Minnesota moose have declined from 16,000 to between 3,000 and 3,500. They say they are stable at that number but here’s the thing. Our wolves are small compared to the western wolves and avoid attacking full grown moose. Why ? Because they get killed by them. A friend of mine told about his friend who found a wolf killed cow moose and said the battlefield was huge but what stunned him was the 8 dead wolves killed by that cow. Now moose can live up to 15 years so if those remaining 3,000 moose all full grown are staying stable because of the difficulty wolves have killing them what happens when they age out and die. I predict a soon coming drastic fall from that 3,000 some number. The so called experts who are idiots in my opinion state global warming and brain worm and everything but wolves as reason for decline. Well there are healthy moose populations in numerous states far warmer than Minnesota so that’s just stupid and brain worm was present in the 70’s when I lived near Viking Minnesota and moose were everywhere. They would find one dead from brainworm from time to time but they stayed healthy for the most part. There were way more deer there then than now. The calves are being slaughtered every year mostly by wolves. Wolves are the sole reason Minnesota moose are disappearing period and anyone with a non liberal brain that lives in this wolf infested country knows it and it’s a tragedy.

I would find it VERY difficult to believe that a lone cow killed 8 wolves at one shot.

Originally Posted by 160user

I would find it VERY difficult to believe that a lone cow killed 8 wolves at one shot.

My thoughts also, moose decline in my opinion is a result of multiple scenarios, including, ticks, wolves and bears.
Numbers are so low,( as they say), so much that the Rez feels now they should be allowed more harvest.

Up until the Early ninety's we had a moose infestation and then started seeing more and more moose spinning in circles and dieing from what they called brain worm . I think it might have been anaplasmosis from ticks . But irregardless still have about same wolt density now as did back then . I don't feel the decline in moose in my area had anything to do with wolves

someone should pull up that picture of a RCMP riding a moose
maybe he was called into active duty down there

Anyone claiming 8 wolves killed by a moose has got me not engaging in anything more in that topic.

" I Heard" statement always puts me on guard, no matter what topic.

Anaplasmosis?,..my wife has had that and about any other recognizable tick diseases.
The tick question in regards to moose populations is its sheer numbers parazetic.
Recent DNR reports confirmed depredation as the leading cause of Moose decline.

Think what you want. The DNR made the statement that wolves are wary of adult moose because of the danger they pose. Call the guy a liar maybe he is but a moose can kill a wolf in a heart beat and it’s been videotaped. Wolves are the reason for the decline as was proven In their calf collaring studies. And deer are disappearing and it’s time people wake up to the truth. My neighbor opened the door and let dog out and wolves killed it right in front of the house.a rancher south of me lost 30 some calves in one joy killing and got no where near proper reimbursement. I fed my family venison my whole life but no more. All I can say is wake up. Come live with wolves if you think they are so great. Sorry if I’m a bit ornery but I’ve had it and this sentiment is growing fast.

Listen to A world with wolves / Justin Web / gritty bowmen episode 778. Justin will be at the National trappers convention. This podcast is about Idaho wolves. It’s an eye opener. The first half is enough to get the story and you can speed past the opener

Um,..I think we are one the same page?

Not disagreeing on wolf predation . But where I live which is not far from Viking we went from to many moose to none in a few short years . More than just wolves that wiped out the moose population in the early nineties . Agree that wolves need to be managed but I'm tired of hearing the constant whining about wolves from deer hunters that won't take the time and drive around in the early morning to kill a few coyotes or let someone bear hunt or trap coyotes and bobcat's on there precious deer hunting property

The States and Feds "surveying" moose in February and March when the snowpack is the greatest and chasing them with aircraft doesn't help. The cows are heavy with calves at this time and he stress of running them cause some to abort the calf. Yes, I agree that wolves kill moose but I think there are many other factors in this equation. Winter browse, cover and large tracts of land also play into it.

I live closer to Viking than DHH, when we lost our moose in the mid to late 90s here on the edge of the valley there were few wolves compared to now. Not even close. Same with Viking, I trapped up and down that ridge country in those years and lived what happened. To blame the loss of moose here in Ag country to wolves during those years is disingenuous.

Oakey, we live with wolves everyday. DHH is over run with them, we are too pretty much. There is/was a pack of seven cruising our hunting land this fall.

Bears kill a lot of wolf calves and fawns every year as well.

I was wrong just talked to the guy it was 7 dead wolves. Speaking of Viking Minnesota that’s were I started bow hunting in 1971. It was paradise back then Huge bucks seen one a booner at 5 yards but I never connected with any of them but enjoyed every minute of it. Huge bull moose ripping up willows and sometimes scarring the crap out of you running right past you. I caught my first 2 red fox in 71 on the same day after checking traps for 14 days with nothing. I believe I got $12 each and then the fur boom took with each year rapidly increasing. Yes those were exciting days to be young.

Deer season in MN was canceled in 1971.

Thankfully we have the memories of days gone by . Sadly I don't think we'll get back to the numbers of wildlife we grew up with

Of course not Dean, we have lost a tremendous amount of habitat and loosing more every day.

Thank goodness for the deer hunters or there wouldn't be a tree left around home.

Think of how many ducks and muskrats there were pre government dredging

You guys make good points from personal observations about moose decline there from other causes than predators. The same can’t be said for the demise of our deer. We always had coyotes and bears and deer were abundant and over populated here in Northern Wisconsin with all the doe tags you wanted for $2 each. Part of this was because the DNR was way late in increasing doe tags But when the wolves showed up and exploded all that changed and changed fast. A pair denned 2 miles behind my house and by the third year are hunting was all but gone. The game manager here said if your hunting area is where they den you’re pretty much screwed. We had 3 different packs within 6 miles as the crows fly all verified by collars As the deer thinned the wolves territories enlarged. North of Two Harbors Mn. It has become a deer desert Hunters stories in Duluth news tribune are just depressing. Kids quitting hunting after not seen a deer for 3 years and in areas that were once a deer paradise. I’m 69 now and will never see good hunting here again in my life. Even if they remove the absolutely insane endangered status and begin management it’s to late seniors.