Wolves in Wisconsin

[RockyMountainKangal]

Does anybody know anyone planning to hunt wolves in Wisconsin this year?? From what I know they are the only state that will allow hunting with dogs... up to 6 dogs.
What kind of dogs would be used?

Sounds like an expensive hunt IMHO...

[Nolte]

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/wolf/

[RockyMountainKangal]

Thanks for the link...
Glad to see they are still pushing for the use of dogs. We need to have all the tools possible... even then the wolves will still flurish.
I wish Wisconsin would raise the limit of 6 dogs to, lets say 60
But really, you'd have to make sure there was only 1 wolf for sure if you only had 6 dogs...
I have had my hands on a 84lb female grey... six hounds would have their hands full... not looking good if there was more than 1 wolf...

I dont have hounds. But when Im lucky I can fid a guy with dogs in town to come out and hunt our cats.(we are pretty infested w lions) The only times Ive seen hounds in the snow it wasnt that deep...
How do hounds do in deep snow compared to the grey?

[Nolte]

You have it pretty much figured out. To use dogs, you'd have to section it off and find 1 wolf going in and none coming out, then put down on him. I think that you could do ok with a 2 to 1 ratio if you had pretty tough dogs (ie dogs that are used to baying rough bear). At an even up or disadvantage, the dogs are going to lose.

The hounds would do about equal as a wolf in snow. Maybe a bit less if they are shorter, but the wolf is going to be breaking trail in fresh snow. Then again, we rarely get that much snow to even have to worry about it here.

Your comment about being "infested" with lions seems a bit odd to me knowing guys who hunt lions all over MT. None who I have talked to have ever indicated situatins where lions are anywhere and everywhere. In fact it's just the opposite with lots of miles to cut tracks. I'm sure it can be like that if you've got a female/subs with a Tom trailing her, but you can about bet that it will be short lived. From my experience a couple/three lions can make a whole bunch of tracks in an area and you'll think you've found the motherload. In reality they've just spent a bunch of time there and moved all over that country between snows. You get a clearer picture after a fresh snow. The only places I hear about a surplus of lions is where you either can't hunt them by law or it's off limits because of private property. If guys can hunt them, they are going to get some of them. Just my thoughts. Thanks for the discussion on wolves. We sure need to thin them down wherever they are.

[RockyMountainKangal]

I have private property... there was 1 lion taken last year by my friend and 1 that was poached... the houndsmen let loose on public land and the dogs followed the cat onto our place... needless to say we didnt press charges... there are ZERO cow elk tags in our district... there should be about 200 cow tags... thats objective...but the land could actually hold double or triple that many elk.
It snowed the day after the last cat was killed... that day I cut at least 2 different lion tracks... 1 male and one female/small male.... there was another small cat track on the other side of the ranch that day too... im pretty confident I cut 3 different cat tracks that day...

Its hard to get guys to come hunt cats anymore with our wolf problem. And even then they dont like to let them loose.

A guy contacted me last month about buying one of my pups this fall to run with his hounds. I believe if you raised it with the hounds he would follow and fight with them... they are bred for killing wolves and even hunting wolves in their homeland... altough not grey wolves....

I would love to try it myself but we cant use dogs to hunt wolves here...
My dogs have faced off with a lone wolf 2 or 3 times that I know for sure... everytime the wolf has decided my cattle werent worth it

[Nolte]

Kangal,

Your situation makes more sense to me now. Hound guys don't like to mix it up with wolves if they can help it. It is just too risky. It is the same thing here. Some areas that used to be fantastic dog hunting are basically off limits unless you have a trophy critter and want to roll the dice.

The guy who wants to get a pup might have the right idea but it is a problem that he shouldn't have to deal with in the first place. It might turn out to blow up too, hard to say. You must have some refuge areas for those cats to get away from the wolves. From what I've read, they don't place nice together and wolves will take over a lion kill if they find it. Wolves won't put themselves in a situation that puts them at a disadvatage, but will take full advantage if the odds are in their favor. Their survival depends on them having the upper hand. As much as I hate them, they are pretty remarkeable. Just wish there weren't so many around screwing up all the fun stuff a guy can do.

