BWCA Wolf Hunt Boundary Waters Group Forum: Hunting in the BWCA
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eyestalker
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08/25/2011 08:43PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
With all the jazz goin on out west in MT & ID involving wolf hunts i was wondering how far off of a possibility it is that we here in MN will ever have a wolf hunt? I know that alot of the elk herds are really down, as are the mule deer in certain areas! Ive read that alot of wolves migrate down from Ontario to have their pups in the spring, and that has to have an effect on our dwindling moose population! Not trying to stir the pot, but is it feasible that we will one day be able to take a wolf or two out of say the BWCA?
 
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08/25/2011 09:33PM  
I most likely wouldn't ever be one of the people hunting them. Wouldn't care to but I sure hope they do someday. There seems to be a few too many wolves running around up there. I'm not stirring the pot either, not anti-wolf either. Just in the camp that believes wolves are taking a few too many moose every year. I know there are other reasons the moose are dying off but still, why not take out the problems that are easier to take out? My opinions and ideas on this run all over the board so don't take me for gospel one way or the other.
 
ZaraSp00k
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08/25/2011 10:03PM  
wolves cull the herd, take the weak ones
they do not have much of an impact on moose

if there is a wolf hunt, likely be outside the BWCAW
 
walleye_hunter
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08/26/2011 08:14AM  
I think we are at least 5 years away from having some wolf tags, maybe 10. From comments that were made on a thread last winter I think most people that post regularly on this site would support a wolf hunt, even those that really love the wolves. I would hunt them, it would be an awesome and challenging hunt. I don't think hunting wolves would be an effective way of managing the population, they are too smart. It is going to take disease and/or lack of prey to manage the population. Some of the wolves are getting very bold in MN and I think hunting them would help with that. As more and more people start losing dogs and livestock the wolves are going to be less appreciated.

I have had two interesting wolf encounters while ice fishing in the BW in recent years. I know they are just curious, but I don't trust them anymore than I would trust a mean dog that is guarding its property. I pack heat now when ice fishing by myself in the BW. I'm not going to be the next person attacked by wolves.

Now, for people that don't think the wolf population is capable of drastically reducing the moose heard in NE MN. Wolves are very efficient predators and have every advantage over moose in the winter. I know the balance works on Isle Royale however, the island usually maintains a ratio of about 1 wolf/22 moose. I think NE MN has a ratio of about 1 wolf/2 moose. Something's gotta give in the next few years. Fortunately for the moose, the wolves on the mainland do have a lot more available prey then just moose; deer, rabbits, even a bear in its den, etc. All things considered though the future looks bleak for MN moose, and once the wolves start running low on prey they are going to potentially create a lot of problems unless we start hunting them and give them a healthy fear of man and populated areas. This concludes moronic rambling.
 
08/26/2011 10:56AM  
Hey walleye hunter, that was some good rambling.
 
1BigPaddle
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08/26/2011 10:15PM  
I think it would be an interesting hunt! with that said The bigger issue with the wolf population booming is because they are moving in to the BW area because there are SO MANY deer up there now. I remember when it was rare to see a deer in the BW. Now i dont see any moose, but I see deer all the time. ---way off subject--
 
08/29/2011 11:56AM  
I agree 5-10 years away from a hunt.

I probably wouldn't do it as I am more of a small game hunter--pheasants.

Hunting pretty much has little to no impact on the wolf populations though. They are smart and cover a long range so hard to hunt. In the past man had to resrot to helicoptors, poinoning and a continuous open season to reduce populations. Basically agree with others--walleyehunter as well.

I'd love to hear soemones hunt story though when it happens.

T
 
11/10/2011 08:20PM  
I think their will be a hunt in less than 5 years,unless a court injunction or like right now congress is supposedly to busy to bring up this bill,they are actively doing something? I have no interest to wolf hunt,but it is way overdo and the wolf population is very high. The effect wolfs have on game populations is much higher than many people say and much lower than many other people think. To much emotion on both sides.
 
ZaraSp00k
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11/13/2011 08:47AM  
people have a far greater impact, look at Canada, lots of Moose, lots of wolves, very few people, the idea that we can manage animal populations is BS, wolves take the sick and injured so they actually improve the herd, when was the last time you saw a hunter bragging about the old crippled deer he took? But yeah, as the wolves come closer to urban areas no doubt people will have their pet become wolf food and a hunt become more likely.
 
11/14/2011 01:15PM  
Everyone can come practice wolf hunting with me by taking down some coyotes in Wadena county.
 
12/23/2011 09:55PM  
quote PINETREE: "I think their will be a hunt in less than 5 years,unless a court injunction or like right now congress is supposedly to busy to bring up this bill,they are actively doing something? I have no interest to wolf hunt,but it is way overdo and the wolf population is very high. The effect wolfs have on game populations is much higher than many people say and much lower than many other people think. To much emotion on both sides. "


Good foresight, I just heard a wolf hunt will be less than 5 years as with the new de-listing some of the rules were changed as well to possibly allow hunting sooner in MN.

