Wolves around North Pole and Fairbanks (Anchorage, Eagle: environment, military, work)

[RayinAK]

I am armed when hunting, hiking, or just enjoying the outdoors in Alaska. I agree that it's just common sense to at least be as much prepared to take care of any emergency as possible when in the outdoors. I have seen wolves very close, and bears too, but I haven't been charged so far. To me wolves are just another wild animal I can hunt if I want to, but since i don't have much experience with skinning a wolf and tanning the hide, I don't hunt them. I would do so if I had the extra money required for a taxidermist to do the work for me. The same goes for bears, although I would kill a bear or a wolf if I happen to see such an animal chasing after a moose with calves, simply because that's the animal I hunt each year. I want the moose to thrive as much as possible.

[Tim Rankin]

Originally Posted by Glitch

First of all, there are between 7,700 and 11,200 wolves in Alaska. Which means that humans outnumber wolves by a ratio of between 60 and 87 to 1. Secondly, it is illegal to hunt any game (including wolves) in Alaska from aircraft or to land and shoot any game on the same day. It is very evident from your post that you have absolutely no clue what you are talking about.

Easy Glitch...my point was just that wolves don't have much of a chance when dealing with humans. Just like musk oxen. The instinctive musk oxen defense is to stand in a circle facing outwards and put their young in the middle of the circle. Worked great against big predators. Not so good against a human with a high-powered rifle. Which is why they almost went extinct.

In defense of my earlier post:

The ratio I calculated was worldwide. I used 6 billion human and 50,000 wolves. I may be off a bit.

Most humans spend the winter indoors.

What's the difference between hunting and predator control...from a wolf's perspective?

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Tim Rankin

Easy Glitch...my point was just that wolves don't have much of a chance when dealing with humans. Just like musk oxen. The instinctive musk oxen defense is to stand in a circle facing outwards and put their young in the middle of the circle. Worked great against big predators. Not so good against a human with a high-powered rifle. Which is why they almost went extinct.

In defense of my earlier post:

The ratio I calculated was worldwide. I used 6 billion human and 50,000 wolves. I may be off a bit.

Most humans spend the winter indoors.

What's the difference between hunting and predator control...from a wolf's perspective?

If you have to ask such questions, it seems to me that you have no idea about wolves in Alaska, nor about hunting.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Unless something has changed recently, aerial wolf hunting is still legal in parts of Alaska.

http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/index...g=wolf.control

Wolf control has nothing to do with hunting.

[Metlakatla]

When private citizens are allowed to shoot wolves in this manner, it is hunting, no matter what the terminology employed by the state.

Happy Christmas everyone.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

When private citizens are allowed to shoot wolves in this manner, it is hunting, no matter what the terminology employed by the state.

Happy Christmas everyone.

In the State of Alaska, government agencies can recruit "private citizens" for such and numerous other tasks. Not only does F&G lack the number of aircraft required for such aerial wolf control, but the number of agents to accomplish the task. For that reason, its much cheaper to either offer bounties to trappers and hunters for the wolves killed in the designated areas, or to have private citizens assist F&G and get paid for their assistance.

The same was done during the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The State of Alaska leased equipment, boats, ships, etc. from private citizens. The boat owners were working for the State, and for Exxon (whichever was the case), but were not State workers or officials.

Predator control is used in Canada and in Alaska, except that in the later it's allowed under the State's Constitution. As a private citizen I can go out there and hunt or trap wolves, and kill at least five per year. However, the cost to reach-by aircraft-the areas areas where the wolf control is taking place would be extremely expensive. Think of perhaps $400.00 per fly/hour, with no guarantees that a wolf will be found. Unless you live or have lived in Alaska, you can't comprehend how large this place is.

[Manmountain]

If those gals had 45 glock pistols and thru out a few warning shots well before the wolves were 20 feet away that wouldve been the end of it. Can you imagine the open season on wolves if those 2 ladies got tore up??? OH MY!!!!!! Turn off the TV --- learn to think again --- reject PC intimidation --- Ever wonder why the USA is on its way to 2nd rate nation statis FAST? And vote for Ron Paul.

I would never shoot a bear or wolf unless it was charging and I had no escape. I love animals enough to be the superior creature and protect them .

[Rance]

It's a risk one must be willing to take if you choose to live here. I actually keep score and root for "the bears" everytime there is a mauling. Never even occured to me to consider wolves. I like it. I wonder if wolverines will ever make the list. They can be ferocious. Although I have yet to see one hanging out on a bike path.

[Manmountain]

Rance your a cross between Jack London and Mark twain

Cabin fever settin yet?

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Manmountain

If those gals had 45 glock pistols and thru out a few warning shots well before the wolves were 20 feet away that wouldve been the end of it. Can you imagine the open season on wolves if those 2 ladies got tore up??? OH MY!!!!!! Turn off the TV --- learn to think again --- reject PC intimidation --- Ever wonder why the USA is on its way to 2nd rate nation statis FAST? And vote for Ron Paul.

I would never shoot a bear or wolf unless it was charging and I had no escape. I love animals enough to be the superior creature and protect them .

I like bears wolves and moose, and would legally kill any bear or wolf for its hide (wolf and bear), or for its meat (black bear only). But since I don't eat bear meat, nor wolves', and the hide is so expensive to tan for both, AND since it's so costly to hunt bears or wolves, I don't do it. Now, moose is perhaps my favorite game animal. It not only tastes delicious, but is very nutritious as well. Once the hunting season is over, I help this animal the best way I can (at least the ones that walk though my backyard).

Here is one: