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Cazador's Link
The Colorado landscape will be forever changed starting today.
Wait. I thought the initial release was supposed to be down south of I-70. When is the next release?
I thought it was still being blocked in court...
I never read or heard that Grand County was to be one of the release sites. What's up?
@ Zbone, dismissed in a matter of hours.
Like the old Dillon song goes way before my time, but fitting. " The times are A-changing”
Elk in grand county are sparse these days, but moose are plenty.
Will be interesting to see who kills the first of the five in Wyoming. :)
Too bad those wolves didn't make their first meal out of pole-ass.
KB, our only hope is all five head to WY but that won't happen. They will find plenty of moose to kill and leave in Grand County. For a couple years at least.
Congrats to all the lib voters.
dang. Not surprised but dang.
Umm…Grand County?! WTF? How did that happen? The last maps I saw was in Summit County, IIRC.
The Bowsite libtards should be very proud. The beginning of the end. Your kids and grandkids will never know the fabulous big game hunting that Colorado once had because these wolves will never be managed in this now bright blue state.
Just another kick in the nuts from the lying CPW
Just dammit.
Not good at all.
Quinn, we had local male collared where I live last winter. Getting to be one of the highest moose densities in the state here in central Southeast Alaska and plenty of deer. Within a few weeks he’d moved over 60 miles as the crow flies, across at least two significant bodies of water (2+ mile swims) and basically out of moose range.
I’d think there’s a strong chance at least two of those males wind up in Wyoming from that dump site? We’ll see.
My heart goes out to you lifelong Colorado residents. First, the idiot libtards turn it into a friggen bright red state, now they have just started the wheels in motion to decimate the the state’s wildlife population.
Was told they were released by Radium. Who knows how far they'll go.
Major elk/deer wintering grounds around Radium.
And a state park, where I’m betting they were dumped. Fortunately, that area is mostly occupied with residents who won’t take kindly to having them around.
Matt
They will be close to Rocky Mtn. National Park, where the dumb elk are. But of course they will realize that they are not allowed on the eastern slope. How long until they are in downtown Estes Park?
I'd guess they decided Grand county so that they all wouldn't be shot in Wyoming.
Hopefully some local Redneck with common sense, a predator call, and a thermal will attempt to do what has to be done. They should be hungry, like those hatchery trout are when they get dumped outta the truck.
Approx 67 miles as the crow flies to Wyo from where they were released
That's not to far hopefully they head that way.
You can do something about 5. Or you could wait until that turns into 15 or 45 or 450 without enough genetic diversity to make hunting possible.
Funny how most things take forever to materialize but the reintroduction of wolves happens overnight.
Where was the pack that had a litter located at? How far from WY were they? And how far from where these were dumped? Yes, I know. I ask a lot of questions.
Governor was there, people were hugging and crying and cheering. Like watching a vial from the Wuhan lab being opened and waved around.
Great! Archery success for elk in 15, 37, 361 is 7% or lower.
KSRancher - look at a map of Colorado.
Find Walden. That where the first litter was. Approx 30 miles south of Wyo.
Then find Radium. (Pretty much straight south of Walden near Hot Sulphur Springs)
Ks
The pack that had a litter are in Walden. The female disappeared and a few others made the mistake of spending too much time across the border.
Incidental wolf kill during cat hunt a buddy was guiding.
Incidental wolf kill during cat hunt a buddy was guiding.
At least here we can kill them when the opportunity arises. And after many, many, very many studies we are culling them to save caribou.
Incidental wolf kill during cat hunt a buddy was guiding.
Incidental wolf kill during cat hunt a buddy was guiding.
At least here we can kill them when the opportunity arises. And after many, many, very many studies we are culling them to save caribou.
Can’t wait for some liberal Colorado River rafter’s dog to get slaughtered at the boat ramp in Radium.
It will be interesting to see where these and the rest coming settle. Could be anywhere. They can cover a lot of ground.
Well I hope you guys who hunt CO get your fill in the next couple years, your herds are going to get hammered. Won't be long til the pups start flowing and new packs start up, but at least you'll be able to hear the call of the wild.
Probably already headed back to this shithole state that they came from
And people wonder why nobody goes to the CPW meetings anymore (other than Paul)
No matter what they say, or how many surveys they put out, they will do whatever they want.
