Posted on 05/13/2005 9:17:20 PM PDT by Delphinium
In a hauntingly similar replay of a January incident in which three of Mike Stockton’s hunting dogs were killed by wolves; Orofino outfitter Travis Reggear lost three of his dogs to wolves Tuesday, May 3. “They’re putting me out of business,” says Reggear who employs Stockton. “There won’t be anywhere left where you can turn a hound loose.” It has been determined that the Chesimia pack is responsible in both instances.
The January hunt was for bobcat and occurred around an hour after the dogs had been let loose northeast of Dent Bridge in the Cranberry Creek/Elk Creek area. This time Reggear and Stockton were on the north side of Dworshak Reservoir, in the Swamp Creek drainage hunting bear, and the attack happened within a mere 15 minutes.
Reggear was within 200 yards of the attack; Stockton 300-400; neither of the men heard a thing. When they came upon the three dogs’ corpses, they were strung out on the hillside. According to the men, Fish & Game says that bells and flashing collars on hunting dogs are reported to be a deterrent to wolves, but Stockton counters, “We were yelling and honking the horn” and Reggear adds they were driving the ATV back and forth trying to figure out why six out of the nine dogs were seeking safety. All of that commotion, they say, was no deterrent whatsoever. They believe the wolves are used to that now.
Reggear is frustrated because he says lots of people are saying he is encroaching on the wolves’ territory. “I have been outfitting for eight years,” says Reggear. “The wolves have only been in my operating area for the last three.” As an outfitter in the State of Idaho, Reggear is assigned a territory which he must operate within. That’s why, he says, they were hunting close to the same area where the encounter happened this winter. “This is not remote wilderness,” says Reggear. “It’s three to five air miles from the Dent Acres turnoff.” If a den exists in Reggear’s territory (as officials suspect there is), two-thirds of the area he needs to make a living cannot be used.
After the January kill, Reggear and Stockton say they requested help from officials in the form of receivers and frequencies which would allow them to monitor two of the collared Chesimia wolves and avoid the pack. At that time, the men say they were declined assistance. (Now, after the second attack, they say they’ve been told they will be allowed the use of the equipment.) After the loss of six dogs in four-and-a-half months, it seems little compensation.
Even in the recent U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s 10(j) regulation which promised increased flexibility for wolf management for private citizens/landowners to protect their livestock, livestock herding and guarding animals, and dogs; hunting dogs (hounds) are not protected the men say.
Because of this, even though both kills were documented by wildlife officials, they are not counted as “crimes” against the Chesimia pack. The men say the pack has two other documented attacks that do fall within the parameters of 10(j) and three attacks are required before some form of intervention can be instigated. “It’s like the wolves have immunity,” says Reggear.
In terms of the estimated 450 wolves believed to be in the State of Idaho, Reggear says “For every pack in the North Fork and the Lochsa they [the officials] know of, Mike and I know of three more.” He adds “The wolves that we know of aren’t collared.” According to the Nez Perce Tribe, wolves in the Clearwater County area are classified as experimental, non-essential, which is basically equivalent to threatened in the State of Idaho. Afforded protection under this classification, Stockton says without accurate data it is impossible to get management intervention.
“What am I supposed to do?” asks Reggear.
No doubt other outfitters are asking the same question.
Pictures: Pictured are two of Reggear's Dogs that were attacked and killed by wolves May 3, 2005
It will barely be blip until Fifie and Fido start to become the main course. The media doesn't care about anyone who makes their living with a gun.
I grew up hunting in Wisconsin so I'm nowhere near being anti-hunting. The wolves are just doing their thing. Good for them. True sportsmen shouldn't have to use dogs anyway. Just my opinion.
I'm not really a wolf lover but not crazy about hunting and treeing animals either, so the hunter can walk up under the tree and shoot the trapped animal. I am not, however against bird dogs. (not that anyone cares what my opinion is)
ping
Dogs have to used to hunt bobcats and cougars. They are also a help in hunting bear, wild boar and coon and they are used as retrievers and pointers and setters in bird hunting.
I guess the huunters in Idaho have to take up a new sport -coursing wolves with Irish wolfhound packs and plott hounds.
Just about the ONLY way to hunt cougars and bobcats successfully is with hounds.
Yeah, you're right. Wild animal comes after you or yours (people or animals)...hey, they're just doing their thing.
For someone who grew up around hunting, you seem to have forgotten a primal basic: Some hunt others. Others hunt some. And sometimes, you have to get between them to save something dear to you, be it animal or human.
Well said.
Besides, common sense says that if you are going hunting in wolf country, take some serious ammo.
Pit Bulls.
Just my O.
LVM
The first animal domesticated was the dog. The last was the cat. (Domesticated cats? Not mine.) I have both.
Dogs have been hunting and living with humans since before the beginning of history. It's a PARTNERSHIP. We hunt and eat and live togeather.
Cats on the other hand believe you might be equal to them if you learn to catch rodents in your mouth. I can see it in their eyes when all three of them look at me.
He's not a very good hunter if the wolves keep winning, is he?
Who said they were going to shoot one?
Take a deep breath, go back and re-read my post.
I do believe it says, "...if you are going hunting in wolf country...
Not to worry, I won't shoot one.
I have no recipe's on how to bbq one.
Do you feel better now?
LVM
It wasn't "wolf country" until some idiots introduced Canadian wolves into Idaho. They are much larger than the wolves that once populated Idaho.
Time to shoot, shovel and shutup.
No, I'd feel better if you would shoot a few.
One of the officers in my city police department has a new Irish wolfhound puppy. He also has the last puppy from our litter of Rat Terriers.
My dad grew up with a Russian Wolfhouse (Borzoi). Exercise consisted of having the dog run alongside the Packard limousine.
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