Wolf population booms
Wisconsin
Contributors to this thread:
Kevin @ Porkapalooza's Link
From Paul Smith of jsonline
Two years removed from the last legal hunting and trapping season, Wisconsin's gray wolf population increased to a record high of at least 925 animals in the winter of 2016-'17, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
The latest estimate represents a 6% increase from 2015-'16 and a 24% rise from 2014-'15.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/outdoors/2017/06/10/states-gray-wolf-population-increases-record-high/382215001/
Glad I don't live in wolf-land. I'm not sure I could sit by and do nothing while the DNR's pets wreaked havoc on my livestock, my pets, infringed on my hobbies, my guest's enjoyment of my properties. But, that's just me and everyone is different.
We all know that wolf mgt is a joke, even if they allow another hunt and trap season, our wolf loving DNR will not give out or allow enough of a harvest,,,,, the whole pack should be brought down to 350, and than maybe we can get lucky and they all get parvo
I would bet a new bow set up that there is many more than 950. I'd say 1500 is more accurate but wouldn't be surprised if there were closer to 2000. I don't want them wiped out. But like anything else they need to be managed. I still say we trap a bunch and move them to Madison.
We look for the tracks on the sandy roads in the forest at my grandmas. That's where I get to drive the truck! They don't come on her land but we can drive like ten minutes and be there. I would like to ba able to shoot one with my bow. My dad would want to shoot one too and mount its skull. If they make a season for them we will probably try. Collin
I've never understood why the DNR uses a minimum count on wolves. I agree with Rut that there is close to 2,000 wolves on landscape if not more. We have a lot them here around my place, but guiding for bears in Northern Bayfield they are just thick. I'm praying for the delisting asap so we can get on with management.
There is easily 2000 in this state and but we do not need any of them
Are the wolves collared for tracking purposes?
In a trappers class this weekend. The instructors are of the opinion that there's easily 2000 and that 2000 are located in relatively specific places.
2000 might not seem like a lot but if we concentrate those in only a dozen counties....could be devastating on populations.
Reggiezpop...Yes, in WI some wolves are collared for there studies. I see a female wolf almost every year up here that has a collar on.
Some of you are not understanding the numbers. For one thing the 925 number is the over winter population BEFORE pups are born. So after pups are born they number sky rockets. So some of you are likely correct in that there are closer to 2000 at this time. Many of those pups will die though.
As for the minimum number, that is what was set in the ESA for recovery. That is the problem with the broken system since there is nothing in the ESA that was minimum is achieved the species will be delisted.
I haven't talked to a DNR warden who likes the wolves, yet, anyway. This is what the anti-hunting community wanted years ago when the wolf enhancement projects in the states started, and I'm sure they are just gitty about all this. There hope was to stop people from hunting and just let the wild animals take care of population. People are just supposed to look at the woods, not be in them to those peopld.
When the Feds take the wolf off the endangered species list, the DNR will be happy to reinstate the wolf hunting season once again.
That's the key,...the Feds have to delist the wolves. When this happens the DNR will allow another season. They are aware of how upset sportsmen are about wolves and what they have done to the deer herd, but are unable to respond until the wolf is delisted by the Federal Government. Just saying....
I think with all the liberal deer harvest numbers, crossbows and special seasons it is tough to convince anyone that there are not more than enough deer to go around. Hunters talk out of both ends. They voted in crossbows because more hunter recruitment was needed, so there must also be enough deer for the wolves too, right?.
agree with the above posts, but they know it is coming, in their opinions, so in the meantime, the structure should be in place, which I doubt, they have. After a season starts, what will be the management plan, for how many they will want on the landscape..... I fear it will be more than the original plan of 350.......
I am pessimistic on this, I do not see it happening, and the whole program has been a disaster for our deer herd, for the most part. They will continue to dish out the money, must be close to 100,000.00 a year for animal damage.........
It is just too bad, what has happened,,,,, there was room for wolves in the north, if they had just left a natural process occur,,,,,,,, well I can not beat a dead horse anymore, it is what it is, but not happening this year, at least
Missouribreaks,,,, your post is just plain stupid
The season structure is all in place and ready to go. If either option for a season happens by the end of the month the DNR will move forward for this year. Any later and the logistics won't work.
I get so tired of people claiming the DNR staff are all pro wolf. I know and regularly work with dozens of DNR staff and have never heard anything remotely like that.
again I know a little about the DNR, I stand by what I say,,,,,,, I hope skook is right
Skook is correct. The problem is not the WI DNR, the problem lies at the federal level.