Brad, you may be thinking of Rand south of Walden. Radium actually southwest of Kremmling just off the Trough road. Doesn't even show on the Atlas map. And yes, right near major wintering for deer and elk. So pretty much between the Eagles Nest and Flat Tops wilderness areas.
Do they have mortality collars on them?
Yeah I was thinking Rand. Because they are already near Rand. lol
What a coincidence. I hunt near Walden. I can't wait to see one of those demon bastards.
They are all collared.
A very popular stretch of the Colorado River for rafters and fisherman goes right thru Radium. There’s 2 boat ramps and a few dozen camp sights there. It gets very busy in the summer months, insanely so on weekends. I float and fly fish there often. I want to step on Polis’ throat.
All 5 have gps tracking collars.
Why so secretive about the release sights? It's some wolves we spent a bunch of money on being let out of cages. It's not a murder investigation or national defense matter. I can see not wanting a big crowd during the release but once it's done, why can't we know?
During the early days of introduction in WY a rancher caught a couple guys obviously trying to hide in a creek bottom on his place. Turns out it was a couple USFW biologists trying to keep a low profile with some wolves they had darted and moved there to work on. He wasn't happy since his cattle were calving a couple hundred yards down the valley. A phone call would have been nice.
^^^ I wonder how it would have played out if the rancher had pressed for trespassing?
I really feel for my fellow Co hunters. The good ol days are definitely in the rear view mirror.
The dump site was kept secret so Polis and his entourage of antis could celebrate their “historic “ photo op with no opposition. F-ing cowards.
Matt
My guess based on articles and the grapevine is Radium State Wildlife Area, Sheephorn unit.
Reading the news reports you would never know that 1/2 the people opposed this.
I'll be in Walden next Fall...not great news.
Plenty of rifle hunters in CO - time to learn how to spell a 3 letter word(SSS).
And to think some hunters actually voted for this. These hunters are worse than the wolves.
Would be a “shame” if those collars ended up floating down a local river on some drift wood! ;-)
Any hunter that votes Democrat should be ashamed. You sided with the people that are pushing this. There reason is not the glorified reintroduction of the wolf, it is the bring wolves in to keep the deer/elk/moose, etc. populations down to stop people from hunting. If you think any different, you are blind. These things have destroyed deer hunting in WI, MN and MI. They stop herd regrowth and will delete herds completely from the forests they roam. Sorry they did this to CO, but, if you voted blue, you asked for it. We need a good National hunters organization free of the other BS that gets pulled in that will actively voice hunters wants and what is balance and conservation.
This article was published back in September - See link
Up sheephorn near piney peak ranch is what they are saying on Facebook. I guess some people saw 15 cpw trucks with the wolves. They followed them to the release sight.
Cnelk, as you know, nothing about the dump site is consistent with the stated goals in that article. That area is in a low elevation river basin, surrounded by BLM, where big game animals migrate to survive the winter, not a high elevation wilderness area where wolf conflicts would be minimized. They picked a site where the wolves stand the greatest chance of surviving the winter. It's obvious. Someone needs to expose the CPW lies.
It's a good thing Colorado spent millions of dollars in 2016 on a migratory wildlife crossing project on Highway 9, which is a few miles east of Radium, so there will be plenty of elk, deer, and moose for the wolves to feast on when those animals are most vulnerable. It makes me sick.
Matt
They are saying trough road
It was a good hunting state, see MN, WI, deer hunting.
A female from north of Yellowstone traveled close to that area back in 2009. She was even just west of Ft Collins at one point. She got ahold of some 1080 around Rifle.
Careful what you wish for ... wait until the wolves find Estes Park (buffet) ... then the public will be pissed.
It’s truly amazing how much damage Liberals can create when left unchecked.
It takes 6-8 hours for a mortality signal to go out on a collar.
I have been seeing bill boards posted around town about the how the CPW introduced the moose & the population is now 3500 or something like that. It will be interesting if they update that number as the wolves start making that number go down.
They collared 2 wolves in the Walden pack, one in the spring of 2021 and the other in the spring of 2022. Both collars had failed by June of 2022. I doubt the technology has made them much more reliable since then. And as Thornton said, the radio collar data is not collected in real time. It can take up to a few days to collect the most recent data.
That's great news, whoever does what's right should be miles away then by the time the signal goes out.
