[Etter1]

in reply to: wolverine #62742

lyagooshka wrote: Etter,

I don’t think it’s about “changing minds”. I do not see your view as evil or even wrong for that matter since I have never been in your shoes. My big thing is the “wiping out the competition” mentality that is sometimes seen in these types of discussions. Both from hunters and ranchers/farmers.

True, no one wants to see game at low levels, but if they have been artificially inflated, what then? And besides, what gives us the right to choose what animals we save and don’t save? Is it fair to eradicate a specie because we “want to expand and that particular specie can’t play nice with us”? Every time I hear about human expansion, really bad thoughts come to mind. Thoughts of mini-malls and townhomes where pristine woodlands once stood. Habitat destruction is the number one reason for declines in animal population. So we are pushing the animals into tighter quarters, forcing them to survive by any means possible, and then blaming them for doing what we forced them to do.

Again, I don’t have a solution, nor have I walked in your shoes at all. The real point I am trying to make is let’s not do as is happening today in politics. Let’s not put a great divide between us. Let’s work together to find a solution that will benefit all involved. United we stand, divided PETA takes over. Be well.

Alex

😕

If you look into some of the special interest groups involved in the reintroductions, you will see names like PETA and others.

I think a lot of the push has to do with providing a predator other than man to control game populations so that we can be moved aside.

The amount of money spent in lawsuits alone on these canines would blow your mind, and it’s you and I paying that bill.

[Etter1]

in reply to: wolverine #62667

I don’t think I’m getting my point across very well.

Wolves had free roam of this country when we had far far fewer people. We have millions of people now making a living off of industries that wolves will have a large effect on (namely ranching, and outfitting).

We didn’t need them to control herd populations anywhere (except for some parks).

When people living in these areas were polled whether or not they wanted wolves reintroduced, the numbers were overwhelmingly on the side of “no”.

Yes, you’re correct that once prey species decline to a certain level, but I doubt there’s a hunter out there that wants to see how low that level really is.

The state government in Idaho is now paying professional trappers to remove wolves because even with incredibly liberal hunting seasons, their numbers are still too high.

Would I love to see wolves live in harmony with a burgeoning human population? You better believe it!

I just don’t think it’s realistic. All for the same reasons that Alaska still has to aerial wolf hunt and that red wolves couldn’t be released again here in the southeast.

And as for predators, I am not the least into predator control. I don’t kill raccoons because they eat “my” turkey eggs and I don’t shoot coyotes on sight because they may occasionally kill a fawn or two.

Somebody on here may change my mind and I welcome everyone’s opinions.

[Etter1]

in reply to: wolverine #62453

ausjim wrote: I thought the elk had Yellowstone’s ecosystem on the ropes there for a while? I’m sure the wolves do cause ranchers problems. I remember reading an interesting discovery with the wolf reintroduction, that it only took one generation of exposure to wolf predation for domestic cattle to start exhibiting aggressive wild behaviour, even to the ranchers.

But surely a cornerstone to conservation is the voluntary limiting of your own behaviour/rights to allow the existence of another member of the community? I get that means only one small part of the human community gets penalised for that, but man, once they’re gone they’re gone.

I second that it would be good to hear from folks who live in wolf country.

Yellowstone is a poor example, I think, because populations are not controlled by means of hunting.

In most parts of the western US, predation by man, lions, bears, and coyotes, along with winter kill keep deer and elk populations in check.

I’d love to have some wolves as much as the next guy, but I just don’t think it’s fair anymore.

[Etter1]

in reply to: wolverine #62371

Prairie Prowler wrote: [quote=Etter1]After speaking to a lot of people who, now once again live in wolf country, I hope you kill all of them.

Kill a species to the point of extirpation?! To the point of extinction?! Now, I’m not the argumentative type but what in the hind hair are you thinkin’, brother?!!

The community of life is a NET: untie one knot and the whole web weakens.

http://www.yellowstonepark.com/2011/06/yellowstone-national-park-wolf-reintroduction-is-changing-the-face-of-the-greater-yellowstone-ecosystem/

They had been gone for quite some time. We’ve lost quite a few species in the last few hundred years and I just don’t see this one fitting back in. Just my opinion. My degree is in wildlife biology so I promise I can see both sides of the coin.

Maybe some folks from wolf country can chime in.

[Etter1]

in reply to: Idaho Pictures #61898

Smithhammer wrote: Etter –

I think you need to move to Idaho.

My buddy and I were talking about what great outdoor oppurtunities there are out there. Here in ga, we pretty much have year round outdoor pursuits and I never thought the western states really had that.

Elk, mule deer, whitetail, and my personal favorite black bear. I saw five species of upland game in a week, plus some beautiful merriam’s gobblers. Then in winter, there are lots of predators to chase, and let’s not forget all of the fishing, paddling, and hiking there is to be had.

I loved that place to death and I will be back!!

I’m going to go lion hunting again in the future when I have the time and money, but I will be going further north to weed out the chances of such poor hunting conditions.

Most likely Alberta or British Columbia.

[Etter1]

in reply to: wolverine #61767

ausjim wrote: [quote=Etter1]After speaking to a lot of people who, now once again live in wolf country, I hope you kill all of them.

What have they been up to to get you thinking like that Etter?

I like the idea of having wolves around, in concept. In reality, I don’t think there’s much of a happy medium.

They tried to re-stock red wolves down here near me and it didn’t work out at all. Wolves do a lot of damage to an already frail agricultural community in the western us. They also reproduce at unbelievable rates and kill untold numbers of deer and elk. You can see that just from looking at Yellowstone today.

I just think we’re past the point of having wolves and making anybody happy about it. It’s the reason that Alaska still uses airplanes to limit their populations on top of all of the legal hunting and trapping.

I’ve talked to people from Idaho, to Michigan, to Tennessee and Canada. I’ve never heard a positive thing said about their reintroduction from anyone (including a lot of traditional bowhunters).

We are wildlife managers now and I just can’t see how they can fit in to this new world.

Just my opinion. They do make a beautiful pelt for anyone’s cabin.

[Etter1]

in reply to: Idaho Pictures #61671

And finally, I did take out the tripod for some up close stream shots.

Normally you could walk across all of these but we had horrible weather.

[Etter1]

in reply to: Idaho Pictures #61668

Seen a pile of these fellas too.

[Etter1]

in reply to: Idaho Pictures #61667

Another bow break after a long climb

[Etter1]

in reply to: Idaho Pictures #61666

Castle Rock up close. I’d guess 400 to 600′

[Etter1]

in reply to: Idaho Pictures #61663

View of my long climb to castle rock

[Etter1]

in reply to: Idaho Pictures #61661

We saw too many of these to count

[Etter1]

in reply to: Idaho Pictures #61658

Another view of the river. 20+ foot deep hole that I’m sure was filthy with trout.

[Etter1]

in reply to: Idaho Pictures #61657

My bow taking a break after a 1500′ climb

[Etter1]

in reply to: Idaho Pictures #61656

The south fork of the payette. Most beautiful river I’ve ever seen.

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