Seen a pack of 5 cross the road just south of Brockway in Jackson County this morning. On a positive note Just north of Brocks Meats, a nice big lone bear crossed in front of me.
Well, at least they took that into consideration and didn't vastly increase the amount of anterless tags over last year..
Never mind, too late!
(I'll never understand these advisory committees that do exactly the opposite of what 3/4 of respondents suggest/desire on the surveys??)
"The problem is not the WI DNR, the problem lies at the federal level."
For now.
When/if the state is granted the authority to manage wolves (again) at that point the problem will lie squarely on the DNR (again) because the DNR will grossly underestimate the population of wolves (again) and not give out near enough tags (again). So yes, we can blame it on the feds but lets not forget there is another major factor of solving this problem missing and that is having a competent DNR. Some of you guys waiting for the DNR to come charging in and help you with your wolf problems I'm afraid might be waiting a long time. Hope it all works out.
The state gov't and the pro-wolf perception is due to low population density goals and continued use of Doe harvest tags in counties where wolves are present. I'm not sure if the DNR determines the pop. density goals, or if they are just tasked with trying to maintain/establish the determined goal?
Either way, if deer mortality due to predation is taken into account, it should make a significant impact on whether or not Doe tags are issued. The often used number of the equivalent of 20 deer consumed per year per wolf (based on studies), can lead to a large margin of error in anticipated deer predation mortality (x20 for every wolf not counted), and thus deer harvest goals. If errors are made year after year the affect on the deer heard is increased exponentially. Further, in using the 20 deer per year per wolf to figure predation impact, for the same reasons stated previously, it would be important to not use the "minimum" overwinter wolf population, but to use the wolf population average based on the entire year. In other words, wolves of all ages eat- not just the ones that are counted in the winter months. Just as one could say wolve pups do not eat much, one could also say that if a wolf eats the equivalent of 20 deer per year, if those deer are fawns the actual number of deer consumed will be much more than 20. IMO, determining whether or not an entity is pro-wolf, lies in the details and how the predation numbers are spun and used to determine deer harvest goals. If the above is not taken into account, there is reason to be skeptical as to whether or not a certain deer population is really the goal. If it isn't, the wolf is the perfect answer to keep numbers low. If there is no real population goal other than just to keep numbers low, it would be logical to think that the state wildlife management is pro-wolf.
They are pro-wolf. More than one game manager has felt that the wolf plays an important role in private land deer control and prevents harboring. Wolves have no boundaries, can go where human hunters are not allowed(private land) and kill at random rather than removing large bucks only thru APR's etc. To think that only the Federal government is in on this is in error.
If/When another wolf hunting season begins one of the problems with the harvest quota is the Indians get a large part of those tags. We all know they will fill everyone of those tags right.......Yeah and the Pope is Muslim. Going to be more SSS happening this fall.
Lots of $$$ to be made if a wolf season happens. Look at how many paid just for a chance at drawing a tag.
There will be another season, however there will always be too many wolves for the human hunter liking. Wolves need more managing IMO.
well this time I have to agree with missouribreaks,,,,,,,,,,
With human population exploding, the world is getting smaller. Management of almost everything is necessary. Deer are managed, how on earth does a judge determine that wolves shouldn't be? I get that deer are considered a resource that belongs to the public. Just as public land is a resource that belongs to the public. When deer populations densities are in check on public land, but still above goal because of private land management, i do not understand the push to implement wolves or any other tool to reduce the heard on private land. Yes, too many deer prevents regeneration of certain forest plant species. But if that "problem" is on private land, and not a problem on public land, it is not affecting the publicly owned resources. If someone owns their own land and wants deer to affect "their" plants and trees, that is their free choice.
stp2, it's the one's out there that feel the human species is not meant to hunt or kill.
The thing I don't get, that the judge's (Judge Crab) these organizations find to get this crap through because they are lenient towards there cause(s) shouldn't be in office. If any judge rules on something because they side more with that organization, it should be thrown out.
I feel for our northern deer hunters. I think wolves should alternative years with cross bowers to manage and share the deer.
Bowhunters ( as defined by the P&Y Club) will become the minority of all hunters who manage the deer herd.
