ID Wolf Season

[Hiker of the Woods]

I was wondering what everyone's thoughts were with the dates and weapons regulations set for hunting wolves in MT compared to ID. Which state's hunting dates and regulations do you like better and why?

MT:

Archery Backcountry
Sept.3-Sept.14

Rifle Backcountry
Sept.15-Feb.15

General Archery
Sept.3-Oct.16

General Rifle
Oct.22-Feb.15

or

ID:

Any weapon Aug.30-Mar.31

 

[ID_hunter27]

idaho duh just flat out smarter

 

[Hiker of the Woods]

Do archery hunters not mind rifle hunters around them during archery season? What if it was a unit or hunt that is considered a trophy hunt?

 

[backcountryID]

A trophy wolf hunt?

 

[HayZeus]

It wont be a trophy hunt with wolves around.There wont be any hunt except for the wolves.Idaho has the right idea.

 

[Hiker of the Woods]

> It wont be a trophy
>hunt with wolves around.There wont
>be any hunt except for
>the wolves.Idaho has the right
>idea.


What do you mean by "There wont be any hunt except for the wolves"? Do you mean no one can or would be hunting elk or deer during a wolf season?

My question is if an archery hunters waited numerous years to draw a hard elk or deer tag; would they mind wolf hunters around them with rifles putting pressure on the elk and deer?

 

[HayZeus]

If you dont controll the wolves than we hunters dont get to hunt because the wolves wont stop killing. Hunts can be shut down when there is no longer a viable population to harvest from.Also,just because someone draws a once in a lifetime tag doesnt mean other people (hunters or not) dont get to use that same area for what they like to do.It would be nice but its just not gonna happen no matter where you are.

 

[Hiker of the Woods]

Also,just
>because someone draws a once
>in a lifetime tag doesnt
>mean other people (hunters or
>not) dont get to use
>that same area for what
>they like to do.It would
>be nice but its just
>not gonna happen no matter
>where you are.

Poachers could use the excuse that they are hunting wolves with a rifle in a once in a lifetime archery elk hunt, but really be poaching trophy elk every year. Cases similar to that have happened all over.

 

[deepforks]

shoulda, woulda coulda. bottom line is they need hunted, and hunted hard. we (idaho), have it right. the only problem i see is we have 5 months we cant hunt them. i imagine most all hunters, rifle and bow, are in favor of the hunting seasons. youre the only person ive heard bring it up. that must say something about how the bow fellas feel about it...

 

[Hiker of the Woods]

>shoulda, woulda coulda. bottom line is
>they need hunted, and hunted
>hard. we (idaho), have it
>right. the only problem i
>see is we have 5
>months we cant hunt them.
>i imagine most all hunters,
>rifle and bow, are in
>favor of the hunting seasons.
>youre the only person ive
>heard bring it up. that
>must say something about how
>the bow fellas feel about
>it...

Only if I was on a archery hunt that was once or twice in a lifetime; I would like to see the wolf season only be open to trapping in that unit alone. All other units with easier draws could still have rifle hunters.

 

[tworivers]

It would be fantastic if they would not shut down the area that actually has high wolf populations and allow us to trap down here in southeast Idaho. A december 31st closing date in the mountains, Beaverhead, and a march 31st one southern mts, date for the areas that have fewer wolves is just assanine. Unless of course you don't actuallly want those wolves killed. Then you call it an agreement with two other states and give them a 7 month break from hunting.
So I guess technically you have your trophy wolf area....


Freedom is not Free!
RIP Lil Bro' "Huntnfever"

 

[destroyer350]

I spend most of my time with a bow and only hunt with a rifle on special occations, and have no problem with rifle wolf hunters pounding the piss out of any and all wolves while I archery hunt. Besides Idaho does not have any, that I know of, Once in a lifetime archery elk hunts!!!

 

[backcountryID]

Sometimes you gotta see the forest through the trees. Just because someone draws a special hunting tag doesn't give them an absolute right to use an area that is public land. Assuming they are acting within the law, people can ride ATV's, shoot yotes, or just shoot all they want. It's public land after all, and we all have a right to use it.

As for worrying about your once in a lifetime tag being spoiled by someone shooting at a wolf...others have already explained that without people shooting wolves, that once in a lifetime area isn't going to be so great for very long...

 

[Hiker of the Woods]

>As for worrying about your once
>in a lifetime tag being
>spoiled by someone shooting at
>a wolf...others have already explained
>that without people shooting wolves,
>that once in a lifetime
>area isn't going to be
>so great for very long...
>


I wouldn't be worried a hunter would be shooting at a wolf during archery season. I would be worried a rifle hunter with a wolf tag would shot(Poach) a trophy class bull or buck during archery season. Why would only allowing trapping for wolves in a very hard to draw archery hunt lead to the area not be so great for very long??? I would assume there wouldn't be very many rifle hunters wanting to hunt wolves during the time of year archery hunters are out, but poachers with wolf tags that are really looking to poach a trophy class buck or bull would be out. Wouldn't trapping work better for killing wolves than someone with a rifle?

