Hey foxpro51! I was out in Northern Idaho this past Sept looking for Yukon wolves (aka Canadian Gray Wolf) which have utterly decimated the ungulate population from Yellowstone on up. I did not kill one, but did see one. (Which is more than most hunters manage and this was my first wolf hunting trip!) They are seriously BIG and FAST apex predators! You have no idea until you actually see one just how big they are. I saw tracks that were almost as big as my hand! They are huge!
I saw Antelope and mulies and called in a number of ID coyotes. I wasn't there for 'yotes so I held back on them. Next time, they're fair game. If I can figure out how to post pictures here, I'll post a couple I took.
I hunted near Challis, ID in the Copper Basin and Pahsimeroi Valley areas. I'll be going back. I made a contact out there that should be able to help me close in on a pack. Needless to say, they are very difficult animals to hunt! I found fresh kills, scat, sign etc just about everywhere I went. The wolf problem is huge and I tell everyone I know to go out there and kill your limit. Even the outfitters I know out there are finding it tough to get on wolves 'for the asking'. They are really tough critters to hunt!
That is some seriously rugged territory in Northern Idaho! The mountains are steep, rocky and high elevation. I was up to about 7500 ft. I couldn't imagine trying that with winter clothes, boots etc but I may have to give it a try. Much of the area I hunted is avalanche territory so winter access is non existant. The elk and moose, those left anyway, will come down to lower elevations to escape the snow so the wolf hunters are doing some good this time of year. I may have gone too early in Sept but you live and learn.
Keep up the good work!
