How have wolves affected hunting areas?

[Harmy]

With wolves now documented as being in Utah I fear that the elk populations here will dwindle. I am curious to understand how wolf packs have impacted hunting areas in other states and more specifically if wolf presence changes they way you hunt in any way?

[N5J]

Two years ago the F&G removed a pack from the unit we hunt and things got better the following season. But other wolves have since moved in and last year was the worst. We noticed wolf sign everywhere; you don’t even see deer anymore let alone elk. We use to see 6 to 8 elk in a herd but the last 2 years if you see 4 or more it’s rare…usually 3 or less. The F&G has decreased hunting opportunities by limiting the number of hunters in the unit… used to be unlimited…all this happened in just 4 years!
As for as the elk go we noticed that as wolf numbers increased the elk sounds decreased. Last year we rarely heard a bugle if we did it was from younger bulls...from bulls with cows we heard what I called a short bugle squeal followed by cow some talk then nothing…quiet.
We use to hunt over wallows and returned to drainages where we knew held elk. Now we put on a lot of miles just trying to find fresh elk sign. Once we find them (always in the thickest stuff around) we will hunt it. Elk rarely respond to calls, if they are interested they always come in quiet. Once in a while you’ll hear cow sounds in the thick stuff but they are really quiet and short.
Now that we can hunt the wolves we’re hoping things will turn around (hoping elk numbers will increase) but until then we are looking for other areas to hunt.

N5J

James

[Swede]

Oregon too has wolves. They are in the north east for sure, but I understand they have been seen in the Cascades and some of the southern parts of the State. My son thought he saw two traveling along near John Day a few years ago. So far they have not impacted the elk numbers too much and have not affected hunting to a significant level. I just wish those Idaho folks who originally had claim to them, would take them back.

[BowElkDwn]

Well if your calling a bull and he's responding good and coming your way... Then all the sudden you hear a wolf howl you might as well head back to the truck and find a new area because those elk will be silent for awhile. Elk will move to completely different areas trying to get away from the wolves.

[The Doc]

i hunted an area near Mccall Id {wolf central} from 93- 2001 every year. you could pretty much drive on any gravel road , anywhere in the unit. stop the truck , get out and see fresh elk tracks in the road. 8 out of 10 mornings you would have elk sightings. its really thick lodgepole there. allot of bugling. there was pretty much a moose in each drainage, always saw them near the camping area.

in 2009 we spent 10 days there and called 1 bull in during that time. and only got into elk 3 times. this was hunting hard all day long. not 1 moose .

its just sad.