Wolves, Elk, and Hunting
Posted December 10, 2010 in Saving Wildlife and Wild Places
If you live in the Northern Rockies, you have either read or heard someone claim that wolves have decimated elk populations and thus ruined elk-hunting in the region. “The wolves are killing all the elk” has become the battle cry against wolves these days, and you hear it or see it everywhere.
For a minute, let’s forget that more than 350,000 elk currently inhabit Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. And let’s forget that there are only about 1,700 wolves.
I’m calling a twenty-second timeout. Thanks, ref. Okay, I had to call the timeout because as soon as I post this blog entry, a proud defender of The Battle Cry is going to post a comment, wherein he or she will accuse me of lying, residing in New York City, and hugging too many trees. So, I am going to set the record straight right now.
For elk, I used the population numbers that the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation published this fall. If you’re not familiar with the Elk Foundation, the group recently secured its anti-wolf bona fides by analogizing what’s happening right now with wolves and elk to the near extinction of bison at the turn of the 19th century. (“Hey Truth, how do you like them apples?”) It’s a proud espouser of The Battle Cry and no fan of wolves – so you can’t accuse me of padding the elk numbers.
For wolf numbers, I used the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s 2009 Year-End Annual Report, since it’s the most recent official report on the Northern Rockies wolf population. On page 5 of the report’s summary, it states that at the end of 2009 it was estimated that there were at least 1,706 wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountain Distinct Population Segment, which includes Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, the eastern one third of Washington and Oregon, and a small part of northcentral Utah. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has been trying to kick wolves off the endangered species list for a few years, so it would be against their interest to underestimate wolf numbers.
Finally, I live in Bozeman, Montana, not New York City. But as for the trees, you got me – I can’t walk past a damn lodgepole pine without hugging it (the same goes for bunny rabbits).
Okay, team, back to the blog.
Let’s also forget that the Wyoming/Montana/Idaho elk population has grown by almost 20% since wolves were reintroduced in the mid-1990s. (Elk Foundation numbers, not mine (elk numbers.pdf).) And for the few elk populations that have decreased in size since the mid-1990s, let’s not worry about habitat loss, development, severe winter weather, fire suppression, hunter harvest, or the other factors that affect elk numbers (or the simple reality shunned by Battle Criers that sometimes a decrease in an animal population is actually a good thing – suburban whitetail deer, anyone?).
Yeah, forget about all those pesky little facts.
I write because two recent news stories made me want to throw my computer out the window. (Click here and here for the stories.)
The two news stories describe “slob hunters” in Montana carelessly blasting into elk herds on the run at long distances, wounded elk left to slowly die on their own, unclaimed dead cow elk, and hunting behavior that would have enraged Teddy Roosevelt.
And yet some of these “hunters” still had the gall to complain about wolves. As the author of one of the stories aptly observed:
Can anyone explain what wolves have to do with seven guys spraying a herd of elk with 30 bullets? Am I the only person who sees the hypocrisy in someone who would do that complaining about a lack of elk to hunt?
Egregious hypocrisy, unethical hunting, wasted elk. And these are just two stories; how many other episodes of slob-hunting transpired this fall?
As an admirer of wolves and the wildness they represent, these stories irked me. As the facts above reveal, elk are doing pretty damn well in the Northern Rockies. Sure, wolves, along with myriad other factors, have helped reduce elk numbers in some areas, but, as I mentioned above, that’s not necessarily a bad thing (unless you like the idea of the Northern Rockies as a giant neutered game farm).
I’m tired of misinformation and The Battle Cry, and while wolves will undoubtedly remain The Bogey Monster for the foreseeable future, it would be refreshing to see the same groups that energetically demonize wolves in the name of elk decry slob-hunters with the same gusto in the name of elk. If conserving elk is their goal, clearly such slob-hunters pose a dire threat to that goal.
These two stories also troubled me because I’m a hunter, and slob-hunting wastefully kills animals and ruins the name of hunting for everyone. A couple of weeks ago, I climbed high into the mountains in my snowshoes and tracked and killed a bull elk. It was an amazing day – one I'll never forget – and that elk will provide my wife and me with wild, healthy, local, organic, non-factory-farmed meat through the winter.
