OR7, A Wolf Conundrum

Conundrum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conundrum

After spending the afternoon with a gray wolf stakeholder group, I have concluded that California gray wolf  management is a conundrum.

First question: Why is it important to re-establish wolves in California? Answer: It is not very important.

Second question: Why is it important to facilitate the successful rehabilitation of California wolf habitat to accommodate a stray wolf that has wandered into California? Answer: It is not very important.

Third question: What problems do wolves create for California ranchers, conservationists and wildlife managers? Answer: Too many to list.

Last question: Why are we holding meetings to make decisions about gray wolf management in California when there is only one known gray wolf in California? Answer:  California politics are out of control and we are driven by  a form of insanity, which is the result of guilt feelings (for all the evironmental destruction man has wreaked on the earth) and an out of control emotional attachment to iconic creatures – like wolves.

I am a wolf fan and I will be thrilled when I see my first wolf and hope to have a wolf  hide hanging on my wall some day, right next to a couple of coyote hides. You can bet that wolf hide won’t be from a California gray wolf.

Here are four possible solutions to the gray wolf situation. The simplest and most cost-effective approach? Have the gray wolf classified as a varmint so that it can be eradicated. This solution is simple, painless, proven and cheap. It worked well for almost 100 years. End of discussion.

If the simple, cheap, proven and painless solution is not acceptable, the second solution would be to work with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to create a recovery plan under the Federal Endangered Species Act. The recovery plan would establish management goals and create opportunities to fund activities like monitoring, study and mitigation for negative impacts to the species and its habitat. Hopefully, this would also create opportunities to manage other species, such as ungulates, that are critical prey species for wolves. But, I have to believe that the last thing the USFWS wants is to drag California into the already colossal fiasco that is taking place in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington – so odds are that this will not be the approach taken.

Another option is for California to take the lead in wolf recovery using a management plan as a guide. This option could create some problems by attempting to create a wolf program without proper funding. This approach would be particularly undesirable if wolves were delisted by the USFWS or is they make some type of formal decision that California is not important wolf habitat.

The last option  is for California to list wolves under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) and use the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as a tool to fund enhancement of wolf habitat and also habitat of related prey species. Land managers and conservationists could use the enormous power of CESA and CEQA to fund mitigation for habitat losses and compensate stakeholders who are negatively impacted by wolves. This type of action would prevent the creation of a (potenitally) huge unfunded mandate (option 3). And, politicians would be making the decision to go forward with a better idea of societal costs. Under this plan, wolves could thrive and so could their prey species.

(A side benefit would be that college freshmen planning a career in wolf management will have their chances for a success enhanced.)

The complexity of  this solution would be mind-boggling and also extremely expensive. Maybe that’s a reason for it to happen.

Californians can’t resist the temptation to spend money – especially on iconic creatures. The best thing about this last option is that it could result in improved habitat for and boost awareness of the other species out there that share wolf habitat – like mule deer. Wouldn’t it be ironical if one stray wolf accomplished all that for California wildlife?

Oh. There is another solution. California’s lone wolf (OR7) could go back home to Oregon and never come back. That would be nice.

Now, having this off my chest, maybe I can go to bed and get some sleep.

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Tomorrow the CA F&G Commission will designate the Gray Wolf as a Candidate for the California Endangered Species List

The petition is in and the facts support the fact that the gray wolf was once an inhabitant of California. At this time, there is probably at least one gray wolf in California. Somebody knows for sure.

As a hunter, I have a concern for this action. If the petition were prepared by other hunters, I’d support the move. Because the petition has been produced by anti hunters, I have concern.

We admire and respect wolves because they represent everything we love about hunting and the outdoors. They are one of the supreme hunters among us. They are cunning and overpowering.

Unfortunately, unchecked, they have the ability to destroy our game herds. There seems to be no moderation  of the events surrounding wolves and this is fitting because wolves are not moderate.