As a landowner in north east wisconsin.. Im very fortunate, good number of deer, low number of wolves. From what ive heard local guys have cleaned out or area of wolves.. This past winter some bear hunters i know personally went on a coyote killing rampage. They took out 35-40 in 1 week right around, and on my land. Havnt hard a pack of dogs once this spring/early summer at night. If you own land manage it!! You pay the taxes, The dnr wont help you!! As outdoorsman its our responsibility to stand up and take charge of whats ours.. "smoke a pack a day"
As a landowner in north east wisconsin.. Im very fortunate, good number of deer, low number of wolves. From what ive heard local guys have cleaned out or area of wolves.. This past winter some bear hunters i know personally went on a coyote killing rampage. They took out 35-40 in 1 week right around, and on my land. Havnt hard a pack of dogs once this spring/early summer at night. If you own land manage it!! You pay the taxes, The dnr wont help you!! As outdoorsman its our responsibility to stand up and take charge of whats ours.. "smoke a pack a day"
"That's the key,...the Feds have to delist the wolves. When this happens the DNR will allow another season. They are aware of how upset sportsmen are about wolves and what they have done to the deer herd, but are unable to respond until the wolf is delisted by the Federal Government. Just saying...."
"The problem is not the WI DNR, the problem lies at the federal level."
False. Explain to me how the Western states have a season then?
Les Welch +1 I know for a fact how Wy Fish and Game and sportsmen, kept getting into their politician heads, screaming about it...... I wish ours would do the same, somehow, they have to get this voted for on the floor of the Senate. I understand its there, just not brought up for a vote,,,,,, why?
Neither Johnson or Baldwin, give a reason,,,,,,,,I have no idea why, they are in favor of state mgt, but how vocal they are, I have no idea
razor, until there is something for the politicians to gain from it, they will not push it.
Even in areas where they become deregulated by the Feds, no way will they allow enough wolves to be harvested. Will always have the Feds watching over the wolves, ample populations are here to stay. Deregulation will do little.
I strongly believe, Its time people stand together and start doing what needs be done.. If the feds dont want to delist the bastards then its time for landowners to take matters into their own hands. We work way to hard to afford the things we love and enjoy!
Foodploter there is a thread in here about Big Bill poaching a calf elk. Everyone up in arms about it all over the web.
Now your on here advocating the poaching of wolves. Poaching is just that no matter what the game. I wish "sportsmen" would understand that talk like this makes it harder and harder to get them delisted. Anti's bring in stacks of statements like yours to show the courts the need for continued protection. All you yappers make it so easy for them.
In my discussions with folks living up that way the three S rule is in effect to manage the issue. Shoot Shovel shut up. The DNR is not the problem on this one it is a federal issue. Once delisting is complete I expect a significant smack down to occur. The issue right now is the numbers are so out of control it may take several years to get them back to an acceptable level. I have nothing against wolves but they need to be managed to an acceptable level. 2K is way too many wolves to sustain an acceptable deer population. I would like to see around 200 wolves in the state as a management goal in the future. I walked an area last year and did not see a deer track all day but wolf tracks were everywhere. I believe a fix is in the works one way or another.
Wy has a season because a judge reversed the previous ruling in 2014. It had nothing to do with local pressure.
The same judge is reviewing the WI season right now.
Yes - Hopefully we have a ruling soon! On another note about wolf monitoring. I have emailed the Dept. a number of times and have never gotten back a reply. I asked them why would you allow Rod Coronado, a terrorist, a labeled a terrorist by our government and head of Wolf Patrol with their pro wolf agenda be given the opportunity to monitor our wolf population. Makes no sense to me at all.
Hoot....I have Rod Coronada on hidden camera. They were staking out the hound hunters with there hidden camera and I set up my own hidden camera to see who was driving down a old logging road and then trespassing. Its a great video. He stood 4ft from my camera for a few seconds.
Drop Tine - Excellent post - One thing we as sportsman DO NOT need is anyone breaking the law and NOT acting like sportsmen and women!!
I have bad mouthed other folks in the past on this same topic! DO NOT break the law and tarnish our image! Work within the framework and act responsible and for what's best for the resource. I don't care for wolves at all - but breaking the law is NOT the answer!!
Tweed's Link
I've never heard of this Rod guy until this thread.
Here's the first post that popped up when I googled him.
http://www.citypages.com/news/how-wolf-patrols-rod-coronado-is-pissing-off-wisconsin-hunters-7798241
He said he's changed his ways by being non-confrontational, but he baits you in to a confrontation while filming the whole thing and then edits what he wants. If you want a good laugh just read some of the comments from his minions on his Wolf Patrol facebook page.