Coyote/wolf/or cougar in Oregon

Navy_Gunner

Navy_Gunner

New member
Ive been hunting predators now for quite a few years, and have 100's of dogs, a bear, a bobcat, and a cougar under my belt. Ive done it all from spot & stalk to calling. I have had zero luck calling cats, but I keep on trying. I get down alot, and causes me to drink profusely but I seem to get up dust myself off and try it again every weekend. Just last weekend I had one of the best calling weekends for coyotes ever, but have seen a few things that made me scratch my head. Ive seen bear kills, cougar kills, and even coyote kills. But I think I am now hunting an area that has wolves. In an approx. 4 miles stretch of road (closed to vehicles) I came across 4 different kills. None of which fits the description of any animal I am used to seeing. On all of theses "kill sites" there were drag marks in the snow, seperate piles of hair/fur, starting point of the attack/koll there was a pile of stomach matter, and one of the most wierd attributes about these were the fact there were no remains, no bones, just fur and stomach matter...... Around theses "kill" sites there were only BIG dog tracks. Not the typical small coyote tracks, or the typical large round cougar tracks but big dog tracks. Big by being around 4" long and 3" wide (roughly). At first thought I wondered if they werent "melted out" coyote tracks but they were fresh. The scat in the area was bigger than coyotes, but not at all like cougar. I have yet to talk to any Oregon department of fish and wildlife about my findings, I am afraid they will tell me I am stupid, and that wolves dont exist in oregon. I know what I saw, I know what my gut tells me, and I hope to god I am wrong.

Has anyone else had any similar findings? Am I wrong? Mind you this is in pretty remote area, and I was breaking trail. Nobody else had been in there within a few weeks, so that to me rules out hounds or domestic dogs. Let me know what you think, I am really dumbfounded by this. Are these signs typical of wolves? Oh yeah there were coyote tracks in the area around a few of the kills (all of which were mule deer), and around one there was one cougar track.
 
Where were you hunting?Just wondering because 2-3 years ago i thought i saw a wolf on the other side of Ladd canyon(North Powder) side.Not real sure as it was dark.Ran across the freeway.Thought it was a small deer at first,but mule deer don't have bushy tails.
 
I was hunting on notellum mountain. Actually if you would like I would take you there sometime. Good hunting for any critter. It is in the minam unit, accessable by 4 wheeler or foot. Not far from the minam river. I cant just go giving away my hot spot for dogs and cats to everyone can I?

Otherwise what do you make of my findings? Im sure you are familliar with the area, have you ever come across something that makes you go hmmmmmm? Until this event unfolded I never dreamed that wolves would have been a real problems, even though all the farmers/ranchers make a big deal about it. Im sure 99.8% of them have not seen one or even sign of one. Ive walked 100's of miles in the mountains and this is the only time I have ever brought the question to mind.
 
Navy Gunner, From what you have described I would bet you have wolves in the area. We have had wolves in Idaho for around 10 years now. Some of the things that have struck me about wolves is the tracks are HUGE! Much, much, larger than coyote tracks. I have never measured a wolf track but they are roughly as wide as my hand and that about 4" wide or so and at least that long. The wolf kill sites I have looked at appeared as if someone took a chainsaw to the animal. Blood and hair scattered all over the place.

Wolves are right up to the western edge of Idaho and I'm sure the Snake River will not stop them. So, if you don't have them now you will very soon. It sounds like you have them already.

Glad to have you aboard. It sounds like your an experienced hunter. Lay off the booze, and share some stories with. Take care and good hunting
 
Thanks for the reply, any and all replies are very welcome. Glad to be aboard too, ive visited PM for some time now but I actually joined today. I have alot of stories and qustions to share, so get used to me. Im sure Ill be a regular (wether my wife likes it or not /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif )

Back to the wolf issue, as far as blood there was very little. It appeared to have been drug many times (3maybe4) so there was some "spillage" there but otherwise not much. Also another thing that made me wonder was that cougars generally cover there kills and there was no idication of any attempt to cover them. Do you know if wolves eat even the bones? Most kills I have found over the years the bones have been left inplace (minus legs that have been drug off by likely coyotes). On 4/5 kills I found that day, 4 of them had absolutely zero bones left behind. The one that did I believe was a cougar kill, and coyotes had eaten the remaining scraps and such.

Still confused as a infant in a topless bar. Guess ill figure it out when I call in a wolf mistakenly. Then and only then will I make the shoot dont shoot call. "looked like a coyote from afar"............
 
Honestly I havent thought about wild dogs. I wouldnt rule it out. There is "civilization" approx 6 miles the way the bird flies. Maybe. Never seen any, but maybe.
 
who cares just shot it and ask question later. who knows what you have but if it was me i might put up a trail came just to see.
 
I saw a wolf while elk hunting in the wilson unit a couple years ago called F&W they said no wolfs in oregon i said if its a stray dog it would be ok to shoot it they say dont shoot it because peaple are dumping off wolfs in the woods but sence they aren't native to oregon they not classed as wolfs now i see wolfs are protected in eastern oregon.

Gary
 
Navy Gunner
Like Lonny said Wolf tracks are HUGE. I found some on a logging road last week in some nice fresh snow and took some pix to send to a friend. I placed a dollar bill next to one for a size comparison and the track was almost as long as the dollar, maybe an inch shorter to give you an idea.
One way to to tell for sure if it's Wolf is to just waite a few years and if it is you'll stop seeing any Deer or Elk.

sal
A trail cam is a good idea, but don't even joke about shooting a Wolf.

Good luck and if ya find out what the culprit is let us know.
Charlie
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top