-40 distinct pups come out of that den alone.

The land has never really held alot of deer, but in the last 10 years there have only been maybe 3-5 deer taken by an average of 8 guys. We do see many many wolf tracks; last year I saw one that was over half my hand size.

We have noticed a reduction in the amount of moose calves. The population was increasing in the previous years, but lately the number has decreased - saw one this year.

Maybe someone will know the answer to this.... I noticed a mountain lion this year - in fact, I saw two. (one was close to complete darkness about 20 yards away lite up with a flashlight) This was the first time anyone in our party have seen these animals. Locals have said that they are around, but the DNR has not said anything about them. When I told them about it they asked if it could have been a lynx or...

How will the competition between the two effect game animals? It used to be common for me to see 15 or so Moose on a trip, now lucky to see 3-5. (I did see one that was a monster - 9 points on one side). Should we practice the 3 S's; kidding, but in our area there should be a management hunt. There are tooooo many wolves for the area.

[jparrucci]

As far as timberwolves go, I've seen quite a few while deer hunting near Togo/Effie. I've also seen a couple very near our cabin on Lake Vermilion. In fact, my dad saw a pair right across the road from the Vermilion Club last year. I too read that article in the Star Trib. Makes me fear a little bit for my Brittany when I hunt up in that area, which I do. With wolves, I've never feared for MY life, but now I will be more catious with the dog in the northwoods. The only animal I fear in the state is a Mountain Lion. I've read a number of stories about what those things do out West, and I want no part of that. Unlike a bear or wolves that may attact out of defense, Mt. Lion will hunt you to eat you. Had my first encounter this year in fact with a smaller Mt. Lion. I wont be back in that section of woods anytime soon. Does anyone know if Mt. Lions are protected?

[ccarlson]

The area where I had my wolf run in with my dog, near Squaw Lake, has a decimated deer herd. We used to shoot 10 deer for 10 guys almost every year. Now I can honestly say there have been less than 10 deer shot from our camp in the last 10 years. Probably about 6 or 7 total. Since the winter of 1995-96 when we had the bad snow, the wolves moved in and the deer are harder to find than a timber wolf. The deer kill sites that winter were unbelievable. Piles of hair and bones all over.

While the rest of MN has experienced outstanding numbers of deer in the past 6-10 years, some pockets, such as our area up there, have never recovered due to the wolf.

The reason the guy up in Alaska never sees a wolf is the wolf is more wary of the human. Around our area, they see enough people that they aren't afraid of humans anymore. I know because I stood and yelled at two of them 20 yards away that didn't care I was there before they bolted for my dog.

ccarlson

[nolte]

Boys

I sure wouldn't have any worries about any mountain lions. MN has such a small amount and the majority of those are transient sub adults that will just searching for their own territory and then moving on. I've got quite a few friends that hunt Mt. Lions out West with dogs and it would be there dream to have lions following or hunting them. It would save on the hundreds of miles they travel to find just one track. The only problems you see with Mt Lions is in states that don't allow any sort of hunting or managment. Take CA for instance, no lion hunting since the 80s because of all the libs, very large population of people that are now building in lion country, lions all over and such the most attacks. Lions are much more weary and seclusive than wolves are here. Guys out west will go years between sightings, unless they are treed by dogs.

If you are actually seeing Mt. Lions or tracks on a consistent basis in WI or MN, the next time it happens you should call me and we'll tree it and get a picture. Cause it would be the first confirmed treed mt lion in either state. There have been confirmed cats in both though.

[Guest]

Its crazy over the last 10 yrs how the wolf pop has exploded I think its starting to become a problem. Last year I had my dog chased to me while hunting around big falls. the wolf didnt stop till the dog was at my feel and the wolf was ten yards away.

[buzzsaw]

Heres one for you guys... about three years ago a mountain lion was seen down in Shakopee by the Cargill plant off of Hwy 13... they decided to bait the area and get photo's ..... it worked and the DNR came in and took the Mountain Lion out. It was in the paper in the southern suburbs.... I couldn't believe it!! I suppose it had moved into the cities by following the Minnesota River valley.... A black bear was also spotted over by Fort Snelling the same year. Somebody should start a new thread and call it wierd sightings.

