Wolf guys

Hey guys. I’m planning on putting out a wolf bait here soon and was just curious if any of you guys know about this. Maybe this is a rookie question but in your experience, is it better to make sets right away when you put out a bait, or wait till they get used to it and comfortable around it then add sets? I’m planning on making foothold sets, probably 6 or so all roughly 30-50 yds. From the bait. On one hand it seems like getting them out right away and minimizing my presence in the area would be good, but on the other hand I wouldn’t want to overload them with new stuff when they show up. Would really appreciate some input.

Personally, I would wait until the wolves find it......if they ever do. Then I would use snares rather than footholds

Ok thanks for the input! I am sure they will find it as I have seen tons of sign in and around the area. I would use snares but the country I plan on doing this in is very low sage country and really hard to snare.

I would do my walking around and setting set right away,before you bring in/handle the bait,if you are actually setting the bait pile.
Biggest problem guys make with wolves is inducing smells where they shouldnt be.
Snares is the best medecine at a big bait jackpot.
Another method is the put in a big bait then make conventional sets like scent posts later on 1/4 mile or so on their travel routes to and from the bait after they start on it.
I find a lot of times wolves will tear into a bait pile when they first decide to work it(may not be when they actually notice it)then for some reason will never return to that spot,or return a long time later.
I want my snares(sets) open and ready in case it is a one hit deal.

I would get in touch with Gulo on this forum. He is the most knowledgeable person I know of when it comes to wolves and he is right there in Idaho with you..........in sage brush country

I barely understand coyotes but Id vote for doing what worked on that good lookin she-dog last week!
Good luck and I hope you have more pictures like that to post

Ak isn't the same as down here... I'd put your bait on good travel routes, where a couple ridges come together or some other feature. Set obvious stuff on the way in and gang set near the bait. You only get so many chances at them around your sets. If you hang up a couple their first visit they will come back looking for em eventually.

I would absolutely NOT set near your bait with footholds. You will end up catching a large bird and thus warn every other predator in the country. Been there done that !

I think a dirt hole...if possible... or a pee post within 50 yards or so would be a better way to go than sets near the bait

Agree,dont set at the baitpile.You want ravens working some of the bait as a call and some bait covered so it doesnt get all cleaned up by them.
Wolves will dig up or if frozen move logs to get at the bait.Just as many wolves are snared leaving a big bait as there are approaching.
A couple of moosehides makes a good initial bait or a good cover for bait on the ground.

I really appreciate all the input guys! Thanks a lot. Idaho law says I need to be at least 30ft from the bait and I plan on being quite a bit further than even that. I’ve caught a couple wolves before but without bait piles so the baiting thing is new to me. Anyways I’ll keep all of that in mind.

Thanks Hahaha! I’ll get some more pics up soon.

That’s basically what I’ve been thinking about doing. I’m not going to put anything closer than maybe 30 yds. To the bait. And probably using mostly territory based sets.

Use your legal set back laws. The wolves will spend most of their time around your bait. Use big bait like a horse or heifer.

Or set like the "experts" in alaska or Canada. Use cable in 15" tall sage

Ted, I use a lot of bait successfully up here, but I'm in slushy cedar country. If it were me, I would set right away if I knew I was on location and in an area the wolves were sure to return. It still might take a while though. I've had baits going for about a month that haven't been visited yet, but it's just It's a matter of patience. I set them about 3 weeks ago and am confident the wolves will come in eventually. I've gone 6 weeks or more without seeing sign at a location, then they'll be all over.

If I'm prospecting a new area I'll drop a bait (no traps) and then see what happens, check it maybe once a week or so. If a pack finds the bait and seems interested in hanging around, then I'll set it. But I'll have my spots located ahead of time and get in/out then check from a distance. Don't keep mucking around your traps. For that reason I like a pretty good setback from the baits - further the better along their routes. That might be 50 feet or 300 yards depending on location and terrain. They'll find them.

Really boils down to time, patience and the number of traps you can keep operational. You can get by with a few traps but will needs lots of the first two.

Definitely look up Gulo. He's probably already caught some of your wolves!

Good luck.

Thanks! Really appreciate the tips.

Though it may not be ideal I think you could make sage brush work. If you can get the snare tied off to the base of a 1" diameter bush with other bushes tight against it. The wolf likely will wrap around the others increasing the strength of the hold. This is what happened in this picture, but willows instead of sage and they were all less than 1" diameter.