Comments on: Where Have All The Elk Gone? Long Time Passing http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/ Online Hunting Magazine Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:32:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ronnie http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/comment-page-1/#comment-1273 Ronnie Sat, 18 Oct 2008 06:40:01 +0000 http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/#comment-1273 I am planning to go to the Bitter Root in 2009..maybe I should plan to go to CO instead...How is the hunting going in Area 17 in 2008? I am planning to go to the Bitter Root in 2009..maybe I should plan to go to CO instead…How is the hunting going in Area 17 in 2008?

]]> By: Bud http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/comment-page-1/#comment-371 Bud Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:48:01 +0000 http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/#comment-371 I too do not beleive the elk numbers posted by the IDFG, at least as they pertain to the numbers in central idaho. In fact, all you have to do is look at the number of elk taken each year and the success rate and compare it to the numbers in and prior to the early 1990's. We use to find numerous elk in our area and if it snowed, tracks would be everywhere. There also used to be more hunters than there is now and more cattle grazing, both of which one would think would have a negative effect on elk numbers. However, the elk have all but disappeared in those areas as we hunt hard and although we've had some success, we have to work just to find fresh sign and on most days we do not. During the 2003 bow season, I had three wolves bark at me as I was hiking up a ridge about an hour before light. I did not see them but they were all within 100 yards and at different directions above me. I held up near a large fir for a bit then continued up the ridge where, to my suprise, I found a small group of elk. My guess is that I screwed up their stalk. These are not the only wolves I've encountered. I think wolves have done two things: first, they have killed a large number of adult and vast numbers of youg elk and second, the elk are not returning to the montane areas because of the pressure they receive from wolves once they get there. Raher, they are staying at lower elevations and near urban areas where wolf encounters are fewer, but are increasing. This is a concern becuase the migration routes need to be learned. I am however, optimistic that once we start hunting wolves that they will become afraid of humans again and stay in the backcounty along with reducing their populations. The elk on the other hand will continue to be a more difficult animal to hunt because of their increased alertness. I too do not beleive the elk numbers posted by the IDFG, at least as they pertain to the numbers in central idaho. In fact, all you have to do is look at the number of elk taken each year and the success rate and compare it to the numbers in and prior to the early 1990′s. We use to find numerous elk in our area and if it snowed, tracks would be everywhere. There also used to be more hunters than there is now and more cattle grazing, both of which one would think would have a negative effect on elk numbers. However, the elk have all but disappeared in those areas as we hunt hard and although we’ve had some success, we have to work just to find fresh sign and on most days we do not. During the 2003 bow season, I had three wolves bark at me as I was hiking up a ridge about an hour before light. I did not see them but they were all within 100 yards and at different directions above me. I held up near a large fir for a bit then continued up the ridge where, to my suprise, I found a small group of elk. My guess is that I screwed up their stalk. These are not the only wolves I’ve encountered. I think wolves have done two things: first, they have killed a large number of adult and vast numbers of youg elk and second, the elk are not returning to the montane areas because of the pressure they receive from wolves once they get there. Raher, they are staying at lower elevations and near urban areas where wolf encounters are fewer, but are increasing. This is a concern becuase the migration routes need to be learned. I am however, optimistic that once we start hunting wolves that they will become afraid of humans again and stay in the backcounty along with reducing their populations. The elk on the other hand will continue to be a more difficult animal to hunt because of their increased alertness.

]]> By: Greg Blotter http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Greg Blotter Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:53:36 +0000 http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/#comment-91 It is sad to see elk herds disapear or drastically been reduced. There are many hunters, outfitters, biologists that will tell you it's a huge problem in many areas, in Idaho,Wyoming, and Montana. Support groups like Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife. They are fighting the fight for sportsmen in my opinion. Wolves are now delisted. Antis will fight with law suits. Sportsmen must win this war. Get involved. It is sad to see elk herds disapear or drastically been reduced. There are many hunters, outfitters, biologists that will tell you it’s a huge problem in many areas, in Idaho,Wyoming, and Montana. Support groups like Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife. They are fighting the fight for sportsmen in my opinion. Wolves are now delisted. Antis will fight with law suits. Sportsmen must win this war. Get involved.

]]> By: Bruce http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Bruce Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:49:00 +0000 http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/#comment-90 http://ruralamericanwest.blogspot.com/ check out this blog. Yes many of us understood the game plan from the beginning but the city hunters especially those in the East sided with the pro wolf people. Time everyone wakes up. Wolves are dangerous super predator that can completely wipe out their prey species. Educated learn and pass this on to all the hunting forums you can enough of this nonsesne that wolves are more important then people. http://ruralamericanwest.blogspot.com/ check out this blog.

Yes many of us understood the game plan from the beginning but the city hunters especially those in the East sided with the pro wolf people. Time everyone wakes up. Wolves are dangerous super predator that can completely wipe out their prey species. Educated learn and pass this on to all the hunting forums you can enough of this nonsesne that wolves are more important then people.

]]> By: Matt R. http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/comment-page-1/#comment-83 Matt R. Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:03:33 +0000 http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/#comment-83 I just want to say this is something we as hunter's all saw coming. It was obvious. Experts warned suppoter's of the Wolf re-introduction that the cons far outwayed the pros. Looks like the experts were right and i agree with them, the West cant support a large Wolf population right now, more than ever! What now? To me it's kinda like taking an elk herd and putting it into a paper shredder and then saying oop's, how do we put it back together...Anyway, just something on my mind a lot lately. Good Luck on the hunts this year!!! I just want to say this is something we as hunter’s all saw coming. It was obvious. Experts warned suppoter’s of the Wolf re-introduction that the cons far outwayed the pros. Looks like the experts were right and i agree with them, the West cant support a large Wolf population right now, more than ever! What now? To me it’s kinda like taking an elk herd and putting it into a paper shredder and then saying oop’s, how do we put it back together…Anyway, just something on my mind a lot lately. Good Luck on the hunts this year!!!

