Here's a few things to get you through your weekend, and a look forward to some things coming down the pipeline for next week.
First, I'm giving away a free subscription to Extreme Elk Magazine via a Facebook contest. Let me make it easy for you, all you have to do is go here, befriend me, and post a hunting, fishing, or outdoors photo on my wall. The person with the most likes before the deadline on Jan. 31, 2012, will win the magazine subscription. The only rule is that the photo must be taken in Idaho, unless you're an out of state Idaho enthusiast who can't come up with that sort of thing. In that case, take a picture of yourself holding a map of the State of Idaho in a pub or something.
Second, wolves. Alex Sakariassen of the Missoula Independent wrote an interesting piece on how the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Department is doing on their study of the elk herd reduction in Montana's Clark Fork region. While wolves are generally to blame, they are finding just as many, or more, elk kills from mountain lions. Guides, outfitters, ranchers are skeptical, and no matter the results of the study, they wish the wolves were gone.
On the other hand, federal agencies in Colorado have not ruled out the possibility of introducing wolves to control an elk population that is allegedly out of control. You can imagine who is taking sides down there, and you can read all about the foolishness here.
Meanwhile, Idahoans are doing what they can to reduce the wolf population. As of today, 202 (16 more than on Jan. 11) wolves have been killed with a firearm, and 59 (17 more than on Jan. 11) have been trapped. Trapping in the Selway Wilderness appears to be more effective than hunting wolves with a firearm.
If you need help finding a wolf to kill, there are a couple of gents out there who are mapping wolf sightings. One is here, and the other is here. If you see a wolf, wolf tracks, wolf droppings, wolf kills, or wolf eyes glowing back at you on the edge of the woods, I'm sure those guys would love your report.
Coming up next week -
A look at hunting OTC, general season elk in the Middle Fork Zone. You won't want to miss that.
Also, I'm hoping to interview somebody knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to grizzlies in Idaho's wild. It seems that there was a record this last year of grizzly attacks both in Idaho and in Montana. I'm wanting some grizzly stories that will have you going to sleep with a can of bear spray next to your bed.
Have a good weekend. Thanks for reading my posts, and all of the kind comments.
