wolves in Utah

I was just wondering what people's opinion on wolf reintroduction is.
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MuleyMadness
Not intereseted in them, why do we need them?
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Well, we don't need them. But since the DWR will allow their reintroduction, we have no other choice. personally I really don't care either way, I'm not a rancher.
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THem dang tree huggers got them a coming that ought to make a guy mad!!!


What a waste of money!!!
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I like them, I know they will kill deer and elk but I have always been facinateed by them and like the idea the are making a comeback
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IdahoMuley
they are having big problems with them here in idaho not just deer and elk but mostly the cattle
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Same will happen in utah them ranchers will pump them full of led.

texscala sounds like you want them.
You must not be the real big hunter type cause if you were you would change your ways.
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Texcala is entitled to his own opinion. I think that we have bigger things to worry about rather than wolves, such as habit loss, disease etc. I share a lot of the same feelings as texman, I think they are cool. As for the ranchers, wolves always have and always will kill livestock, and ranchers played a huge role in the reason wolves are needing to be brought back to the lower 48. I'm no wolf lover but we need to control wolf populations rather than wipe them out. :-k
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utbowhunter23
I think it would be a very bad choice bringing wolves into utah, because right now they are trying to strengthen the herds and by bringing wolves in it is not going to help. I don't see any reason why we need them here anyway. Let them stay in Yellowstone, Montana, Alaska, and Canada. We dont need them here
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To tell you the truth, the chance of wolves making their way into Utah in such numbers as other states isn't too high. One needs to remember that wolves were re-introduced into those states, Utah will not bring them in, they will deal with those that make their way into Utah. I think that since whitetails have not made their way into Utah, we shouldn't be too worried about wolves. :-k
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utbowhunter23
True, however there are whitetails moving into the Northern parts of the state. In the Logan area. For myself I love wolves.... I have been a fan of them for a long time. The only problem I have with them coming in the state is what I had said before. Right now Wildlife services are trying to increase the deer and elk herds and by letting/bringing in more predators I just don't think that it is going to help out at all. My 2 cents
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to be honest with you, I agree, we really can't take care of wolves when our herds are under management levels. I just feel that it would take years for there to be any real indication that wolves are actually making Utah their home. I believe that in the last few years there was one lone wolf spotted up on the northern border of the state. For how prelific whitetail are in other states, it's a real mystery why they haven't flooded Utah like they do everything else. My opinion is that when whitetail take a strong hold on our state and deer populations, I will worry about wolves making their way into Utah as well.
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utbowhunter23
Thats a good point about the whitetails. I personally hope that the whitetails will never flourish into Utah. If the wolves do come into Utah then so be it...and that is only if they come in on their own there is not much we can do about it. I don't know though I have a lot of mixed thoughts and feelings about it. It would be nice to get some other feedback as well
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I can't wait until we can start hunting the wolves here in Idaho. Wyoming keeps dragging their feet about coming up with a management plan that is acceptable to the feds, so that the three states (Idaho, Montana, and wyoming) can take over the management of their wolves. The sooner we can start hunting them the sooner the wolves will begin to avoid men and they will associate men with danger. As it is now they associate men and their livestock as a dinner bell. Like it or not the wolves are here to stay (personally I don't like it.) But as long as we have people from east of the mississippi who believe they can come out west and have some kind of spiritual experience by seeing wolves in the wild, then go home but don't have to deal with everything that goes along with wolves in our backyard, were gonna have em. The sooner we can start hunting them, the better. By the way all you pro wolf people, I have spent considerable time in the Idaho woods where there are many wolves and have yet to see one.
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waynedevore
I have a cattle ranch in Northcentral Minnisota.We have lived with the timberwolves, or Gray wolves here forevever. Most of the locals think we would be better off without them, but we don't have a choise. I don,t think you people in Utah will have a say in the matter either.

Wolves always seem to go after the easiest pray available, fawns, elk calves or young livestock. The more elk and deer they take the fewer permits for us hunters.

