Wolf Baiting

Gord · #1 10-27-2009, 10:45 PM

Guys and Gals

A group of us are planning a wolf hunt this winter and I am looking for advice on baiting. What is the best type of bait to use is the first question I have? How would one keep a frozen carcass where it is placed? I was thinking some sheep or pigs might work, but was wondering if a person can get roadkill from the gov't for this purpose.

Next question is where to go...I've been watching the threads and it seems like people are seeing wolves and wolf sign pretty much anywhere there is forest. I would love to hook up with a farmer or rancher who is experiencing predation issues due to the possibility of having them maintain a bait site. Perhaps F&W might know of some upset ranchers that might welcome some hunters?

Also, would dragging a carcass behind an ATV or Argo up and down some cutlines create a scent trail and increase the possibility of some action if the trail led back to the bait pile?

Would wolves avoid bait contaminated with human scent?

Anyone with some experience to share?

So many questions...

Gord

NCC · #2 10-28-2009, 09:37 AM

Road killed deer work the best (IMO) but a pack of wolves will move in one night and the deer and wolves will be gone by morning. I also think that wolves maintain a pattern to keep marking their turf so even if they have not cleaned up a kill (or bait) they will move on in order to keep fresh scent on the rest of their territory. I've heard of some guys cutting a trench into the ice on a dugout, creek or lake and freezing the bait in and other guys have cut the bait into little pieces and froze the pieces into 5 gallon buckets in order to make the wolves work harder and longer for a meal. Some guys seem to have good luck baiting in the open and others say to bait in heavy cover. They also seem to come in at night quite often so a trail cam with a flash might deter them from striking the bait at night.

I think your best chance of killing one is a chance encounter while hunting other species. I've shot one over bait, one that responded to an elk call, and about six that I just ran into while deer hunting.

You are not permitted to use dead domestic livestock for bait unless it has been killed at an inspected butchering facility. I'm not sure if this rule is enforced on private land.

If you figure it out keep us posted. I plan on baiting again this winter as I had a couple of calves killed and I see wolf tracks almost everytime I go out.

timba · #3 10-28-2009, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCC

Road killed deer work the best (IMO) but a pack of wolves will move in one night and the deer and wolves will be gone by morning. I also think that wolves maintain a pattern to keep marking their turf so even if they have not cleaned up a kill (or bait) they will move on in order to keep fresh scent on the rest of their territory. I've heard of some guys cutting a trench into the ice on a dugout, creek or lake and freezing the bait in and other guys have cut the bait into little pieces and froze the pieces into 5 gallon buckets in order to make the wolves work harder and longer for a meal. Some guys seem to have good luck baiting in the open and others say to bait in heavy cover. They also seem to come in at night quite often so a trail cam with a flash might deter them from striking the bait at night.

I think your best chance of killing one is a chance encounter while hunting other species. I've shot one over bait, one that responded to an elk call, and about six that I just ran into while deer hunting.

You are not permitted to use dead domestic livestock for bait unless it has been killed at an inspected butchering facility. I'm not sure if this rule is enforced on private land.

If you figure it out keep us posted. I plan on baiting again this winter as I had a couple of calves killed and I see wolf tracks almost everytime I go out.

If you need any help shooting wolves,I would like to get one

sheepguide · #4 10-28-2009, 04:09 PM

Ive found calling to work the best as you can move more with the packs and dont have bait sites to move and set up. Hoping to get my wife in on some wolf action this winter. SG

Wulfespirit · #5 10-28-2009, 04:13 PM

Anyone actually tried predator calling wolves? Will they get up out of their beds for a rabbit?

sheepguide · #6 10-28-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wulfespirit

Anyone actually tried predator calling wolves? Will they get up out of their beds for a rabbit?

We call in lots of wolves every year. Any distress call works very well.

Wulfespirit · #7 10-28-2009, 04:19 PM

Interesting. Do you see multiples responding or mostly solo wolves?

sheepguide · #8 10-28-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wulfespirit

Interesting. Do you see multiples responding or mostly solo wolves?

largest pack i called in was at the Monds lick in the Blackstone and it had 14 wolves in it. 6 came across the flats and the rest hung around timbers edge on the far side. We got 3 of them. The 6 came across over 500yards of open country.

