I read someplace, not sure where. That our DNR classifies a breeding pair as a pack. Not sure how much truth there is to that. But I wouldn't doubt it.

Well that makes sense. Others can temporarily join that pair and then leave after a short time

And then there is the Denali pack, and, well, you know...................

:-)) Smoke a pack a day !!

I cut wolf tracks on a daily basis in the winter and it is rare that I can pick out more than 4 animals in each pack. I think the 3.84 average is a very good one.

Clark

I would agree with you Clark. Considering that a "pack" can be 2 animals and we are dealing with averages.

Had three cross the road in front of my truck in Jackson County two years ago. You don't realize how big they really are till you see them in the wild. I've heard they(WDNR) had moved or killed off the pack there. I don't know if that true or not. But I hope so.

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/surveyblocks.html

With all the guys that complain about the DNR not having a good count on wolves, how does this happen?

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/volunteer.html


They also asked for trappers help in getting wolves collared.

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/trap/documents/wolfcollaring.pdf

Guessing some areas are needed more than others. Maybe time to find out where?

Wolves are foreign to me, but have always intrigued me. Is there anywhere in the lower 48 where you can legally trap/hunt? I've always considered trying to get one.

Handi the average pack size in the state is 3 dog. I think that you are correct in the bredding pair claed as a pack. I know that is a few areas in the northern forests and douglas county have some bigger packs. I heard one south of Ashland was 12 strong.

Not sure about NR trapping, but I know some states in lower 48 still have a season Murse. WI allowed NR when our season was open.

Back to this Wisconsin data. Everything is set on this goal of 350 wolves in the state. Is that really the right number? I mean, after all, we have been severely underestimating the number of wolves on the landscape. We likely had way more than 350 with minimal issues and they were far less distributed back then. Keeping a little higher population has some significant advantages. Where have I gone wrong?

From what I was told. The goal of 350 wolves was set for a minimum. There was no maximum amount. So there could potentially be a thousand plus. And that is a number that I feel is more realistic as to where we currently are.

Let's start from here and work our way out...
http://www.co.marathon.wi.us/Portals/0/D...1007_Packet.pdf

There is an organization in Idaho that will pay you 500 dollars towards expenses that are incurred for every wolf that is shot or trapped. Wolves shot during big game season don't count because they figure you will shoot them anyway.

A wolf tag is only $30, I think you can get 5 tags a year. Hunting license is $150 or so.

You have take a wolf trapping course and a nr trapping license I believe is $350.

That's too much info to read. If the goal is or was 350, then we're nearly double that with the numbers that the DNR admits to. I'm pretty sure that most of us believe that count is quite low. If talk to sportsman that live in the northern half of the state, they're see wolves on a regular basis. Just go deer hunting in those counties north of 64. In the 90's, it normal to see 30 or more deer on opening weekend. Now would be lucky to even see one or two. At least where I hunted In Forest Co. That's why I quit hunting deer there. Hard on the local economy too.
There's a reason why we eliminated from the landscape the first time.

handitrapper, up by Hayward Wi.. deer hunting is a joke unless you have food plots... first week of deer hunting in the Winter area, i checked a bunch of hunting camps and no deer were hanging....took four days before any bucks were entered in one local pub. People with food plots did okay but still had to wait long time before anything showed up. I guess wolves got to eat also...LOL... Burp !

"There is an organization in Idaho that will pay you 500 dollars towards expenses that are incurred for every wolf that is shot or trapped. Wolves shot during big game season don't count because they figure you will shoot them anyway. "

I'm not sure that is still in effect.

Murse,you can hunt and trap wolves i MT and ID.You need to take a class,to trap.

I hear ya Lee. That's why my hunting buddies & I stay home to hunt deer now.

Wait, wait, wait Lee. Wolves prevented from going near the food plots?

Why do so many Wisconsites want to try to treat a symptom instead of the problem. So many want to blame wolves, but doesn't your example highlight the real problem?

MarshRAT; So are you saying that wolves aren't the major reason for the deer herd reduction? If not, then what? CWD? Harsh winters? Over Harvest? DNR management?

Although all the above can contribute. I VOTE WOLVES!!