But reading about the "hunting" in these two stories made my stomach turn. At a time when hunting continues to become less popular nationally, despicable stories about slob-hunters will only push more kids towards computer games and away from the woods (and an important environmental interest group, hunters, will be further marginalized).
Slob-hunting is bad for elk, bad for other wildlife, bad for the future of hunting, and bad for the environment. It’s time to apply more public pressure to put an end to slob-hunting.
Or we could just keep on blindly blaming those god damn wolves . . .
Comments are closed for this post.
Comments
Crystal Pitts — Dec 10 2010 10:06 PM
Thank You.
carter niemeyer — Dec 11 2010 11:03 AM
Matt, you nailed it on the head with this opinion piece. This is as close to the truth as you can summarize the situation in the Northern Rockies right now. I know facts are not what some people want to hear right now because facts sometimes don't match up with agendas. Like you, I'm a hunter and have been all my life. We need sportsmen to be role models not slobs and I certainly don't worry about wolves getting in the way of my hunting success either.
Roy Heberger — Dec 11 2010 11:13 AM
To add to the story --
To even suggest that a predator will "decimate" its prey (technically that means to reduce by one-tenth, but here I'm going with the popular definition of the mis-used term) is to ignore Darwin, as there would be no future in it. Check out what Eugene P. Odum in his classic text "Ecology" has to say on the topic of predator/prey or parasite/host. He says more elsewhere...
Larry Thorngren — Dec 11 2010 11:34 AM
I am currently staying in a motel overlooking the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, Wyoming. There is a "Elk Reduction Program" (ends tomorrow) that has been going on here and in Grand Teton National Park for the past two months. They sold 900 permits and hope to kill 400 elk..
It is slob hunting on a grand scale, promoted by the National Park Service, Wyoming Fish and Game, Elk Refuge Managers and the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce.
The bulk of the "hunters" drive around on park or refuge roads hoping to find migrating elk close enough to shoot from near the road.
They also gather in groups to spray herds of elk with bullets hoping to kill several. One group fired as many as 200 shots at a herd of 300 elk and killed 6 or 7. They usually wound as many or more than they kill.
I find it strange that there is an "Elk Reduction Program" going on in a state (Wyoming) that claims the wolves are killing all of the elk.
Cliff Harrison — Dec 11 2010 05:25 PM
My opinion - DUBIOUS PUFFERY at best.
Those that live with wolves on a day by day basis have a different opinion than those that have been hired to laud them.
Carter and Roy, pat each other on the back. Your work did not leave the locals with a good taste in their mouth.
Marc Cooke — Dec 11 2010 06:24 PM
Matt. As usual you are right on target with this opinion. I found just one common denominator that will upset the wolf hates....Your Accurate Facts!!! Their accurate facts!!! Its like hanging a man with his own rope. They aint gonna like that.
Bob Fanning — Dec 12 2010 09:07 PM
"how many other instances of slob hunting happened this fall?"
and how many hundreds of thousand hunter days in the field in the Northern Rockies occured with the highest of ethical standards; self agrandizing demagogues Skoglund & Niemeyer?
5. "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counteract ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage."
Rules for Radicals
By Saul Alinsky - 1971
Matt Skoglund — Dec 13 2010 12:25 PM
All,
Thank you for your comments. I really appreciate them.
Bob, I have no doubt that ethical hunting standards were practiced by many more hunters than not in the Northern Rockies this fall. But the existence of many ethical hunters does not make slob-hunting not a problem. By your logic, is drug abuse by teens not a problem because there are so many teens that don’t do drugs? Slob-hunting mars the name of hunting and wastefully kills wildlife; let’s not stick our heads in the sand on this issue.
Thanks again for commenting.
Matt
Rhonda Lanier — Dec 13 2010 02:35 PM
Matt, thank you for an excellent, informative, FACTUAL post. I am not a hunter but I do respect people such as yourself who hunt to put food on their table, and who respects wildlife and the environment.
The disgusting, self-serving bunch as described in Larry's comment above should have their "hunting" licenses revoked. And the fact that such activity is promoted by the National Park Service, Wyoming Fish and Game, Elk Refuge Managers and the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce is reprehensible, and I intend to let them know that most Americans would be appalled if they knew.
