Three Toes of Harding County had a big appetite. Between 1912 and 1925, he was estimated o have killed $50,000 worth of livestock in North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana – adjusted for inflation, that’s well over a million dollars. 150 people allegedly tried their luck at killing him and failed. The wolf’s strength and wiles were inexhaustible. One federal hunter chased him on horseback for three consecutive days, never catching up and finally losing him when the snow ahead disappeared, along with the tracks. Another time, Three Toes was so far ahead of a pursuer that he took a detour into a corral and killed fifteen sheep. After eluding capture for 13 years, Three Toes was finally trapped in his dotage by Clyde F. Briggs, the state deputy predatory animal inspector of South Dakota. An overachiever right until the end, Three Toes had set a personal record by killing 66 sheep in two nights shortly before stumbling into the traps. He was supposed to have been taken to Buffalo alive, but even though his injuries from the traps were superficial, the wolf died on the way. It was little wonder: wild wolves rarely live beyond 7 or 8 years in the wild, and the furry outlaw was by then at least 13 years old.

Great post!

(Love the '95 winchester)

What a tall tale that one is.... This one belongs in the "hunting a rumor" thread.

Ratty looking buggar.

Osky

What rifle is the man holding??

Thanks MJM that was a great story.

Looks like a Winchester 1895.

It’s funny you bring 3 toes up. I just finished reading “Alaska’s Wolfman” today. It’s the story of Frank Glaser; and towards the end of the book, he makes mention of 3 toes.

What happened to his other two toes?

South Dakota's Killer Wolf- https://www.southdakotamagazine.com/three-toes.

1895 Winchester

I got one just like it in the closet.

Functionally it's the same basic action lockup as the 94 but modified with a box magazine to shoot spitzers.

Cool ! Great job, good trapper is a great tool for predator control

Many years ago I read a book "The Custer Wolf". It told the story of a wolf like that. I might still have the book around here somewhere.

1895 Winchester

I got one just like it in the closet.

Functionally it's the same basic action lockup as the 94 but modified with a box magazine to shoot spitzers. [/quote]

Warrior, what caliber is your 95?

Wow, awesome piece of history and cool picture. Definitely looks like a summer-caught canine