Polis seems to have it out for ranchers. I wouldn't be surprised if he was key in getting the release site moved. Be prepared for license fee increases to cover the cost of paying for livestock killed by these wolves. From Wikipedia: Radium, elevation 6,890 feet (2,100 m),[1] is a small rural unincorporated community in southwestern Grand County, Colorado, United States. The community sits in the mountains along an isolated stretch of Colorado River downstream from Gore Canyon and southwest of Kremmling. The mainline of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (now the Union Pacific Railroad) runs past the community, which is accessible by dirt and gravel roads only. The community of Radium consists of a cluster of houses on the north side of a bridge on the Colorado. The primary local industry is livestock ranching. The community is named for the element radium, which was formerly mined in Colorado in the early 20th century.
Cell phone, modern vehicle with GPS, property security cams near gates, trail cams, road conditions web cams, people hiking and cross country skiing, NGOs out monitoring, etc.
SSS isn't as simple as it may have been 30 years ago. Unmanaged wolves are a bad idea but turning some into furry martyrs probably does more harm than good. Thats aside from the fact that when they reach populations similar to other states, it wouldn't make a dent anywhere close to offsetting the risk. Plus it's illegal. No thanks.
I’m about 10-12 years ahead of you Colorado guys here in Oregon.
The SSS comments I see to manage this issue are kind of a pipe dream. Sounds fun to type on the internet, but doesn’t matter.
Wolves are super reclusive super predators. Even when you guys get a minimum population of wolves to really start decimating elk, deer, moose populations, there still isn’t really that many of them. How many mountain lions are you guys killing per year, and how how many bears? In Oregon I believe cougars and bears are estimated to be in the 6000-9000 animals for each species. We have a minimum population of just under 200 wolves.
Bears are way less reclusive than mountain lions and wolves. Still, not that many people see them when out in the woods. With the exclusion of dogs, even guys that spend a TON of time in the woods have maybe seen 1 or 2 mountain lions in their life time. So very few cats are seen each year with a population of 6000-9000, how many guys will get a crack at a wolf when there’s only 200-300 in the whole state?
There numbers can’t be controlled by incidental take, or killing them when randomly encountered. That’s why they have previously been controlled by poison and trapping.
Last year an entire pack got killed by someone, since around 2012 we’ve had a fair number of wolves killed legally and illegally.
The population just keeps spreading around and growing.
Brotsky you’re gonna get the Flatlander all worked up!
They’ll becoming over the WY border. They’re in the same category as coyotes and can be shot 24/7 365. Yes some places in WY have limited quota areas but not the south eastern and south western. Already a few have been shot that were from CO.
Was it voted on? If so then it is the will of the people
Without getting into the pros and cons of the program. What I took away from the article I read was hey lets let some wolves loose for a reintroduction process but hey its alright if they're litter mates. You'd think they'd at least try to follow some science and get some genetic variety in the original group but maybe a little inbreeding won't hurt a thing.
Look on the bright side. Now you can apply for a wolf tag.
Wolf population growth since 2009
Wolf population growth since 2009
Here is the population growth since 2009.
Also keep in mind, wolf numbers are not estimated. They are reported as a “MINIMUM POPULATION”. This means one is only counted if it was visually seen or photographed, and can be determined to be a new animal not counted.
Looking at the picture above, you would think that the wolf numbers have plateaued.
In the begining, the areas where the wolves were were very concentrated, making it easier for the biologists to individually identify each wolf, and add them to the count.
Take advantage of the next 6-8 years, those will be the good old days in the not so distant future! Over time the wolf numbers grow, and the wolves move all over the state. I imagine the biologists can do a pretty good job tracking the populations in NE Oregon where they first started, but as they have spread everywhere in the state I doubt that is the case.
You guys started out getting misleading information, and it will just continue.
13 of 64 counties voted in favor of them. The overall margin was less than 51-49, a few thousand votes. The people who voted for them are nowhere near where they are being dumped.
This is another example of the massive urban-rural divide the governor and his husband insist doesn't exist, even though he had openly declared war on rural Colorado, and it is well documented.
If that was here in WV those wolves would already be dead. They have been trying to introduce elk here in WV. Good ole boys having a field day. Lol. Just shoot the wolves
Last night I had a dream that I was floating the Colorado River in my drift boat near Radium. I rounded a corner and spotted a wolf near the waters edge. There were no other rafts around, so I pulled my rifle out of the dry storage, aimed, and BOOM...the shot went off. The wolf lurched into the river and I saw his lifeless body float thru a particularly nasty stretch of the river called Needles Eye, then he disappeared. I woke up with a smile on my face.
