Wolf Success

riverrat · Dec 22, 2015

Well I was fortunate enough to get another wolf this past weekend. This one was probably about a 80 pound female. My hunting buddy and I have been hard at it and this day was no exception, we went out at 3:00 am riding snowmobiles trying to cut tracks and get them to howl. We got them howling about 4am and messed with them till daylight. Once daylight came he spotted them and then we went about putting a sneak on them. First shot was 432yards then all heck broke loose. As far as we could tell there was 4 in the pack and I believe I only hit the one that I found. This is #5 in two years with a rifle for me and my buddy has 2. We do our fair share but now we are both certified trappers so hopefully our success goes up. I sure hope everyone can get out and get after these soon.
Good luck

idabigbuck · Dec 23, 2015

Nice job Riverrat! Should make a nice pelt and save a few elk in the process!

coues52 · Dec 23, 2015

1+..I want one badly..going to make a great rug

4KnHorns · Dec 23, 2015

That's awesome!

My son and I are planning an Idaho deer hunt next year and we are hoping to head out and learn a few areas maybe spring time. We would love to help with the wolf problem as well. Got any tips on where to find them, best time to go, etc? We don't have snowmobiles but we have quads.

Thanks,
Kevin

BradA · Dec 23, 2015

I heard that you can buy wolf tags over the counter in Idaho don't know how true that is but if I can I will be doing that if I go to Idaho hunting this next year. Congrats have to post some pics of the pelt when your done with it .

rmanwill · Dec 23, 2015

Awesome riverrat. You must have it down. Great success. High on my bucket list.

riverrat · Dec 23, 2015

Thanks for the comments guys. Like I have said on here before the wolf is by far the hardest animal to hunt and be successful at that I have ever been after. A person can just get lucky by stumbling into them but to get real good at it you have to do a lot of leg work. First off I say find the elk or deer and the wolves will either be close or be close in the next 7-14 days. They make loops covering vast country and seem to do this fairly consistent. I have found that if I see a set of fresh tracks in an area to really pay attention how they are traveling because it's too late for this loop, I need to get ahead of them for the next time they come in there. I also find that if I go out in the middle of the night and listen or try voice howling this is pretty effective, get them located and either get in front of them or make a sneak on them like I did this past weekend. I personally have never had luck with electronic calls but maybe they work for some. Boats, Utv's, snowmobiles and most important some good boots and a good rifle are what I use to chase them. Since 2005 I have seen 54 wolves and been pretty successful with a good number of them. I just hope I can continue to be successful because our deer and elk need our help. Sorry about the poor writing abilities and rambling. Good luck.

4KnHorns · Dec 23, 2015

Well, being a nonresident I guess it would just be luck then. Sounds like you really have to study these guys to get to 'em. I think we'll pick up a tag when we come out just in case. Want to do our part.

Good luck sir.
Keep posting picks of your success.
Thanks,
Kevin

WABULLSnBUCKS · Dec 24, 2015

Excellent work!!! Keep helping the herds.

blindsquirrel1 · Dec 25, 2015

Congrats!!

Thanks for all the help in saving elk.

Taking five of the hardest animals to hunt in the States is no small task. No doubt a combination of hard work and a developed skill. My hat is of to you.

I sent you a pm regarding your new trapping adventures.

Thank you for sharing your story, and good luck.

Muleymemories · Dec 25, 2015

Very impressive, congrats man that's a big accomplishment! Keep after it....

BPKHunter · Dec 28, 2015

RRat,

Is deep snow conditions a good time to go?

I noticed where I bird hunt when the snow get's deep the Deer and elk wintering in the area seem to concentrate and so do the wolf tracks. Problem is the last 3-4 years the snow has not been deep there as it's only 4-5k feet of elev.

lang · Dec 29, 2015

Nice job! Sounds like you are putting the time in. Not sure if you know about the Foundation for Wildlife Management, but they are helping a lot of serious wolf hunters. You need to look them up if you haven't already.
foundationforwildlifemanagement.org

blindsquirrel1 · Dec 29, 2015

>Nice job! Sounds like you
>are putting the time in.
> Not sure if you
>know about the Foundation for
>Wildlife Management, but they are
>helping a lot of serious
>wolf hunters. You need
>to look them up if
>you haven't already.
>foundationforwildlifemanagement.org

Lang is right, The Foundation for Wildlife Management Is an Idaho sporting organization Made up of over 700 elk hunters that are promoting and preserving ungulate populations by increasing effective predator management.

Please join us in the battle.
f4wm.org

riverrat · Dec 29, 2015

I have heard about them so I just checked them out and joined. Great organization and cause. I just got to figure out how to get out in the woods some more. It's killing me being at work knowing there is deep snow and cold temps. Headed out Wednesday night for a few days. Hope I have some success pictures.

ldjbuff · Dec 29, 2015

The area in 39-1 the triangle area near Boise has wolves in it. A guy we ran into saw a black one recently right above the fish and game office. I had that tag for archery that ended on 12/16 and we saw some odd track in there. easy access for anyone who wants to give it a try plus you will see monster deer wintering

andrew12gauge · Jan 6, 2016

>The area in 39-1 the triangle
>area near Boise has wolves
>in it. A guy we
>ran into saw a black
>one recently right above the
>fish and game office. I
>had that tag for archery
>that ended on 12/16 and
>we saw some odd track
>in there. easy access for
>anyone who wants to give
>it a try plus you
>will see monster deer wintering
>

Hoping to get out and give it a try next weekend in 39. Not to nitpick but you do realize the triangle is not part of the 39-1 late archery deer permit, right?

ldjbuff · Jan 8, 2016

Used to be called the 39-2 hunt. I Have had the tag 3 years including this past year. Was called the 39-1 hunt this year. You must not be to familiar with this hunt, it's a controlled hunt

andrew12gauge · Jan 10, 2016

I know exactly which controlled hunt you are referring to. The triangle formed by hwy 21, arrowrock, and the cottonwood road is not included in that controlled hunt. It is only the portion of unit 39 within Ada county

ldjbuff · Jan 10, 2016

I never mentioned cottonwood road. I said the fish and game office which is basically next to the hill top cafe

andrew12gauge · Jan 11, 2016

I think we just have different definitions for the "triangle". Oh well.

Back on topic I failed at doing my part to save the herds today. Saw a big white wolf cross the road in front of me on my way to the spot I was intending to hunt. It went over top of a hill and I bailed out after it. Got a shot at it as it full bore sprinted through the sage at about 300 yds, but searched the area and no sign of a hit. Still a cool experience and the 1st wolf I've seen in the wild outside of Yellowstone.

Muley_Slayer · Jan 11, 2016

Well done!!! Only good wolf is a dead one!!

ldjbuff · Jan 12, 2016

This is the triangle hunt defined by fish and game.

IMO, if I was hunting wolves I would be in this area as this holds one of the largest wintering Mule deer herds as well as Elk. The Elk are in there now as well, a friend saw a big herd while running up there 2 weeks ago. Easy access and not too steep.