Brian Ertz — Dec 13 2010 07:54 PM
it sure is refreshing to read some substantiated facts about the whole thing ...
now ... if only advocates would get as riled up in agency meetings & otherwise contribute to public outcry about FACTS as anti's get just making shit up, we might gain some political headway !
otherwise i'm afraid that most lay-folk seem disinterested --- and politicians just want to put out the fire - even when it burns on bullshit.
Chris Larsen — Dec 14 2010 12:48 PM
Matt,
I didn't look at the link with the numbers. I trust that you did not skew them. I agree with you that the "slob hunters" are a huge issue and that needs to be addressed. Frankly, I think that many of them are the folks who were "grandfathered in" by many states and not required to take hunter's safety training. In my Wisconsin deer camp, I feel much safer hunting with 12 year olds than I do with 60 year olds. I think a good step would be to require everyone regardless of age to take hunters safety. We don't allow older folks to drive without testing but we allow them to fire high powered rifles around other people without any type of testing? As far as the wolves are concerned, I don't believe in the need to wipe them out. However, our packs are increasing fast in Wisconsin and we just don't have the habitat to support them. Incidents are increasing quickly and wildlife officials really have their hands tied as to what they can do. Due to all the court injunctions, there is no way for state agencies to manage them. I'd like to see things relaxed a bit so we can keep things more balanced. If you're interested in knowing more about Great Lakes Wolves, check out my podcast. http://foremosthunting.podbean.com/
Matt Passen — Dec 14 2010 02:09 PM
Really a great opinion piece, Matt. Very informative and well-written.
Michele E — Dec 14 2010 02:23 PM
Bravo - very well written, thank you!
Lou Santini — Dec 14 2010 03:06 PM
A great read Mr. Skoglund - thank you.
Bob Fanning — Dec 17 2010 03:19 PM
"Slob-hunting mars the name of hunting and wastefully kills wildlife; let’s not stick our heads in the sand on this issue" pretty pompous preaching from a kid just weaned off of Clearasil don't you think Matt?
It's only an "issue" because you manufactured it Matt.
Your subjective assessment of those you have not seen first hand in your above narative creates an "issue"
Your whole diatribe is based on heresay.
I've hunted for 50 years and live off elk meat all year every year and so do most of my friends.
We find your story about snow shoeing to a mountain top and packing out the head and 4 quarters INCREDULOUS but refrain from calling you a liar because we weren't there.
Just like you weren't there when the 30 shots went off when you stood in judgement of an unknown number of people.
The whole hunting community vs. the anti hunting faction boils down to people standing in judgement of people to craft a style and image now, doesn't it Matt.
Doug Smith calls himself a "hunter " too.
No one has ever seen him in the field ith a rifle in the past 15 years.
Matt Skoglund — Dec 17 2010 05:11 PM
Bob,
Thanks for another comment. You wrote, “I've hunted for 50 years and live off elk meat all year every year and so do most of my friends.” I think that’s great, which is why I’m surprised at your comment. I wrote about slob-hunting, something that’s bad for elk and bad for hunting. As a guy that lives off elk meat every year, I assume you would agree that slob-hunting is bad.
My blog and comment were about slob-hunting, but you haven’t said a thing about slob-hunting. You’ve been questioning whether the stories are true and taking a few shots at me. Forget the two stories I cited and linked to; let’s just talk about slob-hunting generally. Do you not agree it’s bad for elk and bad for hunting?
I also don’t appreciate you slinging mud at my elk, which was one of the most amazing hunts of my life. Do you really find it incredulous that someone snowshoed into the mountains to look for elk the last weekend of the season? Isn’t that just, well, late-season elk-hunting in Montana? If you really need to see a picture of me with the elk, here you go: http://twitpic.com/3gve4q
At a time when hunting continues to become less popular nationally, does it serve the hunting community’s interest for an older ethical hunter like yourself to spend time taking shots at a younger one?
You and I may disagree about a lot of things, but I’d like to think we both agree that elk-hunting is great, slob-hunting is bad, and we don’t want to see elk wasted.
Matt
Karen Hackey — Dec 17 2010 06:00 PM
Reading this article was like a breath of fresh air. Common sense, respect and compassion toward wildlife would help close a gap between many bunny huggers and the hunting community and also it would be honorable if hunters would speak out against unethical standards practiced by some in their brotherhood. I've lived 30 years on a NM farm & ranch, and have many conscientious friends who hunt. I know some of the "others" too & their stories are atrocious.
Matt Skoglund — Dec 17 2010 06:09 PM
All,
Thank you for your comments. Chris, I look forward to listening to your podcast. Thanks for sharing it.
Happy holidays.
Matt
Billijo Beck — Dec 17 2010 09:32 PM
Well, there some points in your little story that need to be clarified due to not reporting them correctly.
1. You start out with our high numbers of Elk in the 3 western states. As a second generation Outfitter in the state of Idaho as well as someone who talks monthly with the IDFG dept on game numbers of our ungulates and have read countless study's as well. Please remember Matt that Idaho at one time had more elk then the whole state of Co. Now we have a measly 110,000 head of elk. And it shows in people not wanting to come hunt this state. IDFG has lost 10 MILLION dollars this year from NON residents who didn't want to pay the increased fees and deal with LESS game.
2. You say these 3 states have 1700 wolves. That seems strange because the IDFG Say they have Over 1,000 wolves JUST in Idaho. Maybe you are not talking to the correct IDFG guys I am talking too. I only get to talk to people such as Unsworth, Powers, Keegan and a few others as such.
3. The Last time I checked the RMEF did NOT manage wildlife in these 3 states. However, the IDFG manages Idaho and the MT wildlife services managed MT. and the Wy Fish and game Managed WY. What the RMEF since I am a LIFE member of has said, that WHERE there is No Wolves the elk herds have grown 20% each year. Where there ARE wolves our game numbers have Crashed. PLEASE try to keep it honest in your blog. I will be MORE then happy to get the letter where Allen Coe has mentioned this. Twisting the truth for your purpose Doesn't cut it.
4. Slob hunters. Yeah, just like slob drivers. There are some. But, to twist the story and say Slob hunters are the reason WHY our elk and other species have crashed in Idaho, MT, or WY is hog wash and I wonder how much of a true hunter you really are. Let me remind you since you want to throw out the USFWS numbers as well on the Canadian Grey Wolf that back in 1994 they said these Wolves would only eat 12 elk a year per wolf. Wow, Turns out these Wolves eat 29 elk a year per wolf. Also they forgot to tell us all about the sport killings they do as well as the fetus ripping out that they do. So, With the Surplus killings and the Fetus rippings, who really is the SLOB KILLER.....We follow laws. If people are out killing or shooting things up. They get caught, they pay a fine and most loose their right to hunt. Wolves, KILL, KILL, and Kill some more and their supporters do a big Hurrah!!!!
Last but not least. The wolf issue has done Major economic Damages to the these 3 states. From the IDFG own conservation projects to the out of control wolf numbers, to ranchers suffering to Outfitters going out of business, from the mom and pop stores shutting down from loss of non resident funds. This should be your story. Not trying to blame humans once again for YOUR wolf.
dan gardner — Dec 17 2010 11:15 PM
i am a 3rd generation elk hunter and avid outdoorsman
Rick Ready — Dec 17 2010 11:30 PM
The topic of slob hunting and all that is being attributed to it is nothing less than amazing. If one was to only think that elk only resided in the Northern Rockies then all these points MIGHT hold a drop of water in a bottomless bucket. But I'm not seeing or hearing of hunters wiping out the non-wolf states elk populations (using that term a loosely as possible knowing that wolf introduction has been suggested in all elk states). Has Oregon and Washington had there elk herds drop in drastic percentage points? How about Colorado? Or are you suggesting that Idaho, Montana and Wyoming are the exclusive states that support hunters who you are labeling "slobs"?
Bottom line, if you wish to generalize that the elk herds decline are a direct result of human hunters, then a comparison of ALL areas would be required to give a valid summation of what you smear about and call "facts".
All in all I do believe you have again supported Alinsky's eleventh tactic very well. If you wish to attack my point of you feel free, but in order to do so please have the information about ALL states and their elk population trends over the past 20 years, adding 5 years beyond wolf introduction, to give a picture of what is really happening, not what you want the world to believe.
No doubt there are hunters who are poor shots and for all we know Carter may be the biggest one of all, but to suggest that "slob" hunting is limited to an area that you choose to address just reinforces the validity to your underlying radical views in support of wolves. Oh, that meant B.S. Carter! I do believe you are very familar with that rebuttal~
dan gardner — Dec 18 2010 12:05 AM
ok now i have figured out how this thing works, i am a 3rd generation idaho elk hunter and avid outdoorsman, when i was a kid growing up it was nothing to see 200 elk on 1 evening drive in hay feilds not to far from where i grew up in the spring now you might see 2, this is not from slob hunters( of the human kind). most of the state of idaho that the elk used to inhabit is very remote and the elk flurished in these areas, it is very remote and extremely rugged, it is prime country for the elk to live in not prime country for people. winter comes in at the end of september and it doesnt leave until the middle of july in some places, so what i am getting at is that there is but a few people that actually can get the time off from thier busy schedualls to eithe hire an outfitter or feed 10 head of horses and mules so they can use them for 2 weeks a year to go hunt elk, there is even fewer people that are tough enough to endure the lifestyle while you are out there so when you get all done weeding out the wimps and the people that are stuck in town trying to earn a living and the people thatwill never sit astraddle of a horse to pack way back in there( and we are talking up to 50 miles way back in there so backpacking is all but out of the question) there is only a handfull of people that will hunt that part of the world and 95% (in my opinion) are good ethical hunters and that is allowing for some to make mistakes, we are human, you are trying to tell me that those few (maybe 50 leaning way to your side ) people have went into the mountains and slob hunted in the selway bitteroots and the upper lochsa and the upper clearwater mountains and destroyed the elk population. andi suppose you are trying to tell me that because we see way more wolf sign or wolves than we ever do see elk or elk sign is just coincidence. and as far as the slob hunting goes, it dies happen not very often but it does, and it happens close to town because the slobs are to lazy to actually go out and hunt this is just the way it is and that is why the get caught, and why you hear so much about it. in the last 10 years in idaho anyway it has all but dissappeared becaus of increased game warden patrolls and increased fines and bounties if you turn someone in for breaking the law while hunting, so you can live in your own little world and beleive that the wolves are wearing thier golden crowns and prancing through the woods helping all the little creatures make it through the winter, and the big bad hunters come out to just slaughter whole herds of wild game and leave them to rot, or you can take the time out of your life get out into the mountains during all seasons and do some hands on investigating, talking to people, veiwing the wolf kills that have been left to rot nothing but the insides eaten ect ect im sure you have heard it all but you need to go out and get a visual before making your uneducated decisions, and education doesnt come from a text book on this one
Tad Sherman — Dec 18 2010 12:12 AM
Billijo and Rick, fantastic comments. It amazes me that with "factual" quotes and numbers from the pro wolf folk, that only the benificial ones are used. Wolves are not the problem here, the problem is managment. With all species some sort of managment is important, weather it be control ot protection. The wolf population has had neither.
Roy Heberger, a basic understanding of biology will help you. The wolves that were a non-existant preditior until reintroduced are now hunting cervid populations that had been higher than ever. Those populations can support a certain number of wolves for a certain period of time. Once the cervid populations drop to a point that the wolve population cannont support itself they will then die off. At that point the cervids and canines will start to find a level point that will support both populations.
Again the wolves aren't evil, I enjoy hearing them in the wild, it is the politics behind them that is the true evil..........
Tad Sherman — Dec 18 2010 12:25 AM
BTW Matt i do like your blog. It is well written and the "slob" hunters do nothing but give everyone else a black eye. I see things each year that makes it so i could never have any ground to stand on in that argument.
And also realize that is is the poachers or game violators that are the "slobs". it is more damaging to true hunters than anything else. They are not "hunters" but killers with no respect towards the wildlife.
