Jim Unsworth is blaming the gray wolf as the main reason for a 13% per year reduction in cow elk in the Lolo Hunting Zone. Another F&G biologist, George Pauley, states that at least 87% of the elk in this region needs to survive each year in order to sustain an elk herd. At present that survival rate is estimated at 75%.

According to the Black Bear Blog:

Reports out of Idaho are surfacing that say that the Idaho Department of Fish and Game intends to ask the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for permission to kill wolves that are destroying elk and deer populations in the Lolo Zone of North Central Idaho. Fish and Game Director Cal Groen says they have the proof that this is happening.

What is also being said is that this plan to ask the Feds to kill wolves is a contingency plan just in case the new Obama administration decides not to proceed with wolf delisting.

courtesy of roger g1

Boar hunting is generally the practice of hunting wild boars, but can also extend to feral pigs and peccaries. A full sized boar is a large strong animal armed with sharp tusks which defends itself strongly. Boar hunting has often been a test of bravery.

Boar hunters speak of their craft as having two basic methods. The first—“spot and stalk”—means that you walk through the countryside until you see a pig, then stalk it until you’re close enough for a good shot. The second method—“fair chase”—involves a pack of dogs, whose presence can turn a hunt into a complicated, noisy circus.

As far as weaponry goes, both the Pragmatist and the Philosopher swear by the Remington .308 rifle with scope, but almost any caliber gun will do. If you’re really serious about pig hunting, the bow and arrow apparently is the ultimate way to go. But remember: Creeping within 30 yards of a wild pig requires camouflage, and silent clothing. And a healthy reserve of courage.

The Boone and Crockett Club gave announced  new world record for Idaho hunter Denny Austad’s monster bull elk taken in Utah . So far, while many have been amazed at the size of the so-called “Spider Bull,” they’ve expressed dismay at the details of how the bull was taken.

Mark Henckel from the GazOutdoors-blog writes:

Austad shot the bull in a limited entry hunting unit in Utah, used a team of guides, scouts and spotters to help him hunt it and, in the process, filled the Utah governor’s tag he paid almost $170,000 for at auction which allowed him to hunt with a rifle even though others in the unit were limited to archery equipment or muzzleloaders during the time he was in the field.

What do you think?

Waterfowl hunting also called duck hunting is the practice of hunting ducks, geese, or other waterfowl for food and sport. In many western countries, commercial waterfowl hunting is prohibited, and duck hunting is primarily an outdoor sporting activity.

For those of you that don’t only like to hunt ducks but also like to eat them Murphydogs from the Murphy’s Bird Dog Blog posted a great recipes for duck gravy and duck sandwiches given to him by his mother.

Gabriele Klose simply couldn’t let the hunter kill the wild boar running around her flower store. Not after it looked up at her with big, innocent eyes. The hairy beast was one of thousands of wild boars that have discovered the charms of urban living in Germany’s leafy capital city. When the creature trotted out of rush-hour traffic one morning last month to root around the flower store, Ms. Klose’s first thought was: “That is one ugly dog.”

Read more about this funny story on The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles.