Wolf lottery results are available

[grousemaster]

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem hunting. But I do think trapping is a little cruel. I used to trap squirrels in a humane trap and that even made me feel bad. I would rather be shot, then be held in a trap for a while and then have someone come up and shoot me. For this post, I better equip my flame suit.

Two years ago I came across a martin that was in a snare. The thing was frozen solid and it's leg had been chewed to ****. Made me wonder why the "sportsman" never came to claim his prize. Made me wonder how long it took the animal to freeze to death also. I would have taken it and skinned it out, but I was about 6 miles from the truck and didn't feel like hauling it out.

[JJ]

I applied and wasn't pulled. Appllied for second season, as I had no desire to compete with deer hunters.

As for tactics, i had two planned. Plan A would be to call them very much like yote hunting. Put on a fawn in distress call and wait it out.

Plan B would be to contact property owners with cattle that had issues with wolves. i know a couple different cattle farmers in wolf range, and while the ones I know have not had wolf problems themselves, they know others that have. Find a farmer with problem pack, and call and wait.

[smurfman]

Thanks for the details Smurfman, that's exactly what I was hoping for as I have NO CLUE how to hunt wolves.

In fact, if the legends are true, there should be no dogs running around wolf country as the wolves would have eliminated them posthaste. So, the catching of dogs in wolf sets should be a non-factor.

I do take issue with this part though (although I won't go as far as calling your comments ignorant). Wolves live in the north woods. Ruffed grouse are the most hunted bird in Minnesota. Grouse habitat is Wolf habitat by definition, so thousands of dogs are in wolf country every year. They just are. Bucket sets are indeed the most dangerous for hunting dogs, I know a guy that lost a nice little setter to a bucket set last year. Beeper was going off like the dog was on point, she wasn't on point.

You missed the phrase "if legends are true" and the tongue in cheek nature it was meant. Ignorant means lacking in knowledge or information, in this case of a particular subject i.e. trapping which you greatly allude to in your posts. I don't think of you as being an ignorant person, just ignorant on the subject of trapping. It is a common one as so few practice that hobby these days and what little information is put out there is greatly skewed by those reporting. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[grousemaster]

Thanks for the details Smurfman, that's exactly what I was hoping for as I have NO CLUE how to hunt wolves.

In fact, if the legends are true, there should be no dogs running around wolf country as the wolves would have eliminated them posthaste. So, the catching of dogs in wolf sets should be a non-factor.

I do take issue with this part though (although I won't go as far as calling your comments ignorant). Wolves live in the north woods. Ruffed grouse are the most hunted bird in Minnesota. Grouse habitat is Wolf habitat by definition, so thousands of dogs are in wolf country every year. They just are. Bucket sets are indeed the most dangerous for hunting dogs, I know a guy that lost a nice little setter to a bucket set last year. Beeper was going off like the dog was on point, she wasn't on point.

You missed the phrase "if legends are true" and the tongue in cheek nature it was meant. Ignorant means lacking in knowledge or information, in this case of a particular subject i.e. trapping which you greatly allude to in your posts. I don't think of you as being an ignorant person, just ignorant on the subject of trapping. It is a common one as so few practice that hobby these days and what little information is put out there is greatly skewed by those reporting. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

No offense taken. I hope your fall is a successful and enjoyable one.

[smurfman]

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem hunting. But I do think trapping is a little cruel. I used to trap squirrels in a humane trap and that even made me feel bad. I would rather be shot, then be held in a trap for a while and then have someone come up and shoot me. For this post, I better equip my flame suit.

Two years ago I came across a martin that was in a snare. The thing was frozen solid and it's leg had been chewed to ****. Made me wonder why the "sportsman" never came to claim his prize. Made me wonder how long it took the animal to freeze to death also. I would have taken it and skinned it out, but I was about 6 miles from the truck and didn't feel like hauling it out.

It would also have been illegal unless you had a trapping license too. Seems silly but them's the rules. There are slobs in all facets of life, trapping and hunting are no exceptions. Depending on the year, that may have easily been a Franklin that got thrown away so I would highly question the trap was left intentionally. One does not through that kind of money away haphazardly, especially if a local.

It could have been that the trapper was unable to return to his line for some reason. With the average age of trappers being even greater than that of the general hunting population it is not an impossibility that health reasons kept the person from returning to their line. having someone else pull or tend to the traps could be difficult as the other person would not know the exact places the traps were set. An experienced eye could spot most of them if given pretty clear directions but an occasional one would fall through. If the trapper died, then it would be too bad for many critters. Not saying this is the case but having come from a trapping family, I have seen or heard of such happenings.

[grousemaster]

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem hunting. But I do think trapping is a little cruel. I used to trap squirrels in a humane trap and that even made me feel bad. I would rather be shot, then be held in a trap for a while and then have someone come up and shoot me. For this post, I better equip my flame suit.

Two years ago I came across a martin that was in a snare. The thing was frozen solid and it's leg had been chewed to ****. Made me wonder why the "sportsman" never came to claim his prize. Made me wonder how long it took the animal to freeze to death also. I would have taken it and skinned it out, but I was about 6 miles from the truck and didn't feel like hauling it out.