Yeah, I know it's nice to dream about it, but Glunt is correct. The risk isn't worth the reward for me. My only exception is, if they threatened my livestock or dogs on my place. Then I wouldn't hesitate to kill them, and suffer whatever consequences ensued.
Matt
Question I thought this, today, was the first wolf introduction in CO? Someone recently told me it was not - that they had already released some in the past few years? "Few" years meaning less than 5 years ago.
We have had wolves for 20 years+. No official releases before this. They expand here from WY.
What a slap in the face to dump them in a county that was 2/3 against. Plenty of options on that map to put them where folks wanted wolves. Would that have made any difference as to where they’ll eventually wind up, of course not. But to put them where they did is just a giant “F You” to Grand Co and many rural residents.
Don, this is the first wolf dump in CO. I won't call it a "reintroduction" because a pack of wolves that migrated to CO has been known to exist near Walden since I believe 2021. And there have been numerous confirmed sightings of wolves before that.
Matt
So before this release, how many wolves in Colorado were estimated to be there? How many in that confirmed litter, were they radio collared?
And the plan now is to release how many more?
Thanks Matt! I knew about the migrants but someone was positive the introduction had already started.
I hate to sound old but no doubt about it, I am sad to see what is going on I am very lucky to have hunted like I did. Our children face a much different scene, and not for the better.
I question the wisdom of wolf planting in Colorado.
That said (Using Google as my friend, we can all be experts?) I see Colorado has estimated 16,000 plus black bears. In Idaho they estimate elk calves have 27% mortality annually from black bear. They do have estimated 25,000 bear. Doesn't diminish the impact wolves will have but does give me thought.
When they release these wolves, do they do it simultaneously where they all run off together or one at a time where they have to find each other?
I have wondered the same about all the illegals they are flying around and releasing. Like the wolves, all on taxpayers dollars.
Z, there's a link in the OP that shows video of the wolves being released. It appears they were released only a few seconds (minutes maybe?) apart. Whether or not they immediately find each other and form a pack, I can't say. But it's likely each of them know where the other wolves went.
GG - Yeah, just watched video of release on youtube, each release seemed a few minutes apart... Two of them were dark color phase, almost black...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0yHfz8AO6Q
Recently had a Mexican wolf leave the Gila and traveled to far north central NM. It was a female and she was caught near Coyote and returned back to the Gila. Makes me wonder how many others have left and wandered north or west into AZ.
Guess I better burn my 16 elk points and 5 deer points in 2024.
Another law suit is working at the moment from Colorado Conservation Alliance. In part, it concerns the Mexican wolf which to me makes a lot of sense.
When Colorado gets populated it's likely that dispersment will effect the Mexican wolf. It's the smallest subspecies and the Canadian wolves introduced are much bigger. I'm no biologist but it seems the larger wolves will win out through competition or just breeding out the Mexican wolf genetics.
Millions have been spent trying to save the Mexican wolves. It's about 300 miles from CO to the Mexican wolves. The WY wolves dispersed much farther.
Take a sec and read this.
The foolishness spews from a mouth that knows nothing about conservation.
I guess I should have hunted CO for Elk and MD before this release.
Such a shame
Orion. I saw it too. Yep Ziek enjoying the moment
Well, at least we had a bad winter with some big die offs.
A reminder if your dreaming of killing one of these dogs. . . .
These were fitting with state of the art RFID GPS chips under the skin. They will not fail and are not radio anything. Soon as the dog id dead. . . . the chip is capable of monitoring the animals heartbeat. Soon as this stops it sends out a mortality code and a 10m location and keeps sending it. This is nothing new per say. Folks killing Grizz and wolves with these devices have been caught and prosecuted for several years now.
A good case study is the father and son who killed the grizzly in spring two years ago. The GW's had the mortality code, location and part of the bears remains. From there it was pretty easy to filter thru suspects. It was a semi remote area. They worked backward thru all pings on several cel towers within 30 miles until they narrowed it down. From this point it was just good detective work and interviews. The fines were very steep.
So, to think just some Rancher/Landowner is going to get away with randomly shooting one of these particular animals he had better know what he is stepping into.
The device in encapsulated in a small tube much like a tag the vet uses to micro chip a domestic animal except it can send signal.
I think you are the one dreaming Builder. The range of an RFID is less than 6 feet.
Take a sec and read this.
The foolishness spews from a mouth that knows nothing about conservation.
You may wanna take a look at the GPS constellations they are using for the GPS tags. You bet these dogs are either on the Argos or ther other big Sat Constellation the USGS uses with NASA. The RFID tag would be an external tag.
I have the luck to have caught a a large fish in a western state. It had a GPS tag in it. I kept the tag not knowing a had a duty to report tag and harvest data. I left it in my truck for a month. When I got a call from a state biologist about a fish I forgot i even caught.
A quick review of the latest technology that is being used is open sourced and available for your education.
Builder07- we already went over this. 2 types of collars and neither are that reliable.
So the news said released in Grand County but it was actually Radium? Figures the libtards would lie.
It's comical that the guys on here like Thornton that think they could actually SSS one of these wolves and not get caught. I'll give Thornton $1,000 if he's successful getting 1, $5,000 if he gets all 5 and can provide evidence. Do we have any other matches? I appreciate your desire Thornton but good luck buddy. Are you going to float the collars down the Colorado river? Those things are being 24/7 monitored.
If it was Radium SWA, it probably was Grand County.
Glunt,
My bad you’re correct. I was mistaken thinking it was Eagle or Routt county.
They all come together right there. Since letting us peasants that paid for all this know the secret location is too dangerous, I could be wrong.
Here's a good read - the CPW talks about the GPS units on the wolves and other tidbits - see link
SSS
and I don't advocate breaking laws often, but .....
Bowhunt's experience in Oregon mirrors what has happened in Wisconsin. Wolves have now saturated the northern half of our state and continue to spread. Trapping and running the singles with hounds are the most effective ways to harvest them but like coyotes or hogs, they reproduce faster than you think. Not sure how bad this gets before we have another wolf season but our deer hunting may never come back.
I predict a day will come when an elk tag is just as hard to acquire as a sheep tag, or just as expensive for a hunt (if hunting private or premium areas).
Bake,
I think, unfortunately you may be right
“We now wait to see what the forces of nature have in store,”
Judging by the “look at my face thread” I don’t think many on Bowsite will be affected by this in their lifetimes.
I don’t know what the answer is, and who gets the ball rolling, but until we get ballot based wildlife decisions off the books, this is just the top of the iceberg. From the inside looking out, I didn’t see any of the big conservation groups assisting in this, none!
Anyone want to guess what has happened to the elk population and hunter harvest since wolves were reintroduced in western states back in 1995? Wrong...see link.
The sky is not falling even for some of you fear mongers and poaching activists.
Lou- What was that legislation you're lobbying for by idiot Boebert? "Follow the science" or something? Well. There's the science Lou. Lots of science out there that says many of you are chicken littles. And I'll add a disgrace to the hunting community for promoting poaching of any animal.
@KS, keep in mind that chart doesn’t give you a clear picture. Traditional elk areas in WAs and remote elk country in many areas have been decimated, while elk in non-traditional, low country ag areas s that are primarily privately held are flourishing.
We’re is libtard ziek? He’s probably stroked polis big time the same day Colorado took trump of the ballot
We’re is libtard ziek? He’s probably stroked polis big time the same day Colorado took trump of the ballot
Ryan, I'd like to know how those elk population and harvest estimates are calculated. They certainly aren't hard numbers, especially since none of those states require mandatory harvest reporting that I'm aware of. It's all based on random sampling and voluntary polls, then some mathematical wizardry to come up with what basically amounts to a guesstimate. After the lies we've been fed recently by our CPW, I don't trust any data that comes out of wildlife management departments.
Matt
We’re is libtard ziek? He’s probably stroked polis big time the same day Colorado took trump of the ballot
We’re is libtard ziek? He’s probably stroked polis big time the same day Colorado took trump of the ballot
We’re is libtard ziek? He’s probably stroked polis big time the same day Colorado took trump of the ballot
I expect a hero shot of Jared and Marlon posing with the first kill of their newly released puppies to be in the news any day now.
{sarcasm, they don't have the balls}
That may be Gray Ghost but the methods used both pre and post wolf reintroduction were the same so it is an apples to apples comparison. IF (and that's a big IF) there was an error then it was reflected in both pre and post data sets. The result is still the same. The statewide elk population and hunter harvest went up or stayed nearly the same pre vs post wolf introduction in those states.
What data are the "elk hunting is over" or "decimated" crowd using? Any comments on that Gray Ghost?
I figured it out. All the extra elk the wolves created, by eating them, adapted and started eating moose instead of grass. Resulting in the 70% drop in moose.
Ryan, Boebert's "Trust the Science" Bill already passed the House. It's awaiting a vote in the Senate.
Ryan, you know we well enough to know I'm not one of the chicken littles who think a handful of relocated wolves is going to "decimate" big game hunting in Colorado. Wolves have had the opportunity to migrate to Colorado for 30 years. As far as we know, only one pack has relocated in northern Colorado from Wyoming, and I haven't seen any evidence they've impacted the big game hunting in that area, so far. My position has always been, if Colorado's habitat is conducive to supporting wolves, they should migrate and establish themselves here, naturally, not by some politically driven ballot initiative.
I'm just not convinced the data from wildlife departments are very accurate. I was a volunteer in our CPW's annual Bighorn sheep counts several years ago. The counts are used to determine tag allocations for the following year. I had drawn a sheep tag that year and was hoping to learn more about the unit. What I learned was how extremely inaccurate the count was. First, the CPW officer assigned to our group wasn't even familiar with the unit. I knew more about the unit than she did from my previous scouting trips. Second, the day we did the count, it was overcast and foggy. Visibility was awful. We only counted and recorded a fraction of the sheep that I knew were there from my scouting. How they used that poor data to determine tag allocations for the following year, I haven't a clue.
Matt
What is an "unhinged population of wolves?" Yes, wolves can benefit elk herds in certain situations (see Yellowstone studies and data). It can also hurt elk herds (see Lolo Zone studies and data).
They didn't always allow wolf hunting in those states. Wolf hunting is not allowed in the Colorado wolf management plan (for now) and I think it's a big mistake. Not as big as wildlife management by popular vote but a big flaw IMO. Hunting is the best wildlife management tool for top predators.
Yes, the wolf reintroduction on some units in those states were impacted. That's going to happen in Colorado too. How much is yet to be seen but the current Colorado wolf management plan does have an adaptive management plan for those situations. Will CDOW follow it and will it work? That remains to be seen. If they don't follow the plan or it doesn't work then it's a winning lawsuit.
Sounds like KSflatlander was at the release too...8^)
Yep, I took over when Ziek got tired.
GG- I agree with your first paragraph on your last post. Like I said, it's the trend that's important since the data was collected the same. Go look at the number of tags issues over time. No matter what set of data you look at it all shows that statewide elk populations went up. So it's not all doom and gloom that wolves are in Colorado and there's no cause to promote poaching of wolves. It's sad that "hunters" would promote poaching and it weakens our standing in the realm of wildlife conservation. It's just more ammo for the anti-hunting crowd and some just keep giving it to them. Then they wonder why our coalition is getting smaller and less credible. Unbelievable. Believe it or not there are a lot of hunters like me out there that value wild things and places that we don't hunt.
Oh good gravy. Another post destined for 500 posts from the same 4 individuals arguing at each other and never changing anybody's mind.
So Lou, in the spirit of truth in science, what are the factors in the moose decline in Wyoming? What does the Wyoming moose biology data and biologists indicate are the factors?
KS, the impact of the introduction (not reintroduction) was devastating on the elk and moose, but I guess my observations and those of every outdoorsman in NW Wyoming aren’t peer reviewed…..
I haven't seen a consensus grom biologists on why WY moose lost 70% of its population. Drought, ticks, climate change are often tossed around. The numbers around the Bighorns and Snowys are stable or slightly increasing. Maybe there is something different about those areas aside from not having wolves.
Colorado populations boomed during the same period and we now issue more tags than WY.
https://jhwildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Moose-Day-Report-2022-2.pdf
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/01/05/wyo-moose-pop-continues-decline-colorado-issues-more-moose-hunting-licenses/
I've read from several sources that Wyoming's moose population was already declining before the Yellowstone wolf dump. Diseases were believed to be the primarily cause. I've also read they are on the rebound in the last few years. One 2023 article claimed the estimated population to be 3000 moose. That's a significant jump from the 1390 estimate in 2017 per Lou's graph. Let's hope that trend continues.
