wolves

[BigSky56]

Checking out a new elk hunting area five minute ride up a gated road found a wolf den, should of turned around. danny

Headed up anyway

On top 7 mile ride not one fresh elk track its been raining every other day for the last week, some moose but they had come in over the top and back out. Had lunch and glassed for a half hour nothing



Got back down gave slim some oats and loaded up, the whole drainage was empty rode a 12mile loop and only found 4 or 5 sets of deer tracks in the bottom by the crick

[Old Time Hunter]

Thanks for the pics, BigSky

[don Tomás]

Great pics, thanks!
Tom

[kimwcook]

Thanks for the pic's. Beautiful country. It just kills me. All I have is high desert sagebrush and cheat grass.

[deerwhacker444]

Wow...From somebody who's never hunted the mountains, I would have thought that place would be crawling with elk....! What happened, where they all go..?

Great pics.

[jkbrea]

It was bad in NW Wyoming also. We hunted everyday for two weeks and nothing. No bugling either. An outfitter told me it was his worst season in 25 years. I was told since they had a wet winter, there is plenty of water and grass in the high country and parks so they ain't moving. It was also up into the 80's every day. I suppose a good storm will get them moving.
I'm trying again in Nov/Dec. By the way, it was still a great time, beautiful country and good company.

[brucew44guns]

From the looks of those many clearcuts there ought to be ample feed for them, so they got to be filling their gut someplace else that's just as good or better. Some nice cold weather might get some action happening in there soon.

[JReed]

I would bet the wolves are playing a part in it. Why go some where there is that kind of hazard when you can eat where there are more freindly neighbors.

[AJMD429]

This question likely reflects my total ignorance of anything to do with horses, but...
What is the thing in the scabbard on the left side of your horse? Looks like a saw.

[BigSky56]

AJMD429, Its a 2' pack saw great for clearing out trails and cutting firewood. danny

[1886]

Beautiful country! 1886.

[20cows]

Sorry you didn't find what you were looking for, but it WAS a day in the saddle.

That ain't a waste of time in my book!

[Borregos]

That is beautiful country!!

[2ndovc]

Sorry you didn't find what you were looking for, but it WAS a day in the saddle.

That ain't a waste of time in my book!

Exactly!

jb

[rjohns94]

beautiful country, beautiful horse and rig. My mule and I are working up the miles riding now that his hooves have gotten better. But we don't have country like that to ride our our back door.

[Old Ironsights]

Cool den. You going back for pups later?

[SmokeEater2]

Thanks for posting more great pics Bigsky. Beautiful country as always and Slim's a fine looking horse.

[Mike D.]

That is some beautiful country and not unlike the Sierra where I live. Elk calves are a staple in wolves diet. When a large pack moves in, the elk move out. Been going on forever. If it was me, that den would be dealt with and any wolf would be target practice. Treat them the same as coyotes are. Wolves are breeding and expanding their range in the US at a rapid pace, and their numbers need to be reduced before it is too late for the game animals and livestock that they prey upon.

[Nath]

Thanks for sharing, some areas look like Scotland!
Thing may be different come some cold.

Nath.

[BigSky56]

Any ride on a horse is a good day Ive got so many areas to ride I just wish I would of picked one that was holding elk. Wolves are getting rear end deep around here and its starting to take its toll on the game not to mention the livestock. I lost 3 calves a few years back and that tends to rub you wrong. Some of the old boys around here deal with them when they find them. danny
A wildlife expert told me that predators that bother you are missing 2 trace mineral elements in their system copper and lead.

[JerryB]

That sounds like the right recipe for a mineral deficiency. It should be given in large doses.

[Paul105]

Danny,

The wolf situation is out of control -- this too is the result the moronic politicians and their incessent meddling in everything. As mentioned in the "Bear Attack" tread, there is anecdotal evidence of a larger number of lion encounters in the last several years in SW Montana. My son's theory is that the out of control wolf population is partly responsible. Competition for food has caused the Mt Lion's to change their hunting habits. Don't know if this is true, but it made sense to me.

Paul

[mescalero1]

Paul,
In my part of New Mexico mountain lions encounters are on the rise as well.
We do not have a wolf population, there is some sort of change happening; I just can not identify it.

[Paul105]

I said "partly responsible", but I really don't know for sure. I'm sure the Wolf promoters would sy that it's not the case. Anyway, like you said it looks as if something has changed. It may not even be statically relevant just a series of random occurences that looks like some pattern.

If I remember correctly (not always a safe bet) it seems that there have been lion problems in and around Glacier Park, off and on, for some time. In the park, this is due to lack of fear because hunting is prohibited. In the SW part of the state, that is not the case. You can buy a lion tag over the counter. In Dec when they are running lions with dogs, you can drive down the main drag and see dead lions lashed over tool boxes in the back of pickups.

Paul

[mescalero1]

I think I am in the random occurences group, I also have the feeling that some sort of enviorenmental deal may be going on.
Those inside of climate change do not always see it because of incrementalism.

[Old Ironsights]

Danny,

The wolf situation is out of control -- this too is the result the moronic politicians and their incessent meddling in everything. As mentioned in the "Bear Attack" tread, there is anecdotal evidence of a larger number of lion encounters in the last several years in SW Montana. My son's theory is that the out of control wolf population is partly responsible. Competition for food has caused the Mt Lion's to change their hunting habits. Don't know if this is true, but it made sense to me.

Paul

No problem IMO...

Carry a big gun or 3.

Let the Critters eat the Hippies. 2 problems solved.

[BigSky56]

Paul, I have seen 2 cats this year middle of the day one was 1/4 mile of the house and the other was 15 feet from me while I was ahorseback checking cows he just sat in a alder clump watching me come his way I didnt have a decent shot at him so I put my heeler on him and he ran never did tree just stayed running If he had treed I would of dumped him about 150 lb tom, hound hunters this last season shot 2 within 1/2 mile of my place 150 lb and a 173 lb saw both of them, big toms. I dont know if there is a link with wolves and cats but with all the wolves around it has to be cutting into the cats food supply. Wolves are out of control up here I can hear them howling 2,3 times a week from the house at night and they have hammered the moose if the state doesnt do something the taxpayers are.danny

[mescalero1]

Yeah,
they are big, last one I saw took the entire width of the road , nose to tail