An Idaho friend of mine is an elk-hunting fanatic. He owns his own pack string and hunts remote places in the Salmon River Wilderness. He has been a successful elk hunter for many years. About 15 years ago he told me he heard his first wolf  and that hearing that howl ”was really cool.”

On this year’s trip, he searched in all the traditional places. And, he found not a single elk. I didn’t ask him about wolves.

I didn’t need to.

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How Many Mustangs can a Gray Wolf Eat?

Non-native wild horses are overly abundant in many western states, including California. Their presence has a negative impact upon the habitat of many native species including mule deer.

Another species is now present in California that may also have a negative impact upon mule deer. Concerned about predation by gray wolves, I asked a biologist friend if he thought gray wolves would impact the California mule deer population.

His response may have been only half serious, but he said the wild horses might have more to worry about than the deer.

In an effort to do some research and establish parameters for continuation of this discussion, I conducted an internet search for more information. I searched for “Wolves and wild horses” on Goggle Search.

This was my answer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b2ZMwxMsXM

Not satisfied with this answer, I modified my search and came up with information provided in the following link. I believe the second link is  more accurate and realistic: http://washparkprophet.blogspot.com/2007/09/lions-wolves-and-horses.html

For each horse that feeds a wolf, we’ll probably gain about ten mule deer. Wolves or horses? It’s a close call.

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Nevada Landowner Tag Auction March 8, 2012

UNIT 102

Ruby Mountains

To be auctioned at the March 8^th, 2012, Livermore-Pleasanton Mule Deer Foundation Annual Banquet.  The first tag will be auctioned and the high bidder will have the opportunity to buy the second tag at the same price.  To bid by phone contact Randy Morrison at (707) 592 9998, prior to the night of the dinner.

 Unit 102 runs from Highway 80 at the North end, to Harrison Pass on the South end, (see map) and there are several guides and outfitters who provide service for the unit.  For additional information contact Bob Holm @ 925 447 2044.

 A Landowner Tag allows you to hunt ALL of the legal seasons (with the appropriate weapon) in Unit 102.

 ESTIMATED season dates.  Actual dates will be published by Nevada Dept. of Wildlife

Archery:                    9/1 to 9/14

Muzzle Loader:       9/15 to 9/30           

Early Rifle:                10/ 1 to 10/12

Middle Rifle:            10/ 13 to 10/26

Late Rifle:                  10/27 to 11/5

Late archery:           11/10 to 11/30

 A Landowner Tag can allow access to hunting areas otherwise restricted by private property.   

The Ruby Mountains, during the last several  years, have  provided excellent opportunities on self guided hunts for really good bucks.  The deer numbers are the highest in many years and there is an excellent buck to doe ratio.  The earlier season hunts can be challanging as the good bucks are in batchelor groups on the top of the mountain.

If you’re not a strong hiker an outfitter can take two hunters on a horseback drop camp to the top, with all your own gear, and return, for about $600 each.

Also available are the typical fully guided week long hunts.  Generally these hunts are not available in the middle and late seasons as the weather is too unpredictable.

Here's a nice Ruby Mt buck tagged with a landowner tag in 2010

Of coarse the late rifle season hunts can be less challenging as the bucks pull out of the high country and the rut is active as well.  An early winter can produce great hunting in the low desert country, much of that on the private ranch land.

Basiccally this hunt can be as easy or difficult as you like.

Note: This hunt description was provided by Bob Holm, co-chair of the Livermore-Pleasanton Chapter of MDF. Bob has purchased Nevada landowner tags in the Ruby Mountains and elsewhere.

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California Fails to Manage Mountain Lions

Mountain lions are an essential element of California ecosystems. Unfortunately they are not currently managed in any form. Although the most important cougar prey species, blacktail and mule deer, are managed, a failure to manage the main species that eats deer makes deer management less predictable.

 

This California lion was photographed with a trail camera near Livermore. A lion like this can take a heavy toll on a local deer population, especially if she has juvenile cubs.