Matt
I'm open to factors other than wolves playing a part but 350 wolves hunting 365 days a year can't be helpful when trying to recover from a big population crash.
I know some of the ranchers on the Trough Rd. These landowners have no tolerances for live wolves in their backyard.
I hear there's a local bounty out on radio collars, LOL
I'm kinda glad they released them there.
God bless those land owners!
Old ranchers with rifles up there. I’ve met a few too. Those wolves will learn the boundaries quickly.
You guys think the hunting is bad now. Just wait ten years.
Being from BC. I have a fair amount of exposure to wolf and ungulate relationships.
We have had for years a steadily declining caribou population, particularly the southern herds. They studied the southern herds right to being genetically extinct. Wolves were the problem, but culling was politically unpalatable. The northern herds were declining too but fortunately a few government people were persuaded by biologists to believe wolves were the main issue, especially in the short term and they got some partnerships going with the native Indians. They culled over 250 wolves from each of three main herd's areas and then maintained the cull to set targets. In the first of four years the herds went from an annual 10% decline to an 11% increase year over year. Year five and six saw increases of 15%. The one area saw a 16% increase this year. Nothing else has changed, no other levers pulled. Ungulate and predators have a long but recent history here and tons of great data has been generated.
Wolves need a certain amount of meat per year to survive. It all comes from animals.
Different situation here, Rod. We have maybe 20 known wolves in Colorado at this moment. I’ll be dead before they realize wolves need to be managed like any other wild animal. Citidiots don’t understand.
FYI - two more wolves were released yesterday. This was posted on another forum by a landowner in the area who received a letter from the CPW.
"Dear ___, As I am sure you all are aware of the recent release of 5 Wolves near Radium Colorado "which is just on the back side of the mountain from ____", Today there were 2 additional wolves released just south of Green Mountain Reservoir between ______ and Silverthorne. This location is only a few miles south of the Ranch. Due to personnel safety and preventing the general public from following CPW vehicles and personnel, they have decided not to make any further press releases on the Wolf release until the project is complete.
CPW is not notifying anyone of the location of the release of the wolves nor are they communicating with landowners or agricultural producers of the process of the project. We are relying on local knowledge and first hand sightings to keep people aware."
All part of the plan for the great reset! Don’t believe me? Look up the plan for wildlife corridors.
As a government, you know you are doing what's best for the public when you either have to force it on them through threat of punishment or need to do it in secret.
So much for the promise of open communication with local ranchers and notifying them when wolves are in the area. "Local knowledge and first hand sightings to keep people aware".
Colorado is screwed.
Wow, secretive releases now... And the government wants to know why we don't trust them... Sad...8^(((
If they used State land that would likely be Blue River SWA right along the highway. For once I won't complain about too much traffic.
First time ever in my life to hear a wolf in the wilds. Coyotes better watch out!
“You guys think the hunting is bad now. Just wait ten years.”
They’ve been saying the same thing since I was 16 years old. Since then I’ve watched the decline and I’m almost 60 now. No matter how many times it’s said, nobody pays attention to it. They all say they don’t want to get involved in the politics that surround the hunting community. Pretty soon you won’t have to worry about it… you’ll be trying to invent vegan venison, while you’re contemplating who it was that ruined your hunting heritage.
Lots of reports and some video today that at least 3 or 4 are about 25 miles NW of release site. Near Phippsburg. If they keep going, just 50 miles to WY.
Interesting tidbit, 3 of the 5 came from packs involved in livestock losses in OR.
Hope fully those 3 or 4 will cross into Wyoming and be taken care of properly....
Hey Glunt, can you provide links to the information in your last post? My searches aren't coming up with anything. Thanks.
Matt
Well, that figures… headed home. If they hang out very long around Yampa-Phipsburg, they will not survive. The ranchers there will kill them.
I don't use FB much but I searched "Yampa wolves" and found some of the posts that had popped up.
Steamboat Radio report about OR depredation
I think it would great if they would make it to Wyoming and get thumped. But I wonder if it would cause a shit storm that could/would possibly get wolf hunting stopped in Wyoming
KsRancher: Maybe.... "IF" it gets reported.
It would be a big deal. I don't think WY would cave but the Feds or a judge could step in.
Thanks, Glunt. I've never been on Facebook. Keep us informed, if you see any more chatter.
