Shots fired in wolf war by Idaho archer

Seattle Gun Rights Examiner ^ | 7 October, 2011 | Dave Workman

[marktwain]

Environmentalist arguments that wolves do not pose a potential threat to humans took another hit when bowhunter Rene Anderson took what she is convinced was a defensive action and fatally shot a wolf that had moved aggressively to within ten feet of her on a remote ridge near Headquarters, Idaho.

Anderson, speaking to this column Friday morning, said the animal loped toward her while she was elk hunting back on Sept. 25. Her story is just now moving into high gear across the Internet, and she is being supported by friends and co-workers in Pierce, a community about 13 miles south of the old Headquarters logging town that now has only a handful of residents.

Support for Anderson is not universal, though. This story has gotten some attention at the Northwest Hiker’s forum. Contracting views appear on the HuntFishNW forum.

Accounts of the incident have appeared on various forums and in at least one newspaper, but Anderson’s narrative is somewhat chilling. She had blown an elk call about a half hour earlier, after her husband, Denny, had dropped her off on a ridge for a downhill hunt. For whatever reason, he had insisted that she carry her .44 Magnum Smith & Wesson Model 29 revolver. Both Andersons told this column that there are “a lot of wolves” in the Headquarters area. Rene said wherever she finds wolf sign, she no longer finds any elk sign.

Idaho’s Wolf Conservation and Management Plan states wolves molesting or attacking livestock or domestic animals may be disposed of, and one has the right to protect oneself in self-defense.—Clearwater Tribune

[rickk]

What this lady did was crazy amazing.She is an excellent marksman and has ice in her veins or it was the luckiest day of her life. Do not expect to be able to do the same unless you are over prepared. With a wild animal coming at you, your heart will be beating faster than ever before. You will have no fine motor skills. Do not just put a pistol in a holster and think you are ready to defend yourself.
The biggest threat, by far, when out hunting, is getting shot by another hunter (dress to be visible). The second biggest threat is bear. They will often stomp or false charge, so you may have some time. Cougars are the third biggest risk. The are stealth hunters. You may know they are their when they knock you to the ground.
So: DO NOT HUNT ALONE, dress to be seen, if you carry a weapon for self defense - practice, practice, practice.

[Tunehead54]

Pictures are even easier to post than an web page link (a space is included after the left bracket so it will display:

< img src="http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3/RioHondoHank/5b09f90e.jpg">

Without that space you get:

[rickk]

I spoke to a man at the USDA Wildlife Services in Boise on Thursday. I wasn't there for this purpose but asked him about the lady shooting the wolf with a pistol. He said that she never said that the wolf attacked. He said, she had a tag. The wolf came into her view (possibly due to her elk call). She shot the wolf.
Wildlife Services assists Fish and Game by investigating and solving issues with wildlife.