Other states have progressive, scientific methods of managing wildlife and consider mountain lions a game animal that is hunted with quotas to make sure numbers of deer, deer hunters and lions is balanced. California is out of touch.

Congratulations to Dan Richards, pictured above with his Idaho mountain lion – which appears to be a huge tom.

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The Harry Rowell Buck

Got this email message from Paul Cardoza regarding the post, “The Good Old Days.”

Rich, here’s the pic of me holding the buck I came across at the Sports show in Frisco, 1981. Stan Escover had the 9×12 photo that we compared Rowells buck with the buck one I’m holding in this pic. The picture that Stan had showed the same bucks, same place, but the buck in front of Harry, was rearranged showing the bucks huge rack a lot better than the print that you posted. To me anyway, the bucks in both pictures proved to be one and the same. Stan still may have that pic, I don’t know…  Paul

Here’s Paul’s photo:

Paul Cardoza holding the Harry Rowell buck's antlers in 1981.

In case you missed it, here’s the photo in the previous post.

Harry Rowell and hunting partner Johnny

Wonder where those great Nevada antlers went.

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The Rut

During the BC hunt, I was able to video bucks chasing does on two occasions. Watch these videos and you’ll see for your own eyes that whitetail bucks are more aggressive breeders.

The first clip is a good-sized muley buck and the second clip a smaller whitetail buck. These deer were filmed within a mile of each other.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOh8hv9pTUg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMFgIa9lRb8

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After a Great Week in CA, Leaving for a BC Trophy Deer Hunt Tomorrow

The middle of November is both frustrating and exhilarating. Duck season is always ebbing as pheasant season begins. Yesterday morning was classic. After three hours of working at bagging  a mallard, a stiff late-morning wind brought a flock of mallards within range and I managed to bring one down. The final approach duck boat is working well and I’m getting comfortable with it. Hauling the boat is sometimes a lot of work, but when you finally get into position, it’s deadly.

Final Approach duck boat

Expectations of  bagging a rooster were very low. I was surprised when we corralled one right off the bat. Cousin Wes brought him down easily and any one of the four of us would have killed him if Wes had missed. Same thing with the second bird, which brother Rob dropped.

Later in the afternoon, we split up. Wes and Rob finished off their limits and Lola followed a rooster for nearly ten minutes before putting him up at my feet. I too had a bird.

Here's Lola with a rooster from last year.

This was a good wrap to a week that included a very nice grasslands duck hunt at a friend’s club on Wednesday. This morning the birds went into the freezer and now it’s time to conclude my packing for BC which is nearly done.

What does a trophy hunt mean to me? It means the best of everything. Best guide, best food, best equipment and most excitement. I’m prepared to bring home the venison in large U.S. Army duffel bags and insulated soft coolers.

However, trophy hunting often means coming home with the least game, as trophy hunting means selectivity. I won’t shoot a deer this week unless it’s the bigger than any deer I’ve killed of that species.

A mule buck will have to be bigger than my 2008 Nevada buck

For whitetail that doesn’t say much because I’ve never killed one. For mule deer that means a mature, heavy-horned,  four-point buck with very good outside dimensions.

I’ll be hunting  with Kiff Covert of Dome Creek Outfitters. I met Kiff at the Mule Deer Foundation Convention last February.

For me, trophy hunting is just like any other hunting, except it’s usually just a little bit better.

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Sometimes You Need Some Luck

Saturday morning Aug 17, 2000 the opening morning of the CA x-12 deer season.

Rob and I had drawn archery tags for the unit and planned to hunt just west of the Nevada border near Lobdale Reservoir, known for it’s population of grayling trout.

We set up camp about two miles east of the reservoir along Desert Creek’s north fork. Camp was basic, sleeping pads, cook stove and a couple of camp chairs for relaxing. 

