Wolves in the Backyard

B-man we know a lot about your 2 boys. The fish, hunt, tie jigs and feed chickens. The next question is can they keep their mouth shut at school? The most important step of the three S rule.

FinnyDinDin wrote:

Gitchi, what’s your member number with Howling for Wolves?

FinnyDinDin wrote:

Gitchi, what’s your member number with Howling for Wolves?

I could fire back with hurling a pile of insults your way like you always do but I stopped doing that in middle school. Just pointing out obvious flaws in your guys logic and you all get defensive.

For the record, I would like to see wolves managed. However, the ideas in this thread will not be a constructive means to seek change. You have to remember for us to seek change, we need to have constructive conversations with people who aren’t as versed on the topic (i.e. politicians and general public). Some of the logic and ideas in this thread are laughably unrealistic. My favorite was:

Beast wrote:

Kill them all, there’s a reason out great grandfathers and grandfathers set out to get rid of them…

As if our great grandfathers were all knowing ethical sportsmen that didn’t nearly wipe out several different species that we’re still working on rehabbing the populations of.

I deer, turkey, and grouse hunt as well as run a small maple syrup operation, and trail run a couple hundred miles a year in wolf country and have never seen a wolf. I put over 100 miles on my boots this fall grouse hunting in the arrowhead and never saw one. I also spend roughly 2.5-3 weeks a year in the BWCA and have never seen one. I’ve spent more time in the supposed problem wolf area than most on here and have never seen one yet everyone on here can conclude they’re way overpopulated and need to be exterminated. On top of that, many people can’t tell the difference between a wolf and a coyote so many “wolf sitings” have to be taken with a grain of salt.

A few pages back I asked for real, constructive, and rational ways people who want change in wolf mgmt could seek it. I did not see one response other than B-man saying to illegally shoot them. So again I ask, how can we seek change other than breaking the law? I’d love to have a real, productive conversation to brainstorm avenues for change rather than just b*tching and moaning.

Gitchi, your post is littered with Satire right or at the very least rhetorical questions and comments. You know full well that there is nothing any one of us can do about this because its at the mercy of the DNR at the direction of higher ups and will likely get thrown in court the second a season was announced. The post you commented above I am sure that dude was being sarcastic, but to no surprise you fell for the bait and latched right on to it.
You then go on to say that everyone here wants them “exterminated”. I find that utterly false and near as I can tell most if not all believe management is needed but decimation is not the goal. Wolves do serve a purpose and they are quite cool to see. I have seen them multiple times and YES, they 100% were wolves no question. The sheer size is unmistakable.

I don’t feel the least bit bad for the owners, but I do feel terrible for the dogs themselves that were shot. If you cannot control your dogs, you should not have dogs. It seems like dogs are such an impulsive thing for so many people in current times. They want a puppy so they get one, and attempt to figure out everything as they go forward in that dog’s life ultimately raising a dog that isn’t trained and is a nuisance.

I don’t know that I could/would shoot a dog running deer if I knew for certain it was someone’s pet. I would rather try and catch the dog and tie it up at the front door of our local sheriff’s office and force the issue with both law enforcement and the dog’s owner. In my experience warnings don’t do sh** when it comes to terrible dog owners.

B-man wrote:

Just got home from a 6 day Ontario lake trout buddy trip.

500 miles of driving through wolf country and we didn’t see a single one.

On our way home Mom and the kids called freaking out saying there was just one in the yard with a deer leg hanging out of it’s fricken mouth.

Ben was frying bacon for breakfast and movement caught his eye out the window. Hank and Mom ran over and got to see it too. They said it was HUGE and zero question it was a wolf.

The Boys were outside right before breakfast taking care of the chickens, not 30 yards from where it came by shortly after.

No bullshit, no embellishments. It trotted out of sight before they could get a picture.

It’s getting even more apparent they’re not the least bit afraid of houses and human activity.

If you have chickens, you are going to have the apex predators of the area coming near…whether it be coyotes, coyotes, dogs, eagles, hawks, etc. Chickens must be the Prime Rib of meals for predators. I’ve shot 7 coming near our coop since the end of summer, and could probably get one nightly if I tried a little harder. That wolf isn’t going anywhere. I’d come up with a way to implement the SSS plan when the boys aren’t around.

Gitchi Gummi wrote:

So again I ask, how can we seek change other than breaking the law?

New leadership from the Governor on down, particularly Lt Governor and DNR Commissioner. This would help a ton, and was already stated, but you may have missed it. Until that happens, all other remedies are not legal. My personal favorite, I think, would be if a bunch of good old boys trapped a pack or two and let them free in the cities. Also, I don’t put nearly as many miles on, but I have seen 3 in the Paul Bunyan State Forest, and hear them regularly, and the Bunyan is a place they didn’t exist 10 years ago.

I find it ironic how people pick and choose what fish and game laws they follow.

buckybadger wrote:

If you have chickens, you are going to have the apex predators of the area coming near…whether it be coyotes, coyotes, dogs, eagles, hawks, etc

I live in town but close to the river. When we had chickens we always had fox in the yard and even a few coyotes. Fox were definitely not afraid of us. The neighbor and myself chased one around for 5 minutes in the middle of the afternoon and it didnt leave til it finally had a chicken. The woman even killed one with the air rifle. If that were wolves it would freak me out.

Gitchi Gummi wrote:

I find it ironic how people pick and choose what fish and game laws they follow.

Game laws that are based on science and biology are one thing.

But game laws that are based on human emotion are entirely different.

Agree? Disagree?

Every summer up here in lakes country dogs become the number one problem. People come up to the lake and let their dogs run free and are shocked when suddenly they are gone. Last 4th we had 3 dogs sitting in the front yard. It wasn’t until everyone left that we realized the third dog didn’t belong to anybody that was there. We checked a few lost pet pages and found a picture of the lost dog and called. The owner had already left the area and was driving back to the cities. The dog had been loose for two days. They said they were on their way and we informed them that the sheriff would get their first and they could likely pick up there dog from the Humane Society for a small fee.

Gitchi, as for your comment: “On top of that, many people can’t tell the difference between a wolf and a coyote so many “wolf sitings” have to be taken with a grain of salt.”

I can assure you with 110% certainty we are seeing wolves in our yard.

I’ve grown up with coyotes my entire life and have seen wolves on two occasions prior to the recent sightings, and tracks many times.

Coyote tracks look like a beagle running around, wolf tracks look like a Newfie. An absolute night and day difference.

As for mom and the boys credibility the other day, I am again 110% confident they knew what they were looking at. When I got home I asked how big it was, they said “as big as you Dad” (I’m short and weigh 165lbs)

The Boys have seen coyotes around here before and have called it right every time I’ve been with them. Just yesterday without me, they said “we saw a ‘yote on the bus ride today”. They didn’t say wolf, or small wolf, or wolf pup…

To reiterate they know what they’re talking about, when they accidentally trapped a bear this fall I asked, (over the phone) how big it was.

Their response was “A good two-footer Dad!” (which was a dead on estimate, I had the paw in my hand while letting it go)

Yes, some people would have seen it and said it was a 200lber, but the kids didn’t. They’ve spent a lot of time in the woods and water and know their $hit at a crazy young age lol

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B-man wrote:

I’ve grown up with coyotes my entire life and have seen wolves on two occasions

I’ve seen a lot of coyotes too over the years, even in suburban environments. I’ve never seen a wolf though, other than at the zoo. The ones I saw at the zoo were impressive animals. The biggest difference to me was the much longer legs.

I have no doubt that some people do mistake the two though. Even my old man claimed he saw a wolf (in non-wolf territory) and when he showed me a photo, it was clearly a yote.

Are we being taken over by large predators here? Bears, lions, and wolves, oh my! lol

Gitch, I was just having some fun with the Howling with Wolves comment. If you really took that as an insult you might not be cut out for Internet forums. Lighten up Francis.

Im glad you finally answered my question regarding management of wolves and having a hunting season.

