Y
Yoyak
Guest
I got really lucky on Saturday and was able to get my second wolf here in Idaho. It was a crazy day. Early in the morning we got into a pack and got them howling for 45mins or so, but couldn't ever catch up to them. The wind eventually picked up and we lost track of them.
So we moved on and ran into a guy who just so happened to be on another pack of wolves all morning. He decided they were too far to go after, but after a little persuasion I talked him and my brother into it.
They were around 1700ft straight up a hillside from us bedded on a little bench. It was mid-day as we were approaching and the thermals were heading right for them. I just knew they were going to smell us long before we saw them. So we decided to split up around each side of the bench so one of us would get a shot if they spooked left or right. My brother decided to stay back as a lookout. My side of the hill produced no wolves and just crunchy snow, so I cut back to the ridge and headed for the bench they were last bedded on. In the process I un-intentionally cut of Rob and got way ahead of him on the ridge (sorry buddy).
I reached the bench and saw no wolves. I turned back to glass my brother for hand signals. I couldn't see him very well but I could tell he was freaking out. Jumping jacks bordering on gymnastics would be the best description; then I heard him howl. Knowing something was up I turned around to take a few more steps up the hill to see a little more of the bench. Up jumps a wolf at 40 yards. He ran and I howled getting him to slow down around 80 yards. I shot off-hand and he disappeared. I side-hilled about 10 steps to where I thought he would escape and sat down to get ready for more shots. He appeared right where I'd hoped and I took a running shot at 150...miss...250...miss. Finally I led him by almost a whole dog length and dropped him at 285 yards. Fist pumps and hollers commenced. During that time Rob had also shot at another wolf that I never saw; unfortunately he missed. There were 8 total in the pack, and these two were the only ones that presented a shot.
What an amazing experience and what a beautiful dog. So thankful for Rob sharing the location of the pack and stomping up the hill with me. I just wish he would have got one instead of me.
He was just under 7ft long (hanging nose to foot)and weight 84.5lbs. F&G estimated him at 2-3 years old.
Here is last year's wolf. She was a yearling (last years pup) and weighed 73lbs.
Here is another unrelated picture.
This is a wolf skull from N Idaho off a 130lb alpha male giant.
and an 18" P&Y bear skull.
Same wolf skull with a coyote and a fox
www.pure-elevation.com
www.facebook.com/pureelevation
So we moved on and ran into a guy who just so happened to be on another pack of wolves all morning. He decided they were too far to go after, but after a little persuasion I talked him and my brother into it.
They were around 1700ft straight up a hillside from us bedded on a little bench. It was mid-day as we were approaching and the thermals were heading right for them. I just knew they were going to smell us long before we saw them. So we decided to split up around each side of the bench so one of us would get a shot if they spooked left or right. My brother decided to stay back as a lookout. My side of the hill produced no wolves and just crunchy snow, so I cut back to the ridge and headed for the bench they were last bedded on. In the process I un-intentionally cut of Rob and got way ahead of him on the ridge (sorry buddy).
I reached the bench and saw no wolves. I turned back to glass my brother for hand signals. I couldn't see him very well but I could tell he was freaking out. Jumping jacks bordering on gymnastics would be the best description; then I heard him howl. Knowing something was up I turned around to take a few more steps up the hill to see a little more of the bench. Up jumps a wolf at 40 yards. He ran and I howled getting him to slow down around 80 yards. I shot off-hand and he disappeared. I side-hilled about 10 steps to where I thought he would escape and sat down to get ready for more shots. He appeared right where I'd hoped and I took a running shot at 150...miss...250...miss. Finally I led him by almost a whole dog length and dropped him at 285 yards. Fist pumps and hollers commenced. During that time Rob had also shot at another wolf that I never saw; unfortunately he missed. There were 8 total in the pack, and these two were the only ones that presented a shot.
What an amazing experience and what a beautiful dog. So thankful for Rob sharing the location of the pack and stomping up the hill with me. I just wish he would have got one instead of me.
He was just under 7ft long (hanging nose to foot)and weight 84.5lbs. F&G estimated him at 2-3 years old.
Here is last year's wolf. She was a yearling (last years pup) and weighed 73lbs.
Here is another unrelated picture.
This is a wolf skull from N Idaho off a 130lb alpha male giant.
and an 18" P&Y bear skull.
Same wolf skull with a coyote and a fox
www.pure-elevation.com
www.facebook.com/pureelevation
