BigGameHoundsmen.com

I looked right over the top of that doogie, dont know how I missed it. It would be nice to know about any organizations out there that would focus on the wolf issue. I would be in full support of it.

Plotts, no they were not runnung the wolf. The wolf was in the canyon they ran into. When I went in to get the dog, I followed the wolf tracks in from the East Rosebud.

Scott

scott.....it is a worry every time.

I might be fooling myself but for what it is worth(it may not be much) since I live where there has always been wolves it wieghs on the mind so to minimize the possibility it actually becomes more of a matter of keeping tabs on the wolfs more so than even cougar.....I cannot run deep dogs if unsure of where the wolves are.

It is possible to keep tabs on the wolves you can pattern them and they are somewhat predictable however if they decide to camp in drainage they can stay for months and it is best just to avoid it till they leave........

I have noticed coyotes will move alot after the wolves go on to greener pastures.

If in doubt leash up and walk the track till the jump keeping the race short.

horshur - thanks for the advice and ideas. I can't sentence my other hounds to death on the end of a chain so I was looking for ways to get them out more safely. I do usually try to keep tabs on what the coyotes are doing.....If there aren't any coyote tracks around, I get awfully nervous.

In reality, I may use the paterning of the wolves for more than just where I can turn the dogs out at

Scott

I have just been getting a lot of their stuff forwarded to me. I can't have any part of mis-management of lions. When I catch my tail, I will talk to this Toby guy and see if he thinks dogmen are a good asset to his cause.

Sheimer did you have a bells on your hounds? I always have bells on mine don't know if it helps. I don't know but I personnally believe wolves don't typically hunt down dogs and most killings probably happen when the dogs actually run into the wolves. My property borders forest service on 2 sides and we have a local pack that occasionally comes within several hundred yards of my house. Several years back one actually came within 30 yards of one of my dog houses (at night of course). Needless to say the following week I built a kennel. I also try to keep track of where the wolves are hanging out at but a lot of times its hard to tell. Also after turning loose I try to stay as close as possible to the hounds at all times. I also try to run as many hounds on a track as I think the track can handle my theory is wolves associate a lot of barking with humans. I haven't lost a hound yet to wolves however I figure its just a matter of time.

I always had bells on my hounds. I figure it is a safer bet. Might not work 100 percent of the time, but there is a reason the sheepmen have been using them for centuries on their sheep. It is an inexpensive way to help protect an irreplaceable hound.

Sorry to hear about your dog Scott, ya might want to do some varmint calling in the area Mike

Wolves will hunt down a dog!! A territory thing I have been told. A barking dog will have them come looking for it. I have seen this myself. Luckily that day we were in a heavily roaded area. Seen the tracks in time to get the dogs out of there. They did come withing 75yds of were my daughter was sitting with the last dog. IT was either her presence with a sled, or the sound of my 3/4 ton suburban coming down the road pedal to the metal! Very scary knowing that not only are they headed for your dogs, but your daughter!!!

Bells will work for a time. Yet it seems that like all things they get used to them. Learning what they mean. So it becomes like ringing the dinner bell. I feel that if a dog is not wearing them they at least have a chance to sneak out of the woods.

We try hard to avoid them. In the winter with snow it is easier, but can't see every spot they could come into a section. In the summer it is almost impossible to know.

In WI the wolves have gotten bad about killing dogs. Perhaps due to the fact we cross paths a lot. Very hard to avoid them anymore. I feel for you folks out west. Where the sections are real big with no woods. Also very little info on where all the wolves may be. It's a scary thing where ever you live and have to deal with them. Once a pack starts killing dogs, it will continue to happen.

Thanks for all the condolences and tips. I wasn't running bells on the dogs because I figured that the wolves have no fear of humans or our sounds. I went and got some the other day and will run them from now on though. I heard through the grapevine that the wolves may have earned a little respect for humans. I figure that the bells won't hurt anything either.

The local paper got wind of this incident from the weekly report from the state wolf program and ran an article in this mornings paper. The writer tried to get a hold of me last night, but had left the office before I got home and got his message. I think he did a fair job of letting the public know what happened. There were a few errors, but nothing major. Here is the link to the article: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-a ... 03286.html

If you want to get a laugh or get really pissed, read the comment section.


Scott

Montana's FWP public relation spoke's man Ron Ashuim did a little blub on our logal new's tonight. But like alway's it was spunn in a way that the wolf has some sort of right to kill what ever it want's. It was repoted that wolf have killed 40 hound's in Montana to date

Our forefather's eradicated one predator the freaken wolf. Why because they are nothing more then blood thirsty killers. They kill for fun! The untimate predator man need's to start killing wolf's for fun again

Rookie was that 40 number the number killed in the last year, or total on official record?? In WI there are over 20 official ones every year. The actual number is at least twice that.

I think that is total of dog's killed on record to date

I read the article and answered my own question. It said that it was 40 since 1990. Seems strange that the number of dogs killed in WI is far higher in the western states. Wi numbers in last 6 years are more than the combined number that it shows for MT,ID, and WY.

Reading that article it was the first time I had heard of wolves being more prone to attack in the mating season. Would seem likely though.

Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't wolves monogomous? There is only one mating pair in a pack right? The alpha male and female. Therefore what was said about going out and looking for other females is not true for mating purposes. Nor would they nec. be more agresive during the that time of year as there isn't really any competition.

I have always heard that they are most agressive when pups are around. Thus why Wisconsin has such a higher rate than out west. Wisconsin's hunting season is right after the rearing of the pups, rendevous areas. MT and WY don't have a bear season so the wolves are not as hyped up in the defense/protect mode. Plus it is winter and they are spending more energy concentrated on finding food and eating.