BrianID
Very Active Member
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Growing elk populations in areas that historically had few or no elk is the only reason the total elk numbers in Idaho have done well the last 20 years in Idaho. Many areas of Idaho have few or no wolves and in these areas, elk have been doing very well. Many areas that historically had a lot of elk have seen a significant decrease in elk numbers over the last 20 years. It isn't common knowledge but government officials/contractors have aerial gunned some packs of wolves that have been particularly hard on elk and sheep/cattle the last few years. If the feds don't stop the state, we are just going to see more wide spread aerial gunning and other tactics to remove wolves in Idaho to bring their population closer the the original agreement from 20+ years ago of 150 wolves/10 packs.You also can't have abundant ungulate.population with poor or dissapearing habitat/food supply
Fwiw Idaho's,elk population is growing even with 1500 wolves, as far as mule deer their decline is happening all over the west includeing
I agree that wolves are way down on the list on reasons mule deer populations have not been doing well.