09-01-2009, 11:56 AM
[#000000][size 1]I[/size][/#000000][#000000][size 1] had one heck of an experience this past Friday. I was walking into an[/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]area I spotted 5 bulls last weekend when wolves started howling, growing [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]and snarling about 300 yds away in the timber below me. It was just [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]getting light so, I hung out for a while hoping to get a look at the [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]wolves. Nothing appeared so, thinking that there were probably no elk [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]in this spot I headed back to the truck. I unloaded the ATV and was [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]headed to an area called the "Natural Corral" on Bald Ridge. About ½ [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]mile down the dirt road I came upon a herd of cattle running around in a [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]circle and making all sorts of sounds. The herd parted and 2 wolves [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]popped out to look at me. Just beyond the two was another wolf on the [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]hind end of a cow pulling a chunk of flesh from the cow that was still [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]alive. The two wolves ran to my right and stopped about 50 yds away. [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]The wolf on the cow jumped off and stood on the road. I charged him [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]with the ATV and he ran to my right and stopped 25 yds. away. I had my [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]..44 mag and could have popped him, but knowing the penalty for killing [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]a wolf, I pulled out the camera instead and took a picture of him while [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]he was running away. It's a grueling sight to see an animal being eaten [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]alive. [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]I called 911 to get the local Game Warden, Chris Queen. He called back [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]and was heading to the spot after he finished loading hay. I asked if I [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]should put the cow down since it was still alive. He knew the owner of [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]the herd and said not to finish it since the owner was particular about [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]killing his cattle. Chris called Mark Brucino, USF&W biologist that [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]handles wolves and grizzlies in the area. Mark called me back to say he [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]was on the way. I told him that I was heading back out to look for elk [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]and would be back later [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]The wolves starting to attack the herd again further down the road [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]behind me. I took off down the road, but the wolves were gone. I got [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]back to elk hunting and spotted 3 groups of cows, calves and spike bulls [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]totaling 41. A plane appeared and was flying transect patterns. I knew [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]it must be FWS people. The elk didn't care for the plane and slowly [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]head back into cover. This was not working for elk hunting so, so I [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]twisted off the hunt and headed back to the truck. [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]At the kill site I met Mark and an agent with USDA Wildlife Services [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1](formerly Animal Damages Board), Monty Nicholson. Mark said they were [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]trying to pick up any signals from collared wolves. None of the wolves [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]I saw had collars. After explaining my account of the situation and a [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]description of the wolves they made a decision to call in a chopper and [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]hunt them down. The chopper came in and Monty jumped in with a 12 gauge [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]and #4 Buckshot, his standard load for killing wolves and coyotes from a [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]chopper. [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]Monty had explained that the area I was in is the border for 3 wolf [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]packs; Sunlight Basin , Absaroka and Clark 's Fork. He believes these 3 [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]wolves are lead by a older male wolf that walks with a limp. Because of [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]the injury the older wolf cannot compete with stronger wolves for [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]females and is leading the 3 younger males. The older wolf has a radio [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]collar, however the plane did not pick up the signal. [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]Soon the rancher and trail riders arrived. Mark wrote out a ticket for [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]the rancher to get reimbursed "7 to 1" meaning he will get paid 7 times [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]the cost of the 2 yr. old cow. It is based on the assumption that the [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]cow would be able to produce 7 calves during the life span. Of course [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]the money comes from the State even though the Feds brought the wolves [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]into WY and now we have to deal with the mess. What was the cost of [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]this one situation? [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]- Time for 1 DOI FWS biologist [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]- Time for 1 USDA Wildlife Services agent [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]- Time for 1 WY Game Warden [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]- Flight time for 1 surveillance plane [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]- Flight time for 1 chopper [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]- Payment for 1 cow (.85/lb x 1000 lbs x 7 = $5,950) [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]So much for wolf management in WY. I could have helped out for the low, [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]low price of one .44 mag round. At least I could have taken care of ¼ [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]of the pack! [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]Len Fortunato | Account Manager [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]Applied Control Equipment | 2717 Cowgill Rd. | Cody | WY | 82414 | USA [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]Sorry about the way this came out on this post as I'm not sure how to change it, hopefully one of the moderators will jump in and correct it. A friend who guides at Deseret sent this to me last weekend, thought it should tie-in with this article on wolves.