Bruce Hemming — Dec 18 2010 12:26 AM
You are following Hitler advise tell a lie often enough and loud enough people will believe it. So 1700 wolves is complete and utter LIE. Dr Mech testify in Federal court there was at least 3000 wolves in the North West. Wolves according to you the Yellowstone study reproduce at 32% each year and 1000% every 8 years/ So we know how the fraud works. The " so called" wolf experts don't count single or doubles or un known packs. The true numbers of wolves could easily be 5000 or more. The elk numbers you quote are base in lies of computer model and has nothing to do with the reality of what is in the woods. The next con in this wolf cult scam is to declare the elk and deer are endangered and hunting must be stop. Of course again playing the Hitler card saying all hunter are poachers. This is straight out of the Nazi handbook. Meanwhile the vile Eco Nazi lawyer will being suing on these issue and becoming billionaire caring not one bit about the eco system the elk or the wolves this is all about greedy lawyers getting rich. When you are rich you can give grants to University to bribe studies in your favor corrupt USFWS with high dollar speaking engagement. Track the money and find the evil greedy lawyers. Meanwhile the grassroots efforts to stop this people on the ground living with these useless mutts have to watch their friends and neighbor go out of business so a few greedy lawyers can get rich. That is the real wolf plan.
Billijo Beck — Dec 18 2010 12:31 AM
I agree to some point with you Tad, Management is ALL Idaho has EVER asked for. We were Promised back in 1995 that we would ONLY have about 150 wolves. 15 years later we have Over 1,000 wolves in Idaho and they are Still on the ESA list.
The other thing most don't know, Idaho sold Thousands of wolf tags and killed about 280 some odd wolves. We Didn't "slaughter" them all as the PRO Wolf people said we would. However, when the Pro wolf side slapped them back on the ESA list boy, the public relationships went out the window in a hurry and NOW we have NO tolerance for the wolf.
The part that I do NOT agree with is that the wolves will die off from starvation. Maybe back in the old west. However if you have checked the landscape now, It's called towns and cattle and sheep. This is why now we have wolves in towns, Wolves in cattle pens killing calves and cows, We have wolves killing dogs off of porch's, confronting people in their driveways. When wolves reduce their prey to Zero they head to town. Hunger is a powerful force.
Idaho has done a pretty damn good job managing our other Big game predators. Where once there was a bounty on the mountain lion and the bear by the wool growers assoc. and the cattle man's assoc. We now have a healthy pop. and we have management for these species. Hunting them Saved them. And until the Pro wolf people understand that then the wars will continue.
Ed Doll — Dec 18 2010 01:02 AM
Lets see the elk herd in yellowstone before wolves were introduced was just above 19,000 and now (present day) it's down to around what 4,000...WOW that's alot of slob hunting...I'm not buying what you're trying to sell Matt, sorry...I agree with Bob Fanning and Rick Ready...
Matt not only uses rules #5,#11 out of Saul Alinsky's playbook,but he also uses rule #6.
"A good tactic is one that your people enjoy" And I'm sure your people Matt ,(the wolf cult) are enjoying your tactic of blaming slob hunters for the decrease of the elk population...
I do not have elk in my state,but we do have a healthy deer population...I'm sure we have our slob hunters here, as do all states...But that (slob hunters) has not affected our deer herd here at all...
I was taught by my Grandfather to be an ethical hunter and resposible outdoorsman..I continue to use what I was taught,an pass these same lessons onto my children...I have no doubt that the outdoorsman and women of Idaho,Montana,and Wyoming have been taught the same standards by their ancestors...So Matt, your characterization of these fine people is not only a slap to their face, but to the whole hunting community across this great country...Let me say one more thing,reading this story made me want to throw my computer out the window...
Bob Fanning — Dec 18 2010 01:21 AM
" but I’d like to think we both agree that elk-hunting is great, slob-hunting is bad, and we don’t want to see elk wasted. "
Agreed.....and several hundred thousand of them were wasted on the wolf "reintroduction" program that lined the pockets of NGO's and their attorneys.
That "waste" was food for the poor , the voiceless and the common man. Right Matt?
I stand corrected on " INCREDULOUS "
Nice elk...now that you have your bull you can spend the rest of your life hunting elk cows because after all it's about the meat. Right Matt?
P.S. bison will never get listed after the cataclysm of wolf "reintroduction" Right Matt?
Scott — Dec 18 2010 02:54 AM
Matt,
I have no words to describe what you are attempting here. When you have carter N. shove his crap into a duologue, it is meaningless. He alone is responsible for the destruction of our elk hunting, and the destruction of the greatest ungulate herd in the nation.
I have no Idea what you are trying to prove by claiming there are "slob Hunters". I wont even try. You have done the job for us. Simply put, you are full of shit! When you made the claim to have snow shoe'd (by yourself) from atop a mountain, that took the cake. Have you ever herd the term "Dream Weaver"?Next time you and Carter try to denigrate hunters, find another forum.
Matt Skoglund — Dec 18 2010 09:31 AM
Thanks for writing back, Bob.
Scott, look at my comment above regarding my elk.
Have a nice weekend.
Matt
Jason Anderson — Dec 18 2010 09:45 AM
Matt
Lesson on Hunter Ethics.
First of all as a hunter I know their are bad apples among us. Hunters with no ethics. You have no ethics. You are working for the NRDC, you blog about poor hunters. A TRUE hunter, outdoorsman, rancher would only blog about being a great one. I read your bio, I believe you want to do whats right and live out west. but Your so called facts are not FACTS. You might live in Montana but you will always be from Chicago. Your dream of living in the west will be destroyed if your side wins. You are fighting on the wrong side, you have been brainwashed.
The true hunters, outdoorsmen, and ranchers really wants what is best. We want the wolves managed - not destroyed, we want our hunting rights preserved to hunt elk and deer, we want our livestock protected. we want our children to be safe, we want nature to be beautiful. I can live with a controlled wolf population, not one that is out to destroy our ways of life, like the organization that NRDC is. What is their real agenda in SAVING THE WOLVES. the wolves have been saved. Their real agenda is to end all huntiing, to get rid of guns, to control mankind. It is a Neo Nazi Democratic way of thinking.
Your blog isn't about poor huntermanship, it is about the wolf.
Kuddos to your hunting success, to your great adventures in the outdoors, but by damn. get out and find the real numbers, get out in the communities that are being hurt by uncontrolled wolf populations. Because in areas, they are going to destroy ungulates, they are coming to towns and killing pets, preying on folks' homes and school bus stops. They have our small communities up in arms.
Once you open your eyes to what is happening on our side, you just remember that little stream in your backyard and fight for what is right.
Someone with your talents and passion should be telling the whole story, not just the parts NRDC wants you to share.
Randell Talbot — Dec 29 2010 09:04 PM
Poor misinformed Jason (and Ed & Bob & Rick)! More people using a totally unrelated issue (hunting as supposedly "demonize by Democrats and Liberals") to justify the rampant slaughter of wolves. I've been following this throw-down for years, from my (in the eyes of many, no doubt) comfy, Ivory Tower in Liberal Academia (fill in more invectives if you wish--I'm sure you WILL) here in Massachusetts.
And no, I don't like hunting. But since it's part of the Constitution, I defend our right to do it. SLOB hunting (great name!) is another thing completely! Amazingly, we "leftist, elitists" in Mass. also have hunters and sadly, slob-hunters. Not all Bay-staters are enlightened.
We even have slob-fishermen! Actually, there are a LOT more of those, due to our proximity to the ocean. Thanks to their greed and total unwillingness to respect nature, some of the most productive fishing grounds in the world, like George's Banks, have been closed or restricted since the 1970's.
There is no defense for this waste. And you can't even make the (insane!) argument that cod and swordfish rampage around town, attacking schoolchildren and (I LOVE this one!) "preying on folks' homes"! Are you KIDDING? This would be hilarious if it weren't so ridiculous--and untrue!
I would LOVE to know exactly how many people have been killed by WOLVES in the entire U.S., never mind in their homes, vs. how many have been mauled & killed by dogs. How about HUMANS who do this? Or humans who randomly kill wildlife? There are a LOT more of those, aren't there?
Though I would never hunt, I respect Matt's decision to provide for his family in this way. It is millions of years old. As an anthropologist, I understand this. He is NOT a slob-hunter.
I think all of you other hunters should leave the propaganda out of the issue and listen to him. He doesn't seem like a raving Liberal and he's NOT from Massachusetts (we're a particularly despised group in your part of the country, what with our Liberal penchant for letting wolves live--yes, they are making a tiny comeback here!). Matt also knows his stuff.
I'd listen to him if you want to have any elk LEFT to hunt!