http://www.sfgate.com/news/sci...l-wolves-5071481.php


Wildlife officials hire hunter to kill wolves
Published 7:51 am, Tuesday, December 17, 2013



BOISE, Idaho (AP) — State wildlife officials have hired a hunter to eliminate two wolf packs in a federal wilderness area in central Idaho because officials say they are eating too many elk calves.

Fish and Game Bureau Chief Jeff Gould tells the Idaho Statesman (http://bit.ly/JDijri ) that hunters are having a difficult time getting into the Frank Church-River of No Return wilderness, so the agency hired hunter-trapper Gus Thoreson of Salmon to kill the wolves in the Golden and Monumental packs.

The U.S. Forest Service allowed the state agency to use an airstrip and cabin in the Payette National Forest as a base.

Fish and Game paid $22,500 for aerial killing of 14 wolves in the Lolo area in 2012. Gould said Monday he didn't know how much the agency would end up paying for Thoreson's salary and expenses.

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Information from: Idaho Statesman, http://www.idahostatesman.com

Nice work if you can get it...

Wonder what his connections are.

I just hope he gets the job done!

God Bless, Louis

That was my thought as well. I wish him the best of luck, but why would he want to do it too quickly? Ron

It would be more cost effective to pay a 1000 dollar bounty on each wolf in that area.

Bounty? I don't think you give credit to how hard it would be to get into the area. Those wolves are in what is probably the worst damn hunting country in the US even counting Alaska and at the worst time of the year. That and the fact that I bet the guy wouldn't have taken the job without use of the FS cabin. This is no atv or snowmobile hunt. I suspect they realized there was no way to hunt it by aircraft with any hope of doing a thorough job.
F&G must be worried about trying to sell more tags in the area to nonresidents and they think this will help their marketing.

Navaluk is spot on in his analysis. That fella will have to be damn tough and highly skilled to get into that country and accomplish the mission at this time of year.

If he is doing under all the wilderness rules and not using air craft. But snow shoes and maybe a dog team.

Good luck to him.

Poor (dumb) man. He will most likely get arrested and then sued and fined by the feds.

I hope he accomplishes his job and then some!

They did it with a helicopter last year.
Wonder why not this year?

quote:

Originally posted by ravenr:
They did it with a helicopter last year.
Wonder why not this year?

That would be the best and most reasonable way.

Maybe the feds arm up in arms about disturbing the wilderness area.

I used to guide in the Frank Church wilderness areas. In October 1992 the outfitter I worked for and I saw a wolf near Meyers Cove and when we called to report it the game and fish folks laughed at us and told us we didn't see a wolf. The next season there were signs everywhere asking people to report any wolf sightings. They transplanted wolves before they ever told anybody. That used to be a game rich environment and now I hear you will hunt your ass off to see just a handful of elk

I hope His gun is shooting about 10" to the right

quote:

They transplanted wolves before they ever told anybody. That used to be a game rich environment and now I hear you will hunt your ass off to see just a handful of elk

They laughed at you? Really??? Why whenever someone claims they told the fish and game or feds about wolves they're "laughed at." I've read/heard this countless times. I doubt they laughed at you, rather didn't believe you because many people can't tell the difference between a grizzly bear or a black bear, let alone a wolf/coyote. I know, I know... you're an expert, just like the rest of us.

That's a pretty bold statement, coming from someone who rarely makes such wild claims, and is always quick with a comeback for others who pull shit out of their ass.

If they transplanted wolves prior to authorization by approval of the ESA some heads would roll, not to mention it would be against the law. The feds aren't that good at covering things up, nor would they so brazenly break the law.

As proof that they didn't "laugh at you" the signs in the area asking to report wolves should have been the first clue they were actually concerned and took your claims at face value. Course if you understood the reintroduction process you would have known that they are required to investigate any claims/reports of native animals in a reintroduction area. However, even if animals were found that didn't preclude the reintroduction from occurring.

Drummond---And there you have it straight from the horses azz! Oops,I mean mouth, LOL!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Ivan:

If they transplanted wolves prior to authorization by approval of the ESA some heads would roll, not to mention it would be against the law. The feds aren't that good at covering things up, nor would they so brazenly break the law.

I've heard rumors of a similar incident; it wouldn't be such a big surprise if one or two escaped captivity by accident.

I have a problem when I see articles that are written regarding the aerial hunting of wolves. Here in Alaska we call it "predator control" so it is not confused with hunting. It doesn't take much to blur the line between hunting and culling practices and in some newspaper articles there is also a blurring of the line between poaching and hunting.

Hopefully the effort to reduce the wolf population to an acceptable level will be successful.

Matt

quote:

Gould said Monday he didn't know how much the agency would end up paying for Thoreson's salary and expenses.

............LOL

When I was a teen we were hunting in NE Oregon and saw a wolf. When we called the F&G they told us we didn't know what we were talking about and that it was a coyote.
At the time we were selling about 50 coyote pelts along with other fur bearers per year. We've seen a few coyotes. They don't want to acknowledge the existance because it would have required a management plan, which costs money, and would also stir litigation. It's far easier to deny it than to admit it.
The sad part of this introduction of Alaskan wolves is that there have been no reported sightings of the smaller native wolves since. Moron bunnie hugging city dwellers can pat each other on the back for wiping the Native wolves out. Next they're going to have to admit they've wiped out nearly all the bighorns with this introduction and they'll be able to take credit for that landmark effect as well.