 

[BPKHunter]

Just so you know, Idaho is a "right to carry state" and frankly you don't need an excuse to carry a gun in the woods no matter the season. Even now you don't find hordes of people in the woods looking for wolves. You concern is logical, but not practical.

Since I noticed your handle says blacktail slayer I assume you are from western Calif, Or, or Wa. If you are not routinely in the woods here you might not have a feel for what makes up the crowds. You would likely have more guys using archery season to scout for deer or late season elk than wolf hunters, for example.

 

[idhunters]

What about coyote hunters? No season, they could go in there anytime and poach if that is the concern.

There are way more people who hunt coyotes than wolves. Grouse season? Target shooting? Scouting for the upcoming hunts? Wildlife photographers packing a gun for bear protection

That all said I do think that pressure from other seasons should be something that is considered by the fish and game when making "premium limited hunts".

I think the points being made about worse hunting without wolf hunters refer to controlling the number of these eating machines.

 

[Hiker of the Woods]

Thanks BPKHunter & idhunters. The only reason I bring it up is because here in Oregon the state estimates we have just as many animals poached as we do legally harvested. Animals lost to poachers is how a trophy hunt can be ruined for someone who has waited years to draw. I was just trying to figure out a way to slow down the poaching.

 

[destroyer350]

I'll tell ya one thing having archers out and about I think cuts down on poachers during that time of year, because most archers that I know are of the curious type when it comes to rifle shots during archery season. I know one feller had a 340 bull shot right in front of him while trying to get a shot at 40yds, them two fellers paid the price!!

 

[hookedondeer]

Now I'm real confused why Montana Closed 2 units because of quotas being filled. And Idaho has only closed 2 units due to the season ending the 2 most heavily populated units didnt even come close to filling there quotas.

 

[BPKHunter]

Blacktail Slayer I agree 100% on the effects of poachers and thinking about how best to reduce it. I think maybe some education on "citizen arrests" and more self policing, especially during the rut and winter times. I would say it would be great to have more F&G officers, but with budget constraints that won't happen. Of course in many units legal poaching is a problem when it comes to the Native's and ther liberal any season killing of trophy bucks, bulls, and sheep.

 

[idhunters]

Sad commentary about poachers taking as much as legal hunters. I really don't know the statistics in Idaho. But I know poaching happens here.

Seems like more legal hunters out and about would be helpful, more eyes and ears.

Maybe in Idaho the IDFG could focus more on big game poaching and spend less time watching the dove hunters.

 

[Hiker of the Woods]

I agree with everything you said.

>Blacktail Slayer I agree 100% on
>the effects of poachers and
>thinking about how best to
>reduce it. I think
>maybe some education on "citizen
>arrests" and more self policing,
>especially during the rut and
>winter times. I would
>say it would be great
>to have more F&G officers,
>but with budget constraints that
>won't happen. Of course
>in many units legal poaching
>is a problem when it
>comes to the Native's and
>ther liberal any season killing
>of trophy bucks, bulls, and
>sheep.

 

[southeasternslayer]

I would like to know why they shut down the island park and beaverhead areas so soon. We still have some wolves to kill there. I think the seasons should be open until the quota has been hit. Even through the spring time, I have seen many wolves during the spring bear hunts. And don't even get me started on the native'!

 

[BPKHunter]

I think some of the areas closer to the borders of Wyo and Mont, including yellowstone areas, are politicially and biologically sensitive issues. The reasoning is they do not want the hunts restricting the movement of the wolves between these areas so that they stay biologically diverse.

I am not an advocate, so don't try and blast me, this is just an answer to "why".

Hopefully next year we will have a little more weather to help fill the quota in time.

 

[southeasternslayer]

Thanks BPK. that is an answer as to why. not really on board with it but you are most likley right. They can be biologically diverse yellowstone, not palasades, or leadore. Like you said hopefully next year we can do better and get them before it closes.

 

[tworivers]

It probably wouldn't have anything to do with those areas having the highest density of wolves either in southeast Idaho. Like most of their managing selling tags comes first. Harvest opportunity comes behind the former.

In my earlier post I said southern mountains but meant southern Idaho. They limit the harvest in those two zones, then down southern zone where there is virtually no wolves there in no limit. I know they spew the interconnected habitat to enable biological diversity argument. I.E populations cannot inbreed,they need corridors. They have been trying to do this with Grizzlies as well connecting the Yellowstone area with the pops in northern Idaho and Montana. Political yes.... biological.. questionable. For example unit's 60,60a is where the winter range is for the Island Park zone for big game. It already has a closure in place to protect the animals.. Until May.

There is no reason to have units 61,62,62a closed when in normal winters the wolves and the prey are down in the other units. In 59, 59a they winter not far from an open unit. But as you said, Just go after them earlier.... we got into tracks, howls, wolves nearly everytime we went into any zone on Montana border. Next year they will be the focus.

Freedom is not Free!
RIP Lil Bro' "Huntnfever"