Reintroduction seems to be going great in Colorado. I’m sure none of these same depradation, reproduction And general health issues are impacting our deer, moose and elk herds here. Even though those herds have clearly severely diminished in wolf country while wolves have recovered beyond anyone’s goals or expectations…
http://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/colorado-ranchers-request-high-wolf-damages/

Let’s say there’s a wolf running around in your back yard on a regular basis. You could walk around in your backyard 1,000 days straight and you have zero chance of the wolf trying to bite you.

crawdaddy wrote:

Let’s say there’s a wolf running around in your back yard on a regular basis. You could walk around in your backyard 1,000 days straight and you have zero chance of the wolf trying to bite you.

I agree. The longer they are protected their fear of man will be less and less. It only takes a single outcast from the pack to be starving and you never know what it will do.
This past summer a wolf took a dog 15 feet from the owner. This wasn’t in the woods. It was in the middle of a city in Northern Wisconsin. Wolves are getting braver and braver. They are smart and figured out that humans don’t/can’t harm them.

crawdaddy wrote:

Let’s say there’s a wolf running around in your back yard on a regular basis. You could walk around in your backyard 1,000 days straight and you have zero chance of the wolf trying to bite you.

Your point??

I think most people realize wolves don’t pose much of a risk at all to humans.

But:

Let’s say there’s a wolf running around your backyard on a regular basis. There’s a 100% chance the local deer population is getting hammered, a pretty good chance local livestock could be affected, and then there’s always the possibility of losing your dog.

You’re more than welcome to trap our wolves and relocate them to your house. I’ll even give you $100 a head to do it.

most of you won’t like this, if you get a chance shoot them with a small caliber and the pack will take care of the weak one. wolves aren’t family dogs that are on the loose, you can’t depend on the government to do the right thing, Mn has turned into a mini California , I bet that most who want to save every wolf would have no problem to have every pitbull in the state put down.

do you have any trail cams B-Man? seems like it would be easy to get a picture of a wolf in your yard with a game cam, no?

B-man wrote:

Just got home from a 6 day Ontario lake trout buddy trip.

On our way home Mom and the kids called freaking out saying there was just one in the yard with a deer leg hanging out of it’s fricken mouth.

The real surprise would have been if the wolf trotted by with a head of lettuce in its mouth.

crawdaddy wrote:

Let’s say there’s a wolf running around in your back yard on a regular basis. You could walk around in your backyard 1,000 days straight and you have zero chance of the wolf trying to bite you.

Yeah? And how about his kids? Or if it was a pack of wolves? Is that a risk you would be willing to take?

Beast wrote:

most of you won’t like this, if you get a chance shoot them with a small caliber and the pack will take care of the weak one. wolves aren’t family dogs that are on the loose, you can’t depend on the government to do the right thing, Mn has turned into a mini California , I bet that most who want to save every wolf would have no problem to have every pitbull in the state put down.

I think everyone agrees management needs to happen. And then you get this regard above ^.

Really makes a guy want to root for the other team. Just as nonsensical as the New Jersey cat moms opposed to wolf management.

Just saw a wolf again, I was walking from the garage to the shop and movement caught my eye, he was trotting on the edge of the yard and corn field. I barked at him too try to get him to stop while I was fumbling for my camera/phone but didn’t get one in time.

Saw him where the arrow starts on the right and he ran out of sight to the left.

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I would say you have a resident wolf that is living very close. He/she needs to go away.

Red Eye wrote:

I would say you have a resident wolf that is living very close. He/she needs to go away.

Agreed. Any idea bman if is the same one or are there multiple?

B-man wrote:

Just saw a wolf again, I was walking from the garage to the shop and movement caught my eye, he was trotting on the edge of the yard and corn field. I barked at him too try to get him to stop while I was fumbling for my camera/phone but didn’t get one in time.

Saw him where the arrow starts on the right and he ran out of sight to the left.

Looks like a nice setup for a safe rifle range…

How much land do you have there and are there neighbors close by?

Let a couple of your chickens out for an hour or so in the evening before dark. It will present a shot.

If your going to do illegal stuff, it’s always best not to discuss it online.

Bearcat89 wrote:

If your going to do illegal stuff, it’s always best not to discuss it online.