Wolves also seem to multiply and exspand their range rapidly. No doupt the wolves are here to stay,

I think FWP and people in charge, will conclude that wolf populations must be kept in check.
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Just another little side note about wolf reintroduction. A mature wolf was being a wolf and wandered over into Oregon from Idaho seeking new territory or maybe scoping out new hunting grounds. Well when Oregon fish and game found out about this intruder you could hear the tires burning rubber all the way to Boise. They couldn't capture that wolf fast enough and get it back to Idaho where it was from. I just think its not fair that the wolves should be allowed to decimate Idaho's herds, but when they go looking for better hunting the powers that be decide ,"those are your wolves we don't want them here."
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ElkaHolic
I would want them here only if they were allowed to hunt them, and not have them get out of control to wipe out our already struggling Elk and deer and all other game species. We have many predators already and one more might hurt a bit, but as long as the balance stays in tact and pressure is put on them to keep them fearful of man as well as cougars, bobcats, coyotes and all other predators. As long as the Feds stay out of it would be another big part of the deal. Let utah'ns control our game!
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good point guys, unfortunately that is the only reason I think that wolves might not be the best idea for Utah. We need to have control over them and keep them in check, that wouldn't happen for many years to come. I do think they would be really cool to see in the wild, I saw one years ago in California up North and it was pretty cool.
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I already stated I like wolves. I studied them quite a bit when I was younger. I am new to hunting but doubt my opinion on wolves will change. I have been an avid outdoorsman for 15 years (mostly alpine climbing, and rockclimbing, a ton of fishing tool). I have lots of experiences hunters would dream of, I have peed on a mountain goat (accidently) had to through rocks at a couple of big horn sheep while traversing a rock route, and have also spent time in all kinds of country across the US. I also know that wolves will never do very well in Utah, they never have. there might be a few in the north east but the rest of the state does not offer the kind of habitat that favors wolves. look at Utah history and you can see this, or you can investigate it yourself.

I would like to see more wolves. would'nt mind seeing them hunted either but do not like the idea of exterminating them.
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wise words my friend. They won't be as big a problem that most make them out to be. When we are overrun with whitetails and wolves :1 , I will be the first to organize an anti wolf demonstration.
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the guy from mn is absolutley right, being in wyoming and owning a ranch. i am in the far north east part in the black hills, not even close to yellowstone and we already are seeing signs and wolves over here. there has been some males tracked heading east through south dakota also. they seek and destroy any and all easy prey. this could be a good thing for week animals and keeping them thined out. on the other hand if mountain lions have to go into town to get enough to feed on. how long is it going to take for wolves start doing the same. but unfortunatley we have no say in any of this. politics my brothers. not much more to say than that. bad deal,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
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WYMULEYMAN
Personally I feel bad for the ranchers and only the ranchers! Wolves have existed in many other places and gotten along just fine, as well as all the other "easy prey" that they might seek for food. It is just another animal and who is too say or make the decision on whether we allow them to continue the species or not. I say let them reintroduce them, but if one is too close for comfort than drop him in his tracks. The yellowstone pack has gotten by without much problems, not that they haven't been a nuisance at one or two particular times but for the most part we have learned to co-exist. I live in Jackson Hole and in two years I have never seen one, I would love to see a great big old wolf, I think they are neat animals, I guess maybe it is there dominance that I like, but I like them. Like I said previously I do feel bad for the ranchers and I know in and around Jackson many a wolf has been shot for eating or chasing livestock. I say, more power to the rancher!
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I think it would be pretty cool if wolves were introduced to utah again. My Uncle shot one while elk hunting on his ranch in canada they are HUGE.
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I personally cant say I want wolves in utah but I don't think it would be horrible if they made their way here and there was an adequate management plan to keep them in check. I am a little surprised at a lot of the hatred I have seen from hunters in other forums (not this thread)when this subject comes up. I personally view poaching as more of a threat than predators to my hunting experience. I would much rather have 10 deer killed by predators than just one killed by a pathetic poacher. Just my opinion
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MuleyMadness
bugle_man,

Good point! Thanks for registering and voicing your thoughts. I agree on the poaching philosophy.
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If your talking to me about the poaching, I think poaching is wrong too, but i don't think he poached it because he's a ranger in Waterton National Park and i think he was allowed to. But who knows maybe he is illegally harvesting game!!!! I'll have to bring up the subject sometime!!!!!
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E-dog

I wasn't referring to your uncle, I just brougt up poaching in general. Poaching is more of a threat to hunting quality than predators i think
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Oh I see what you meant now!!!And what a great point!!!![/list]
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my cat's breath smells like catfood ](*,)
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Anytime a new species come into an area every animal already in that area is impacted. They have to make room one way or the other. Every animal that we currenty hunt will be negatively affected-check out whats happening in Idaho. Elk numbers are way down, as are the deer. Coyote and other predators are less in number because of wolves- not as much to go around now. Livestock is being killed left and right (ever see what a wolf can do to an animal without killing it) -not pretty. They attact lion and bear hounds when they are out and many have lost pack and hunting horses and mules while out hunting other game. Wolves don't kill the sick and week- they hunt the animal till it is to sick and week to fight back. Sportsman need to band together with a plan of management before wolves enter thier state-because eventually they will. There is a reason our ancestors got rid of wolves in the first place.
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