NCC · #9 10-28-2009, 04:36 PM

I went out to check my bait one morning and I could hear the wolves howling so I howled back and they came in to about 200 yards and stalled out. Checking their tracks later, I discovered that while 9 or 10 pack members stayed in front howling, a single wolf had circled me in the bush, winded me and buggered off, taking the rest of the pack with them. I was trying to get them in close enough to get more than one and ended up not pulling the trigger. I guess that's what I get for being greedy. i've talked to others that have had them come in full bore to a predator call. Twice I've been out with a dog and had the wolves come after the dog. In both cases it was a full on charge as soon as they saw the dog and in both cases it would have been the end of my dog had I not shot them. On one occasion I also had a wolf come back to the first one I shot. The lead wolf was about 300 yds away and about to enter the bush so I shot her and within 5 minutes the male travelling with her was out sniffing her and I got him as well. If you stay hidden after the shot you are likely to get more than one. I also had the pack move a short distance and start howling after I shot one. If I had been quiet and still they probably would have came back, but like with most things it is too soon old and too late old.

Grizzly Adams · #10 10-28-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wulfespirit

Anyone actually tried predator calling wolves? Will they get up out of their beds for a rabbit?

Yup, worked for me. I will admit, when it happened, I was surprised. Very quickly and apparently no reluctance. When I told my taxidermist, I had done this many times previously, without any luck, he pointed out, the wolves have to be there.

Grizz

double gun · #11 10-28-2009, 06:58 PM

NCC that is one sweet wolf! I would give my left nut for a wolf like that.

timba · #12 10-28-2009, 08:19 PM

awesome wolf NCC

#13 10-28-2009, 10:19 PM

A good place to place bait is on a pond/lake somewhere. Get out your ice auger and place part of the carcass in the ice and let 'er freeze. That way they can't drag it off.

dj240 · #14 10-28-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubbya

A good place to place bait is on a pond/lake somewhere. Get out your ice auger and place part of the carcass in the ice and let 'er freeze. That way they can't drag it off.

Sure way to confuse some ice fishermen

ovis40 · #15 10-28-2009, 11:11 PM

The best bait I have seen was when some granola bars were hiking the Canol road in the NWT. They had a couple of dogs and one was in heat. The valley was lit up that day and some granola's had some BIG wide eyes

sourdough doug · #16 10-28-2009, 11:30 PM

Freezing bait on the ice is as good as anything. Moose heads work real well but if none are avail., whole coyotes frozen in profile and fixed on the ice is good too. Then do almost any kind of distress call, coyote howl, whatever, then hunker down, keep warm and wait..
lottsa luck... Good idea to check if wolves are in the area and not on their 3 week cycle, like they do at my place...

outbackpat · #17 10-29-2009, 07:42 AM

I'm going to wolf hunt as often as possible in wmz 328 this winter, doing my part on controling the toothy bugger's population.

rhuntley12 · #18 10-29-2009, 08:21 AM

Nice Wolf there, did you get a rug made?

Nice looking collie there too

NCC · #19 10-29-2009, 08:49 AM

I did get it rugged. It was shot in mid November and had a really nice hide; the guard hairs over the shoulders were 3-4" long. I wish I would have full mounted him and the bitch together.

Rantastic · #20 10-29-2009, 11:59 AM

wow ive never seen a black wolf yet, great job

timba · #21 10-29-2009, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outbackpat

I'm going to wolf hunt as often as possible in wmz 328 this winter, doing my part on controling the toothy bugger's population.

Pat we should pick a weekend and get together and try to nock down a few of them.

albertadave · #22 10-29-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ovis40

The best bait I have seen was when some granola bars were hiking the Canol road in the NWT. They had a couple of dogs and one was in heat. The valley was lit up that day and some granola's had some BIG wide eyes

Hey B. I think I remember that. Man, that's a few years ago now. Too funny.

BrownBear416 · #23 10-29-2009, 04:08 PM

Here is a COUPLE OF WOLVES ....

have not shot any for a few years but had a good run a few years back where we killed 5 in 2 years...

double gun · #24 10-29-2009, 04:14 PM

Awesome wolves BB!....nice whitetail aswell.

Acadienflyfish · #25 10-29-2009, 05:26 PM

here two wolf from two weeks ago

Rantastic · #26 10-29-2009, 06:55 PM

wow nice wolves acaidien, whereabouts in the province did you find that?

Lopa · #27 03-27-2010, 03:43 AM

year wonderful pictures =)
I Hope you uploud more ^^

#28 03-27-2010, 08:04 PM

I'm not sure, but I am under the impression that you couldn't bait wolves with wildlife? Therefore road-kill may not be legal. I've used beef/horse/pig, with some success.

buckbrushoutdoors · #29 03-27-2010, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrownBear416

Here is a COUPLE OF WOLVES ....

have not shot any for a few years but had a good run a few years back where we killed 5 in 2 years...

ok Jeff your offcialy the man! those are some nice wolves

#30 03-27-2010, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buckbrushoutdoors

ok Jeff your offcialy the man! those are some nice wolves

And that whitetail in the picture behind it looks pretty good too!