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!!

"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.

MarshRAT; So are you saying that wolves aren't the major reason for the deer herd reduction? If not, then what?

Habitat is the short answer. I would argue that for most species, this is the case. Wasn't but a short time ago, our northern deer population was high. Too high in many places. This has had a negative impact on the overall habitat. Over browsing causes serious long term damage. Add in many of our northern forests are maturing. This leaves vast segments of the northern part of the state as really poor habitat for deer.

We used to have a farm that we shot ag deer on. You would see a line of a hundred deer coming to the hay field at night. Now you are lucky to see 10 and yet the deer are still starving in the winter. Even on relatively easy winters in ag land. They changed the habitat and it will take years for it to recover. One could argue the wolves are are a blessing here.

Our northern healthy adult deer are surviving based on that study done by the DNR. Where they struggle is coming out of winter. The guys adjusting the habitat and also putting in food plots have figured this out. Why are their results so different than the rest?

Interestingly enough, I was told that one of the reasons that the wolf tracking count has gotten better is because they are doing more to track these locations around private land that have improved the habitat. The wolves are not leaving those herds of deer that have taken up residency there, yet their deer hunting is getting better even with an exploding wolf population. How does one explain that?

Pick a point Diggerman and we can explore the "logic". See if it holds any water or is only hot air. It wouldn't be the first time I was just full of hot air.

That said, I think White's post above is the same thought process that made me think we needed to reexamine the goal of 350 or less wolves in the state. I really think that goal is outdated. As much as our current population of 850-900 wolves is completely off the mark.

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.