[signature]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]area I spotted 5 bulls last weekend when wolves started howling, growing [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]and snarling about 300 yds away in the timber below me. It was just [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]getting light so, I hung out for a while hoping to get a look at the [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]wolves. Nothing appeared so, thinking that there were probably no elk [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]in this spot I headed back to the truck. I unloaded the ATV and was [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]headed to an area called the "Natural Corral" on Bald Ridge. About ½ [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]mile down the dirt road I came upon a herd of cattle running around in a [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]circle and making all sorts of sounds. The herd parted and 2 wolves [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]popped out to look at me. Just beyond the two was another wolf on the [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]hind end of a cow pulling a chunk of flesh from the cow that was still [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]alive. The two wolves ran to my right and stopped about 50 yds away. [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]The wolf on the cow jumped off and stood on the road. I charged him [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]with the ATV and he ran to my right and stopped 25 yds. away. I had my [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]..44 mag and could have popped him, but knowing the penalty for killing [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]a wolf, I pulled out the camera instead and took a picture of him while [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]he was running away. It's a grueling sight to see an animal being eaten [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]alive. [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]I called 911 to get the local Game Warden, Chris Queen. He called back [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]and was heading to the spot after he finished loading hay. I asked if I [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]should put the cow down since it was still alive. He knew the owner of [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]the herd and said not to finish it since the owner was particular about [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]killing his cattle. Chris called Mark Brucino, USF&W biologist that [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]handles wolves and grizzlies in the area. Mark called me back to say he [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]was on the way. I told him that I was heading back out to look for elk [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]and would be back later [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]The wolves starting to attack the herd again further down the road [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]behind me. I took off down the road, but the wolves were gone. I got [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]back to elk hunting and spotted 3 groups of cows, calves and spike bulls [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]totaling 41. A plane appeared and was flying transect patterns. I knew [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]it must be FWS people. The elk didn't care for the plane and slowly [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]head back into cover. This was not working for elk hunting so, so I [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]twisted off the hunt and headed back to the truck. [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]At the kill site I met Mark and an agent with USDA Wildlife Services [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1](formerly Animal Damages Board), Monty Nicholson. Mark said they were [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]trying to pick up any signals from collared wolves. None of the wolves [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]I saw had collars. After explaining my account of the situation and a [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]description of the wolves they made a decision to call in a chopper and [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]hunt them down. The chopper came in and Monty jumped in with a 12 gauge [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]and #4 Buckshot, his standard load for killing wolves and coyotes from a [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]chopper. [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]Monty had explained that the area I was in is the border for 3 wolf [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]packs; Sunlight Basin , Absaroka and Clark 's Fork. He believes these 3 [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]wolves are lead by a older male wolf that walks with a limp. Because of [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]the injury the older wolf cannot compete with stronger wolves for [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]females and is leading the 3 younger males. The older wolf has a radio [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]collar, however the plane did not pick up the signal. [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]Soon the rancher and trail riders arrived. Mark wrote out a ticket for [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]the rancher to get reimbursed "7 to 1" meaning he will get paid 7 times [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]the cost of the 2 yr. old cow. It is based on the assumption that the [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]cow would be able to produce 7 calves during the life span. Of course [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]the money comes from the State even though the Feds brought the wolves [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]into WY and now we have to deal with the mess. What was the cost of [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]this one situation? [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]- Time for 1 DOI FWS biologist [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]- Time for 1 USDA Wildlife Services agent [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]- Time for 1 WY Game Warden [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]- Flight time for 1 surveillance plane [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]- Flight time for 1 chopper [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]- Payment for 1 cow (.85/lb x 1000 lbs x 7 = $5,950) [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]So much for wolf management in WY. I could have helped out for the low, [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]low price of one .44 mag round. At least I could have taken care of ¼ [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]of the pack! [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]Len Fortunato | Account Manager [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1]Applied Control Equipment | 2717 Cowgill Rd. | Cody | WY | 82414 | USA [/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]
[#000000][size 1][/size][/#000000]Sorry about the way this came out on this post as I'm not sure how to change it, hopefully one of the moderators will jump in and correct it. A friend who guides at Deseret sent this to me last weekend, thought it should tie-in with this article on wolves.
[signature]