Restoring wolves to 48 states

[Tallpine]

I might actually support this...   

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/article_e48b6824-0d28-11e0-8b36-001cc4c002e0.html

Let's start with Central Park in NYC and The Mall in DC 

[makattak]

I'm all for it. Maybe it'll help keep the feral pig population down as well.

Maybe allow the ground bird population to rebound in places that have taken a hit from coyotes/pigs.

Besides, most of the people that get eaten by the wolves will be granola-eating hippies, anyway. (that's a joke, btw.)

[MicroBalrog]

After we restore them, can we hunt them?

[French G.]

I would like to see them come back. I know, and know why most of the western states are opposed. The big issue is that someone will have to pay for depredation losses and we're it, maybe the wolves need a national paypal account where people who love cute furry animals can donate to pay for livestock loss instead of our taxes doing it. Perhaps it is a legit use of hunting excise taxes.

And yes, if there is a healthy population, there should be hunting.

There is just something basically wrong with taking an apex predator out of the loop. I'd bet in my area the sheep loss would remain the same based on the diminishing of the coyote horde. Something needs to come cull the sick and weak of the deer world, plenty of them here. Instead we sneak around each fall looking for the best genetic specimen and then we kill it.

[brimic]

Nope.
They've (along with other WDNR f-ups) pretty much decimated the deer herds in areas of Northern WI, plus people up there have to constantly worry when they let their dogs out.
It'll only be a matter of time before bounties will be placed on them again.  As far as Apex predators go, we have a lot of bears and cougar, and neither of these species draw complaints or cause any problems.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/deer/fall_abund.htm
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/deer/bux_per_DR.htm
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/deer/fall_deer_per_DR.htm
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/45717587.html

not too bad deer numbers

[Waitone]

Since we're considering stupid actions, let's reintroduce the grizzly bear in spots in the west.  Yeah, that's the ticket.  If you're doing stupid, go full Monty stupid.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CDUQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bearbiology.com%2Fiba%2Fabout0%2Fletts%2Flet02.html&rct=j&q=reintroduce%20grizzly%20bears&ei=NyURTYbRFMP_lges5_H9Bw&usg=AFQjCNEi6c9JmEc23ckNLn4_yD5NI9BsMg&sig2=QiuIvTe9aTtrzCNjHYgztQ&cad=rja

Don't be put off on the date.  It takes time for stupidity to grow, but it grows.

[Scout26]

OhdearG-d,

It was hi-lar-ious to watch the enviro-weenies around here go nuts when 'yotes moved into the neighborhoods.  When they started cruising across the school playgrounds and began to pick off dogs, cats and other small animals RIGHT OUTSIDE THEIR WINDOWS, something needed to be done.  The E-W's got their knickers twisted a bit more when the city started trapping the 'yotes.  (I wanted to trap the enviro-weenies as well, but the council refused to consider my idea).

Turns out that 3 out every 4 coytoes they trapped had the mange pretty bad.  

We've already had 3 wolves taken here in northern Illinois, so they're spreading out and on their way here.

http://www.prairiestateoutdoors.com/index.php?/pso/article/three_wolves_in_illinois_in_2010/

[MechAg94]

I would like to see them come back. I know, and know why most of the western states are opposed. The big issue is that someone will have to pay for depredation losses and we're it, maybe the wolves need a national paypal account where people who love cute furry animals can donate to pay for livestock loss instead of our taxes doing it. Perhaps it is a legit use of hunting excise taxes.

And yes, if there is a healthy population, there should be hunting.

There is just something basically wrong with taking an apex predator out of the loop. I'd bet in my area the sheep loss would remain the same based on the diminishing of the coyote horde. Something needs to come cull the sick and weak of the deer world, plenty of them here. Instead we sneak around each fall looking for the best genetic specimen and then we kill it.

My home county is one that has rules for hunting whitetail bucks.  You can only kill them if they have a spread of horns of about 12 inches or so.  I could be wrong on the number.  I'm told is basically well outside the ears.  There is an exception if the horns are damaged.  It has been in effect for at least 5 years or so and I am told it has helped the population a lot. 

[AJ Dual]

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/deer/fall_abund.htm
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/deer/bux_per_DR.htm
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/deer/fall_deer_per_DR.htm
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/45717587.html

not too bad deer numbers

The problem is probably that the deer are all living in suburban areas and posted land where they can't be hunted.

I suppose that's where the wolves in WI will eventually wind up too.

[sumpnz]

I would like to see them come back. I know, and know why most of the western states are opposed. The big issue is that someone will have to pay for depredation losses and we're it, maybe the wolves need a national paypal account where people who love cute furry animals can donate to pay for livestock loss instead of our taxes doing it. Perhaps it is a legit use of hunting excise taxes.

And yes, if there is a healthy population, there should be hunting.

There is just something basically wrong with taking an apex predator out of the loop. I'd bet in my area the sheep loss would remain the same based on the diminishing of the coyote horde. Something needs to come cull the sick and weak of the deer world, plenty of them here. Instead we sneak around each fall looking for the best genetic specimen and then we kill it.

In some areas you have to kill a doe before you can get a buck tag.  In others there's a a large doe limit (or no limit at all), with a fairly small buck limit.  At least as of 2004 or so, Maryland had a limit of 10 does and 2 bucks.  Archers could take unlimited does.  Then theres place like WA where there's often minimum antler point restrictions, or even maximum (e.g. general elk season in the eastern half of WA is spike bulls only).  And around here most guys won't hold out for the big boys.  They'll take the first legal one that volunteers for a Darwin Award (so in "any buck" areas you get lots of spikes and fork horns taken, and the bucks with huge racks survive to breed.  

[French G.]

My home county is one that has rules for hunting whitetail bucks.  You can only kill them if they have a spread of horns of about 12 inches or so.  I could be wrong on the number.  I'm told is basically well outside the ears.  There is an exception if the horns are damaged.  It has been in effect for at least 5 years or so and I am told it has helped the population a lot. 

That saves little bambi venison spike(my favorite) but does nothing to stop the cull of what are the best specimens.

Sumpnz, I'm aware of "earn a buck" as they call it here. Underutilized here it seems. My county is covered up in coyotes and hunters yet the deer still run amok. I had 14 running on my land last year, only 3 regulars this year due to the hard winter but many more pass through.

[Tallpine]

In my district it is either sex, either species (muley or whitetail).

I always look for a doe or a small buck for good eating, and leave the trophies for others or to grow another year.

This year I shot a "doe" only to discover that it was actually a very small buck.

[Ron]

Letting wolves, bears and mountain lions repopulate in their original habitats might work toward a more favorable public opinion of the freedom to carry a gun.

If a walk in the woods actually could be life threatening then having a gun makes sense.

I had a cool little fox living in my neighborhood. Watched it catch a hare and snapped some pics.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

ever want to see how fast a guy can get your car up on a flatbed at 3 am on a dark gravel road in the woods?  just stand there scanning the woods with your flashlight and when he askes what you are looking for tell him "the blackbear i saw here last night. "  new jersey kid had to set a new personal record and i though he was gonna freak out when i told him where to take the car and that i was gonna wait for someone who was enroute to pick me up. his eyes real big "your gonna wait out here in the dark?!alone?!"  i thought about teasing him with  not alone  all kinds of critters out here.  in all honesty i worry way more about that brindle pit that runs loose than the bear. was kinda hoping the bear would eat that dog some nite

[Scout26]

Ron,

That is one of the coolest pictures I seen.  Very Nice !!!

[brimic]

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/deer/fall_abund.htm
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/deer/bux_per_DR.htm
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/deer/fall_deer_per_DR.htm
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/45717587.html

not too bad deer numbers

If you look at the maps, I hunt in management area 41. This management area has for decades has had the largest deer populations and higher deer kill totals than any any other management unit in the state. The surrounding units have also had similar kinds of hunting opportunities. Over the last 5 years or so, the deer populations in this area of the state have been absolutely decimated. Bears have always been there in large numbers, there are some cougars, I've seen one and have seen tracks. Wolves have only shown up within the last few years.  I checked in with a deer registration station near where I hunt on the tuesday after the opening weekend. Usually there are registration numbers in the mid 200s by the end of the first weekend at this site, there were 48 this year when I checked in. last year it was in the low 100s, but we had better weather last year.
I also have a tough time swallowing any data put out by the DNR as well. They make wild claims, overcount deer by the millions, insist that there are only a few wolf packs in the state and that they don't exist in places where hunters have seen their activity, and have up until recently have denied the existance of cougars in the state, despite a myriad of sightings, photos caught on trail cams, and other evidence.
They have been bungling herd management and population counts for years now- a lot of it has to do with the level of power the governor wields in our state over the DNR, and we currently have the most anti-hunting and anti--gun governor in our state's history.

[brimic]

ever want to see how fast a guy can get your car up on a flatbed at 3 am on a dark gravel road in the woods?  just stand there scanning the woods with your flashlight and when he askes what you are looking for tell him "the blackbear i saw here last night. "  new jersey kid had to set a new personal record and i though he was gonna freak out when i told him where to take the car and that i was gonna wait for someone who was enroute to pick me up. his eyes real big "your gonna wait out here in the dark?!alone?!"  i thought about teasing him with  not alone  all kinds of critters out here.  in all honesty i worry way more about that brindle pit that runs loose than the bear. was kinda hoping the bear would eat that dog some nite

hehe. The only time I've been nervous about bear was about 10 years ago when I took a week off to go bowhunting alone in N. WI and arrowed a deer at dusk. I went out out 2 hours later to track it and found it. I kept my head on a serious swivel while dressing it and dragging it out- I felt seriously undergunned carrying only a 9mm(not sure if it was even legal to carry, but no way was I going out there completely unarmed  )     Other than that, bears pretty much leave you alone so long as no cubs are involved.

[stevelyn]

Letting wolves, bears and mountain lions repopulate in their original habitats might work toward a more favorable public opinion of the freedom to carry a gun.

No it wouldn't because they don't care.

No one seems to asking WHY they want to reintroduce predators to ranges where they have been gone for generations.

[Racehorse]

So why do you think they are re-introducing them?

[Tallpine]

Well, it seems to me that they are trying to drive the ranching and rural folk off the land 

It's no secret that there are those who want to turn the western half of the US into essentially one gigantic national park.

[Racehorse]

I think that might be giving them too much credit. I think it's more along the lines of, "Ooh, wolves are pwetty. Wet's put da pwetty wolves evewywhere so we can snuggle with them whenever we want!"

But really, I think you're probably right. It's the whole people are bad animals are good thing. Let's restore nature to its original pristine condition regardless of how it affects humans.

Stevelyn makes it sound more sinister, though, so I'm curious as to what he thinks.

[MicroBalrog]

There's a reason wolves died out in these areas in the first place.

[Antibubba]

I wonder if introducing wolves to DC would drive out the jackals?

[TommyGunn]

I wonder if introducing wolves to DC would drive out the jackals?

As long as they get the rats afterwards, that'd be fine with me!