Wyoming doesnt have to say squat about any Colorado wolves killed in their state - See link
Maybe a tech savvy Bowsiter could set up a Colorado Wolf Tracker website to collect reports and video, maybe a map with report pins. Traffic from both sides might generate enough clicks to set up a new 6mm Creedmoor with Thermal. I believe WY passed a new law allowing night hunting for predators on public. I haven't followed up to see if it's a done deal.
Dang near in predator call range now. If they leave, even if the don’t it really shows us the massive waste of money incurred and it’s just beginning.
Only in America!
In February Im going to make a 20+ mile snowmobile trip from the N Colorado border into Wyoming a mile or so. It will be a remote wolf hunt, legally.
Anyone interested in going along? Or rather stay at home, behind your computer?
I just talked to a buddy that has buddies in Wy that shot collared wolves in Wy that were from Co before this release. They called the GW, yep from CO, the Wy GW called and verified and told CO they are keeping the collars.
Seems to me the Co G&F has been lying to everyone and it wouldn’t be too hard to verify
cnelk. Damn I would love to go but we are booked pretty solid with hunters through the middle of March. Sounds like an awesome trip
Bruce, they collared 3 wolves out of pack in North Park in 2021. It was the first confirmed pack to produce pups in Colorado in 80 years. One of the large ranches up there is where 4 out of 5 confirmed wolf cattle kills were located. That ranch is right on the Wyoming border. It's likely your buddy's buddies killed one of those collared wolves.
Matt
Here’s the ranch that wolves killed the cattle (Gittleson). It’s actually State leased land. Approx 8 miles NE of Walden and approx 11 miles from the Wyo line
If one of those collars gives a mortality signal and it's on private land. Does CPW have to get permission to go to it?
Ted Nugent claims he had noise complaints 18 miles from a concert at Arrowhead stadium back in the day. Maybe a souped up system with some seductive howls could reach them in that thin air here pretty soon. :)
Ksrancher, Wouldn't they need a reasonable suspicion of illegal activity in order to trespass without the landowners permission?
3 of the Oregon Wolves in Colorado have killed live stock in the past year. Great of Oregon to dump their problem wolves on CO and other surrounding western states. Idiots!
Aspen Ghost, I would think so. But I don't know. I am curious what happens if/when they get a mortality signal on private and the landowner tells them to pound sand.
My ranching friends near Walden have moose on their place. I know the CPW has asked them permission in the past if they can land helicopters to capture moose on their property.
I can't help but picture two nerds in a dark room, each of them sweating as they watch multiple green dots on their 50" plasma (paid for by hunters dollars) steadily tracking to the north……… Nerd #1 says “um …like…. Denver…. we have a problem here.” The nerd then looks to his right at his counterpart from Boulder, then at the red push button phone (paid for by hunters dollars) to the side of him. With heart pounding, trembling, he reluctantly says to nerd #2 (whose face is heavily pierced) “get me the governor”.........
Nerd #2 picks the phone up, punches in the ultra secure password into the phone #fckttrump24 (tones for each button pushed slowly) and lets the phone connect........ A voice on the line says "authentication code please" Julian says '#fcktrump24, #fcktrump24'...... "Connecting"......
Seconds pass...... the nerd hears shuffling on the other end of the line. It sounds like screaming between two men, they're arguing. "Hello" the man says...... “Um.....is this Mr. Pollis?"......... 'No, this is his wife, who is this?'......... "Hello sir" and like nails down a chalkboard the conversation stops......... 'Sir!!!!!!!!!! don't you ever say sir to me again, who is this?'.......... "This is Julian, one of the first responders for the 2024 wolf introduction hotline vetted by Gov Pollis.".........
Nerd #2 then hears more screaming between two men......... 'I told you to hire a woman, you hired a guy? Where were you those two nights when I tried calling'......... Seconds pass...... Marlon says, "Julian what's the problem?' Ma'am, I just wanted to inform you that all the wolves we released this week are heading straight to Wyoming, and there is nothing we can do!"............
Julian then pulls the phone away from his ear as the best 4 letter word in the English language (starts with an "F" and ends with a "K") is repeated over, and over again......
'Julian' "yes sir, I mean ma'am" 'dial 911 right now, I will activate the National Guard, and have choppers inbound with soldiers equipped with night vision assemble along the northern border to keep our wolves safe (paid for by hunters dollars).......Julian says "Awesome sir, secure just like our southern border".......... 'no son, much better, we have wolves on the line, not votes'