It would also have been illegal unless you had a trapping license too. Seems silly but them's the rules. There are slobs in all facets of life, trapping and hunting are no exceptions. Depending on the year, that may have easily been a Franklin that got thrown away so I would highly question the trap was left intentionally. One does not through that kind of money away haphazardly, especially if a local.

It could have been that the trapper was unable to return to his line for some reason. With the average age of trappers being even greater than that of the general hunting population it is not an impossibility that health reasons kept the person from returning to their line. having someone else pull or tend to the traps could be difficult as the other person would not know the exact places the traps were set. An experienced eye could spot most of them if given pretty clear directions but an occasional one would fall through. If the trapper died, then it would be too bad for many critters. Not saying this is the case but having come from a trapping family, I have seen or heard of such happenings.

The trap was set directly outside of the critters den, less than two feet off a logging tote road. Anyone even cruising by on a four wheeler would have spotted it. Maybe it hadn't been there as long as I thought it had.

[sgruenhagen44]

Either way, a bullet to the boiler room is more humane.

[MnHornet]

I got a wolf permit. Still not sure what the regs will be. I'm sort of wondering if we'll be able to call at night, during deer season.

[smurfman]

Hunting hours for wolves are the same as for big game, 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. Wearing of blaze orange is also required whenever there is a firearms deer season in progress, either regular firearms or muzzleloading.
The regulations have been out since the middle of August that I know of and should be on the DNR website. I do know what one must do with the hide and carcass for registration had changed between the first printing of rules in early August and a second printing in late August. It is a lot more involved than what is done with deer, bear, or even fisher and martin. Read the instructions carefully as it did require removal of the hide from the carcass prior to or at the time of registering. It was still very much up in the air when I learned of the second change, it was confusing to the person explaining it to me and he was involved in the process and is supposed to teach it to other involved staff. It may have changed once again as many were not happy with the rules and the probability of mistakes by hunters. It would also be good to talk to your taxidermist or at least a taxidermist close to where you are hunting for additional help if you wish to keep the hide.
I'm almost glad I did not draw a tag this time as the rules are confusing enough and I wouldn't want to be a test case in the event of a misunderstanding.

[stottingmuley]

Smurfman, your reply was excellent. Thank you for the info. I was planning on doing a calling set like I would for coyotes, but including wolf howling. There doesn't seem to be much info. online about hunting wolves, so if I could pick your brain I would appreciate it. Or if you have a lead on any material to go over it would be awesome. I'm very excited to hunt howlies, I just hope I will be able to get a shot.

[splithand]

Latest version of regulations implies live bait may be used as long as one does not violate "cruelity to animals" statutes. I'm thinking a humanely staked out lamb or goat. Shoot the wolf, harvest the pelt and roast the bait.........Tasty!!!

[smurfman]

Baiting is allowed but it is much more effective for trapping than for hunting. Wolves are very cautious moving in on food they did not kill, they realize something killed it and may not take kindly to others stealing it. As the wolves are the top predators, any "free" meals are looked at very warily. Best success is when traps are set along the travel routes away from the bait site. Get 30+ yards from the bait and one will find the wolves a bit less observant.
That is the problem with many trap sets, they are too close to the bait source where the wolves are very observant and often spot the sets. Get out away from the bait and the wolves are too busy looking at the bait and not their immediate surroundings. Setting up a bait site in thick cover is best, it gives plenty of spots to set snares and it gives the wolves some degree of safety as they approach. Dense cover also cuts down on the amount of bait lost to crows, ravens, and whatever eagles and hawks which stick around. That can be quite a bit in some areas.

For gun hunting over bait, setting up in heavy cover is also important so the wolves will approach during daylight. That makes it tough hunting as wolves are pretty observant and can spot someone in a tree as easily as on the ground. I'm guessing but I think baiting would be a tough way to go. Either the odds are even further on the wolf's side or one is going to be taking a pretty long shot when the wolves finally decide to hit the bait. Either way, it will be cold waits during the later season.

[smurfman]

Looked at the Outdoor News this morning and saw a picture in the "yesteryear" which took me by surprise as it was of relatives of mine. They aren't real close but I did know them growing up. I forgot to look to see who sent the picture in, I'll have to go back to see and then call them for a copy of the picture as it is one I don't have.

[gearguy10]

This is a bit off topic, but I caution anyone who ends up shooting a wolf from bragging about it on the internet or to the media. The first poor sucker to tag one and start putting his picture out there is going to get roasted in the media. With social networking and the internet as it is these days the antis are going to hang that person out to dry post-haste. They're going to be like a lottery winner all excited one minute and hating life the next when no one will leave them alone. Just my opinion...

[plblark]

http://www.twincities.com/outdoors/ci_2 ... source=rss

Hunters will have another chance if they didn't win a lottery for Minnesota's early season wolf hunting licenses.

More than 600 wolf hunting licenses go on sale next week after going unsold to winners of a lottery.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources officials say 2,985 lottery winners purchased wolf licenses by the midnight Wednesday deadline.

The remaining 615 will go on sale at noon Monday for people who applied for this fall's lottery but were not selected. If any wolf hunt licenses are left after that, they'll be made available to the public on Nov. 1.