T
 
CrookedPaddler1
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12/27/2011 08:55AM  
I am not sure that we will ever get to a spot where there is wolf hunting / trapping in minnesota. The delisting still needs to appear in the National Register and take comments from that. You know that the wolf worshipers will be out in force for that! We have been to this point twice in the past 10/15 years and the wolf worshipers have managed to derail the process. I am not holding my breath that we will have a wolf season in the forseeable future.

Sam Cook had an interesting blog on the topic.
Sam Cook article
 
12/28/2011 11:38AM  
THis article in the Star Tribune (copied it form the Miami Herald becuase you cna view their link easier) says wolf hunting may happen as soon as this fall. Wolf delisting

But I agree a lot could change in 30 days. The last 2 de-listings were defeated due to procedural issues and technicalities hopefully the government has figured out how to do the process this time :)

T
 
eyestalker
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01/01/2012 12:13PM  
Im sure the DNR has, or think that they have a management plan for a future wolf hunt! What could it be, who knows! Id say a quota system involving a $20 wolf tag endorsement on a hunters big game tag would be a wise way to try! A friend of mine who lives in the Black Hills says thats the way they manage their mountain lions! Elk and deer hunters can buy an endorsement for a small fee, and if they should see a mountain lion they may harvest! This would require a phone call each morning to see if the quota has been met! Kinda a problem with anybody wanting to hunt them within the BWCA i guess!
 
01/01/2012 03:13PM  
Some animals like Bighorn sheep in Montana they give a 48 hour notice before closing the season. A wolf season I am sure the first few year will have enough wiggle room and buffer on the quota to harvest. With success rates going to be low you may be able to sell a lot of license and may differentiate between trapping and hunting. It will be a fall and winter type season.
 
01/08/2012 11:44PM  
Star Tribune reported today a wolf hunt will begin in MN this fall/early winter. Wolf season will open right after deer shotgun/rifle season is done.

DNR said it wants to start conservatively. No quota number set yet. Still early planning stages.

T
 
Woods Walker
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01/23/2012 05:22PM  
quote timatkn: "Star Tribune reported today a wolf hunt will begin in MN this fall/early winter. Wolf season will open right after deer shotgun/rifle season is done.


DNR said it wants to start conservatively. No quota number set yet. Still early planning stages.


T"


Well that is just how they would do it.... don't let a deerhunter shoot one while on his deer stand, too much success.... make a special season AFTER deer season is over.... they want our money, not dead wolves!

I would buy a wolf tag if I had the option to harvest one during the deer season, any other season wouldn't work for me.... can't see myself taking vacation & hunting specifically for a wolf.
 
walleye_hunter
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01/25/2012 09:19AM  
quote Woods Walker: "
quote timatkn: "Star Tribune reported today a wolf hunt will begin in MN this fall/early winter. Wolf season will open right after deer shotgun/rifle season is done.



DNR said it wants to start conservatively. No quota number set yet. Still early planning stages.



T"



Well that is just how they would do it.... don't let a deerhunter shoot one while on his deer stand, too much success.... make a special season AFTER deer season is over.... they want our money, not dead wolves!


I would buy a wolf tag if I had the option to harvest one during the deer season, any other season wouldn't work for me.... can't see myself taking vacation & hunting specifically for a wolf.
"

I'm hoping for a winter hunt. I think it could be combined nicely with lake trout fishing. Do some predator calling in the morning and evening and jig for trout during the day. If the hunt does take place right after deer season it will be almost impossible to get a wolf. The days are short and cold plus the wolves are very shy after deer season with all the increased activity in the woods.
 
ZaraSp00k
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01/27/2012 08:09PM  
as of today they plan to issue 6000 license to hunt wolf but close the season after 400 are killed. $38 for the license. That's over $200,000 they will rake in.
 
01/28/2012 10:34AM  
I like the way they are rolling it out. The DNR moved fast on this, most people thought it would 5-10 years to get a wolf hunt going. Now here we are a year later with a hunt planned. This is just my opinion but Killing a wolf incidentally while sitting in a deer stand isn't much to be proud of.

Now specifically hunting one and getting some success, that you can be proud of, and I want to hear that story for sure and see the pics and buy ya a beer afterwards.

Once again, just my opinion and I respect others that may disagree-- as it is a hot topic. I love to hunt, but there is a big difference in hunting and just killing something, for me anyway.

T
 
ZaraSp00k
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02/23/2012 11:24PM  
Here is some info that may be of interest to those who read this thread:

The Monatana wolf hunt ended Feb 15 with hunters taking 166 wolves, the hunting season had been extended due to so few wolves being taken by the original Dec 31 close.

There are 500 wolves in Montana, and they had hoped to reduce that number to 280. Kepp in mind Montana is nearly twice as big as Minnesota and of that area even a greater percentage is suitable for wolves, thus, the broohaha over wolves there seems kinda insignificant when you consider their wolf density is well under 1/10th that of Minnesota.

a license there cost $19 and over 16,000 hunters purchased a license, or iow about 1% of the hunters were successful
 
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