[sdstatekid]

We had a mountain lion in the refuge behind my house in Arlington last fall. I heard the DNR came in and trapped it. Kind of scary being it was during deer hunting and all.

[brittman]

Feds will always take a more hard line approach.

If you chose to kill one - just keep your mouth shut. I will not condem you for your actions.

All predators should be hunted by man to keep a natural fear of man in the population. Man and predators should live in the presence of each other ... but populations should be checked and balanced ... bears fear man, so should wolves.

[KrashR]

Hey jparrucci, we hunt near togo as well and this year between the loggers clearcutting and the wolves we only saw 1 deer for 6 guys. We even heard the wolves howling a couple times during the middle of the day. Actually the guy who did see the deer saw 2 wolves as well, so not very good odds for hunting deer. jparrucci, If you don't mind me asking do you hunt along the Holstrum or Lofgren at all?

[Tripleplay]

My buddy was in his stand while I was hanging up one of my deer and sure enough a big wolf ran out a doe and fawn ahead of him. This is the first wolf we've seen on this property by Itasca State Park since I had one jump through a corner of the field at least 5 years ago. I also saw one over 15 years ago on the same field but pretty few and far between.

Can honestly say that when the wolf walked through the woods by my buddy, he didn't see another deer the rest of the day.

[Grizzly16]

I hunt up near Crane Lake north of Orr and when the timberwolves move in the deer seem to move out. I have probably seen over 40 timber wolves in my life and I am only 31. I do think that as soon as wolves start killing dogs and coming into yards in the Twin Cities we will than see things change. Until than I can only hope that we at least get a trapping season on them soon.

[msm1018]

I saw one on opener being pushed out by my father, I shot a doe that night, not 200 yards from where it had traveled. wolves are efficient preds no doubt but any healthy deer will be able to get away from them. most wolf deer kills are younger or old deer.

[Steve Foss]

A deer I take up here has been stong enough, lucky enough or savvy enough not to be eaten by wolves. Wolves, hunting in a pack, are far more efficient predators than I will ever be. I value the deer hunting experience all the more because I'm sharing it with the consummate Northland predator. Deer are alert by their very nature, and they're even more wary when there are tough predators that keep after them. If I shoot such a deer, I am the more honored than if I harvest a stubble-row buck in the same way a barley farmer harvests his grain.

If I continue to scratch out a living in this placed called Ely (a city that doesn't give the first shnit about its people), no doubt I'll have to contend with wolves that want a piece of whatever deer I'm dragging out of the woods, be it bow, firearm or muzzleloader season. I've dragged a few deer out of the big woods so far and have avoided heart attack. If I break my legs in the slash of a logging cut and the ravens lead wolves to me and they get me, that's the way it goes, and there will be a dead wolf or two to mark my passing. That constant need to be at attention and on alert (which Mrs. Catfish doesn't quite understand), to guard against the letdown, is what brought me to this place. I dislike heights, and I don't hunt from elevated stands. I'm right down here on the ground. I was getting sick of the tame, so now I get the wild.

If wolves can take a deer from me, they deserve it. If I can keep it, then I deserve it.

I'm a fat middle-aged man, and I'll be out there tomorrow and perhaps Sunday as well working to fill my second tag.

To those who want to complain about wolves I say this: The wolves don't only keep the deer and moose herds strong — they keep you strong, especially if you get down from your stand and hunt among them.

And to all I say — good hunting, and good thinking.

[Duffman]

It's all part of the system, fox's will be chased out by the 'yotes, wolves will do their best to crack a few coyote bones. They'll balance out, just like if the deer populations get too small in some areas, it's not like the wolves will just move on, they are dead meat if they do some tresspassin. They'll die out just as quick as the prey. And the ones that get a taste of domestic meat will pay the price. You guys sound as bad as the guys claiming all the walleyes are gone 'cause of dem dang muskies. "We use to get a limit every time out" Hello? We use to get 10 deer a year, maybe 5 a year was all the resource could handle. Wolves are just doing what they do. I'm not hacking on you guys, all I'm saying is that that's just the ebb and flow of things. I've no doubt that wolves are affecting some of you guy’s hunts, it'll change. Like the guys complaining about the 'yotes, jeez, talk about an animal that there has been an attempt to exterminate. Yet, the numbers are stronger than ever, and they continue to expand. I give the wolf a lot of credit for living its life during our winters, same with the deer. We can co-exist. That said, if my hound is attacked by wolves, it's personal and I'll deal with the consequences.

[Early Riser]

We hunt in the Superior National Forest, inland from Superior a ways, and we hear or see wolves every year. There are days you will not see any deer because the wolves have moved through chasing the deer out. I wouldn't want it any other way. A few years ago one of the guys in our hunting party had a wolf come into his stand area, sit down, and howl right at him. We have all seen wolves chasing deer around. Talk about a rush! Personally I have never thought about having to defend myself or my deer from them, but I guess that would add some excitement to a deer drag. We do not see very many deer, but we have been bagging some very nice sized bucks over the years. Not many hunters back in the big woods, solitude, natural deer movement, half-day deer drags, lots of other animals (including wolves), and a chance at some very big deer - what more could one ask?

[CrappieJohn]

Well said, Mr Catfish! People need to put this wolf/human thing in it's proper context: When we are in the woods hunting we are in their backyard, not the other way around.

[Ranger Rick]

A friend told me of this posting and even though I'm from Wisconsin, I wanted to hear of the wolf tales. Where I hunt in northern WI, the wolf population has grown. Between the wolves and human hunters, we've dropped the deer population considerably. Our DNR has set goals for dropping the deer herd and it's worked.

This past weekend was our opener. Out of 9 guys hunting in a 2 section area, we saw 5 deer. Finding wolf kills is common now. You find an area with the ground all disturbed and only find a chunk of hide and maybe a piece of pelvic bone. The rest is gone.

More and more guys are taking the approach of the old timer who fired the warning shot and the other two ran away. The next one on our horizon is the big cat.

A lot of people are seeing Mt. lions in northeastern WI and the UP. Legitimate sightings by people not prone to exageration. Our National Forest timber programs are all about shut down now due to court chalenges from the enviro-wackos and all they need is a "spotted Owl" to make things really get sticky. I'm afraid the cat will be the one to do it.

Our other problem is that the forests are becoming more mature, meaning there is little understory to provide feed and cover, therefore having less ability to carry a larger deer herd. This is the worst on State and Federal lands, but there are also too many private landowners who do not want to cut any timber. That mature timber needs to be at least thinned to allow for more regeneration to feed and hide wildlife.

[almostthere!]

Saw fresh prints yesterday morning while heading to my selected tree. Couldn't believe how fast I can setup my climbing stand and ascended the tree to twenty feet.

[shae1986]

I have never seen a wolf in the wild before, seen a lot of coyote and heard many more. They are on the list of things to hunt this winter. But i would love to see a wolf. I have never heard one but some people have seen some like i stated earlier in the thread. I told my buddy if we see one yote hunting that if it is comeing dead at us it gets a warning shot. He laughs at me bc he said i am faster than you so i will just take off running. But i would like to see one.

Andrew

[Hookedbow]

Sounds like most reports are from northern MN. I hunt up by Little Falls and saw three Timber Wolves chased out by the neighbors while making a drive. My uncle's say there is a pack of seven running around there. Once you see a Timber there is no mistaking it for a coyote. The size difference is amazing. Three years ago was the first time we saw a timber in are area and the deer seem to be steadily leaving the area as the wolf population increases. This year on deer opener, party of 10, did not see a single deer. Prior to seeing the timber wolves, it was not uncommon for us to get 4-5 deer opening day.