[RockyMountainKangal]

We have a hay field in the middle of nowhere.... so its a buffet for the deer and elk.... which brings the bears,cats and wolves in record numbers... Yes I left out coyotes because the wolves have eaten most of them... This is a pic of that 84lb female that the Lobo Bandito shot on the ranch this winter...
I think because there is lots of prey we have lots of predators... and they would rather eat then fight eachother... Once the prey starts to disappear(almost there) the predators will thin eachother out a little... Like they are down lower in the bitteroot... heres some interesting reading on Lions down there killing wolves.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/3 ... ons-Wolves

[RockyMountainKangal]

If ya'll Wisconsin people know anyone interested I have some seriously large dogs in my bloodline... I would love to place some pups with people who would be able to put them to work. Maybe save a few hounds and thin out the wolves some in the process. Or also if anyone wants to try running a big dog with their hounds for protection while Lion/bear hunting like the guy wants to in Eastern Montana. Here is some of my Bloodlines.

[mondomuttruner]

Wow...instead of cups of dog food a guy would have to figure gallons..
I sure would like to see one of those dogs up against a woof...

[Steve White]

HOLY SMOKES!!! A pack of them and no wolf would stand a chance!! I would take one, but dont know if I could afford the feed. I already push my luck to the limit with the wife. One of those might put it over the top. Or at least I would have to do more of the feeding,etc!

You, and Nolte have it pretty much nailed down on hunting them with dogs. A lot of talk by folks of doing it. Really don't think I will be willing to take the chance on it. Maybe in the right areas with the right guys. It's hard enough with yotes at times. A lot of big sections with no road acesss.

[RockyMountainKangal]

They do like to eat
Giant dogs eat more than hounds but less per lb so its not as bad as you'd think.
most my pack eats 8~10cups a day...
they have HUGE webbed paws like wolves... run great in deep snow, endurance(you wouldnt believe me) and fight like a pit crossed with a cougar.

If you want to see them run check out my website... CAN I POST MY LINK???

My young male hits 30mph in the video... but he has been clocked at 36~37mph...
He is "small" for the breed(30" 150lbs )... the large males(34"~38" 160~225lbs)will hit 40~45mph...

[RockyMountainKangal]

Looked in the rulesand I thinks its ok to post my site link...
RockyMountainKangal.com

Good clip at the end of a Boz running

[Steve White]

Wow again! Them things eat as much as 4-5 of my plotts in the off season. Should the pics, and your site to my wife. I was surprised when she did not say NO!! I got an I will have to think about it, not until after bear season. Not that is would matter much. Never really ask permission for anything. Just make her think she is involved.

I bet a 6 pack of them would take a bunch of wolves. Problem is if a season goes through. There is not going to be many tags, and it will be a draw as well.

[RockyMountainKangal]

Steve,

Dont you guys have like 850wolves?? And thats verified wolves Im pretty sure... the real number is probably double maybe triple that...
Ive read that half the tags go to Tribal... will the Chippewa hunt wolves or harbour them?
Also I read that the F&G over there is alloting tags based on a projected 20% hunter success ratio... I can tell you that here in Montana(2011) we only reached 75% of our quota and had unlimited tags. Allowing the population to rise again..When I asked what our success ratio was they didnt know for sure but said there was more than 18,000 tags sold... and we had taken 166 wolves at the close of the season... so our success ratio was less than 1%!!!!
I would expect this season to be a joke for you like ours was... all the libs crying, protesting and sueing because all the wolves will be killed and then at the end of the year the population still GROWS!
I hope your state F&G gets a clue and fast....
And that your wife realizes that she wants a big dog...

[Steve White]

Most of that sounds about right. Like I said in the other thread it is horse apples!!! I told folks when the process first started, and even a friend last night. That this would be nothing more than a token feel good season. Just to make some think something is being done. The proposed harvest quota won't even cover the pup production. That is if the quota was met. We all know that will never happen!! It's disappointing to say the least. The Chippewa for the most part will still protect them. I'm sure a few might hunt them, but not many.

You can find all the proposed wolf season stuff by going to the WI DNR website. Type wolf into the search box. Everything will be at the top of the page.