]]> By: CHUCK http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/comment-page-1/#comment-80 CHUCK Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:38:07 +0000 http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/#comment-80 I HAVE BEEN HUNTING IN IDAHO FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.. I AM FROM UTAH WHERE OUR ELK HERDS ARE DOING WELL.. I WAS UP BY STANLEY TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS CONFRONTED BY TWO WOLVES...LET ME TELL YOU, THEY ARE NOT SCARED OF ANYONE OR ANYTHING...I WAS BY STANLEY LAKE ROAD(PAVED ROAD) WHEN THEY CAME OUT INTO MY CAMP!! IT DIDN'T MATTER IF I YELLED OR THREW ITEMS AT THEM, THEY WOULD RUN OUT ABOUT 50 YARDS AND THEN THEY WOULD SIT DOWN AND WAIT....I WAS PROBABLY ON THE DINNER MENU!! I PACKED UP AND LEFT...THE NEXT DAY I WAS HUNTING UP BY THE CHURCHHILL WILDERNESS AREA WHEN I RAN INTO ANOTHER PACK OF WOLVES? HOW MANY WOLVES ARE UP THERE IF I AM RUNNING INTO WOLVES THAT FREQUENTLY?? I TALKED TO A BUNCH OF OTHER HUNTERS, THEY ALL HAD SIMILAR STORIES TO TELL? LAST YEAR I HUNTER THE SOUTH EASTERN AREA....HUNTERS TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD A HARD TIME FINDING THE ELK? THIS MUST BE A MAJOR PROBLEM !!! I WISH THE STATE WOULD DECLARE THE WOLVES AS A VARMINT LIKE WYOMING DID.... IT IS TIME TO TAKE ACTION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER!!! IF IDAHO DOES NOT REACT SOON THE ELK WILL BE EXTINCT.... WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN???????? I HAVE BEEN HUNTING IN IDAHO FOR A FEW YEARS NOW..
I AM FROM UTAH WHERE OUR ELK HERDS ARE DOING WELL..
I WAS UP BY STANLEY TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS CONFRONTED BY TWO WOLVES…LET ME TELL YOU, THEY ARE NOT SCARED OF ANYONE OR ANYTHING…I WAS BY STANLEY LAKE ROAD(PAVED ROAD) WHEN THEY CAME OUT INTO MY CAMP!! IT DIDN’T MATTER IF I YELLED OR THREW ITEMS AT THEM, THEY WOULD RUN OUT ABOUT 50 YARDS AND THEN THEY WOULD SIT DOWN AND WAIT….I WAS PROBABLY ON THE DINNER MENU!! I PACKED UP AND LEFT…THE NEXT DAY I WAS HUNTING UP BY THE CHURCHHILL WILDERNESS AREA WHEN I RAN INTO ANOTHER PACK OF WOLVES?
HOW MANY WOLVES ARE UP THERE IF I AM RUNNING INTO WOLVES THAT FREQUENTLY?? I TALKED TO A BUNCH OF OTHER HUNTERS, THEY ALL HAD SIMILAR STORIES TO TELL?
LAST YEAR I HUNTER THE SOUTH EASTERN AREA….HUNTERS TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD A HARD TIME FINDING THE ELK? THIS MUST BE A MAJOR PROBLEM !!!
I WISH THE STATE WOULD DECLARE THE WOLVES AS A VARMINT LIKE WYOMING DID….
IT IS TIME TO TAKE ACTION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER!!!
IF IDAHO DOES NOT REACT SOON THE ELK WILL BE EXTINCT….
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN????????

]]> By: Steven Lauder http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Steven Lauder Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:03:36 +0000 http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/#comment-79 The Federal Government and special interests have let this disaster happen and they won't admit their folly. Immediate animal control efforts must be made to bring the wolf population into control. I, as a lifelong hunter would be willing to help with this if there were affordable permits available in Idaho for Wolf. Let me know when Wildlife Officials "wake up" and let me know where I can obtain a permit for wolves. Respectfully yours, A very, very concerned lifelong hunter. The Federal Government and special interests have let this disaster happen and they won’t admit their folly. Immediate animal control efforts must be made to bring the wolf population into control.
I, as a lifelong hunter would be willing to help with this if there were affordable permits available in Idaho for Wolf.
Let me know when Wildlife Officials “wake up” and let me know where I can obtain a permit for wolves.
Respectfully yours,

A very, very concerned lifelong hunter.

]]> By: Shayne Young http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/comment-page-1/#comment-69 Shayne Young Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:21:19 +0000 http://idahohuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/29/where-have-all-the-elk-gone-long-time-passing/#comment-69 That's why I no longer hunt in the central part of the state, no elk. They have been gradually disappearing since 2000 to where we are today, gone! I have been going south in my hunting, but I can see the same pattern occuring as the wolf numbers are starting to increase every where. Eastern and South Eastern part of the state appear to be only about 10 years away to be in similar condition that the central part of the state is today. That’s why I no longer hunt in the central part of the state, no elk. They have been gradually disappearing since 2000 to where we are today, gone! I have been going south in my hunting, but I can see the same pattern occuring as the wolf numbers are starting to increase every where. Eastern and South Eastern part of the state appear to be only about 10 years away to be in similar condition that the central part of the state is today.

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