Whereafter For Wolves
How the save-the-wolf conspiracy threatens all hunting.

Judd Cooney

Like the guy in the woods who told his partner, "I've got good news and bad news. The good news is, we're making great time, the bad news is, we're lost." The good news about wolves is that they are here to stay. Wolf populations are growing by leaps and bounds, from the hills of North Carolina to the deserts of New Mexico and Arizona, from the agricultural lands of Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin to the mountains of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. The bad news is, we can't do a [beeep] thing about managing their populations using intelligent and effective management tools such as hunting or trapping to control their detrimental impact on game and livestock.

How can anyone manage wolves effectively when groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Friends of Animals, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Defenders of Wildlife, The Sierra Club, and other emotional, nonsensical and politically driven wolf protectionist organizations won't let state and federal biologists do their job? Unfortunately, such organizations have huge war chests of money garnered from little old ladies and other segments of the unsuspecting public who mistakenly believe that they are contributing to the betterment of our world by helping to restore wolves to their former numbers, and in the process restoring the "balance of nature." Money can make a lot of noise, drowning out the voices of reason.

Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan all developed a management plan to deal with their burgeoning wolf populations. Wolf numbers there reached maximum capacity in the wilderness, and expanded into agricultural areas where they are preying on livestock and domestic pets as well as excessively reducing big-game populations. According to David Mech, a leading authority on wolves, eastern timber wolves have long passed the point where they need to be controlled. In fact, by 2005 they reached a point where adequate control might not even be possible.

This population of wolves was estimated to be 1,438 in 1989, 2,520 in 1998 and 3,546 in 2005, increasing at a minimum of 5 percent per year. To bring the population to the required level of USFWS service mandates for perpetuation of the species would require removal of 28 to 50 percent of the current population – an impossible task considering there are so few knowledgeable trappers and hunters available today. According to Mech, unless the states, especially Minnesota, resort to impossible (read that politically incorrect) methods such as poison or substantial financial incentives (bounties?), the wolf population became uncontrollable in 2005.

The eastern timber wolf recovery plan in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan reached the goals set by the USFWS years ago, and were to be de-listed officially from the Endangered Species List this year. However, even with the huge volumes of validated scientific proof of the wolves’ overabundance and devastating impact on game and livestock, several "greenie" groups such as HSUS, The Animal Protection Institute and Help Our Wolves Live, initiated lawsuits to halt the delisting of timber wolves in the three states. The goal of these organizations isn't simply to stop any possibility of wolf hunting, but to stop all forms of hunting. Fighting wolf delisting is just one of the tactics to accomplish their ultimate goal.

Fortunately, groups such as Safari Club International, The National Rifle Association, United States Sportsmen's Alliance, and Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association, along with local sportsmen in wolf country, are fighting equally hard to see that the delisting goes through. According to several sources I contacted, it appears that there is a good chance that common sense will prevail. Time will tell.

Canadian wolves imported into Montana, Idaho and Wyoming as part of the Rocky Mountain Gray Wolf Recovery Program (started in 1995) have made an equally spectacular comeback. In so doing so, they’ve also annihilated the Yellowstone elk, deer and moose populations as well as seriously impacting (killing) lesser predators such as coyotes, red foxes and lynx. The USFWS criteria for the wolf recovery program required wolf numbers to reach approximately 300 wolves or 10 breeding pairs in each of the three Rocky Mountain states for three consecutive years. At that point, if the states had acceptable management programs, control of wolf populations would return to state jurisdiction.

The prolific predators met this criterion by the end of 2002 and were scheduled to be de-listed in 2003. The wolves did their part exceedingly well, seriously reducing the populations of a variety of other animals. In 2003, Western wolves were reclassified from “Endangered†to “Threatened,†a less restrictive classification but still under federal control (or lack thereof). The anti’s couldn't stand it, and in spite of overwhelming information that the growing Northern Rocky Mountain wolf population needed to be managed, lawsuits in Federal Court overturned the reclassification. In 2005, wolves in the West were back on the Endangered Species List and untouchable once again. Their numbers continue to soar out of control.

trying to do my part going to canada hunting yearly

Ya,,,,, public forums arn,t the place to solve your wolf problem ..........I feel bad for you guys ..

quote:

Originally posted by gumboot458:
Ya,,,,, public forums arn,t the place to solve your wolf problem ..........I feel bad for you guys ..

Public Forums ARE the place to keep people informed of a HUGE problem however, and Wolves are a HUGE problem.

Don

This same kind of weak minded thinking kept the Police in London, the Bobbies, from ever having side arms on a regular basis. Things are bad enough now, I believe, that detectives are allowed to pack a small revolver most of the time...

You want to be effective politically, you might want to train with the Leadership Institute, Arlington, VA. 501(C) 3 so they have to take anyone, but prefer conservatives. Teach you to get into the media, not just "preach to the choir" on e-boards, but it is work. Sorry the NRA does so little. Luck.

I am in San Diego drove home at 2 AM thought for sure I saw a wolf, na not here.

Hunting guides have you brainwashed. Canada has not inordianately protected wolves and there are still moose, caribou, elk, deer, and other game animals in Canada. Wolves will find their level in the eco system and all game will benefit from them being in their natural place in the eco-system. With that said I can't wait to go KILL one!!
CC

quote:

Originally posted by clawman:
Hunting guides have you brainwashed. Canada has not inordianately protected wolves and there are still moose, caribou, elk, deer, and other game animals in Canada. Wolves will find their level in the eco system and all game will benefit from them being in their natural place in the eco-system. With that said I can't wait to go KILL one!!
CC

Well here in Alberta there are some well respected Elk grounds that have been hard hit with wolf species growth. Wolves are now being spotted all over this province, same with cougars, to a lesser degree. I have heard of a new wolf bounty in certain ares at $350.00 per kill, I don't think there is a limit.
If I lived in one of those 3 states where wolves are really taking over, I wouldn't hesitate.............
FS

quote:

If I lived in one of those 3 states where wolves are really taking over, I wouldn't hesitate.............

Down here it is known as 'shoot, shovel and shut up'......

I've seen several wolves here in Oregon..

I am doing my part in the management area here in Idaho

I just bought a new Howa Axiom 243winmag, heavy barrel and new calls
our deer, Moose and Elk population is way down---spring birth survival rates are near nothing in areas of wolf activity