On the first morning I chose to hunt high and Rob picked the desert to the North. After parking the ATV at an elevation of 10,000 feet, I almost immediately ran into a bachelor band of bucks feeding on an open ridge loaded with snowberry bushes. I tried an ambush which failed when the deer changed course and laid down in the sage. Temporarily I lost track of them and then found them again when they stood and joined up with a group of does. 

The seven deer consisted of four bucks and three does. The biggest buck was a 3×3 (about 22” wide) followed closely by a 4×4 (also about 22” wide), a 4×3 (about 18” wide) and a small forked horn. 

The deer meandered across the draw and eventually disappeared. I knew it would be a while before the bucks would bed, so I took advantage of the opportunity to glass for other deer. I moved up the ridge and glassed an open hillside across the canyon. 

Several does waited patiently to check their back trail before calling to their fawns, which had been hiding safely in the mountain mahogany. The four bucks reappeared as they climbed into view across the canyon. They reached a plateau and began milling about in preparation for bedding. It was now about 9:00 AM and the sun was beginning to force the issue – or so it seemed. The spot where they were apparently about to bed  was nearly unreachable by a human with bow and arrow, so I re-focused my glassing in search of attainable bucks. 

I moved into the shade of a patch of white pine and took note of a bench across the canyon, a spot that appeared to be perfect for big-buck bedding. The four bucks reappeared and left the plateau that could have been their fortress. They crossed  a small creek and began their ascent to the bench I had been watching. As the sun rose to a scorching overhead position, the four bucks bedded under mountain mahogany bushes on the bench. 

I considered the stalk – it would be a gruesome climb. Steep, hot and through brush. It was still early in the day and the bucks should remain bedded on that bench until late afternoon, if left undisturbed, so I headed back to the ATV and camp. I wasn’t confident that I could climb that mountain and approach the bucks undetected. Personal conditioning and wind direction were major concerns. 

Back at camp, Rob reported that he had spotted a very good buck and was planning to stalk a mountain mahogany patch out in the desert. I reported my findings and uneasiness about attempting a stalk. Rob attempted to encourage me, but it didn’t help. I ate lunch and returned to the hillside, still uncommitted to a stalk. 

Glassing the bench once again, I made a final decision to pass on the opportunity. I didn’t have “legs” for the stalk and the inconsistent wind sealed my decision. The bucks eventually rose and trotted off the bench, disappearing from my view. 

On day two, I chose to glass the open desert floor at about nine thousand feet in elevation, near the area where Rob had spotted the big buck on opening day. No deer materialized in the low ground so I headed back up the mountain for day three, with plans to check out a new area adjacent to the mountain where the four bucks lived. On my way, I once again came across the 3×4 and forked horn bucks, but not the two larger bucks. 

Once I arrived at the area I wanted to explore, I realized that it wasn’t the honey hole that I’d been looking for. Retracing my steps, I set up to glass the popular bench where the bucks had bedded on opening day. At 10:00 AM, the bench was visible, but no bucks were present. 

I decided to hike back to the ATV. After crossing the canyon and ascending the opposite slope, I raised my field glasses to check the bench one last time before departing. To my surprise, two bucks, a 3×3 and a 4×4 lay beneath the mahogany bush on the bench. It looked like the 4×4  and 3×3 I’d seen two days previously. I felt that I must try for them. From my new vantage point, I could see an easier route to the bench, a route that had not been visible to me the previous day,  but the wind was still uncertain.
After debating the wind direction while watching soaring red tailed hawks and considering other evidence available, I chose the down-canyon approach, but still feared that swirling wind would give me away. About 1:00 PM I began my assent. 

I took my time and rested periodically. I’d already covered a lot of ground this day. The steep slope and my poor conditioning made the climb challenging, but the slow pace and rest stops kept me going. By mid afternoon I was in position, 20 yards from the buck’s bed with two antler tines from the four-point buck in view above the top of the mahogany bush. I waited for the buck to stand. 

Fearing that he would spot me immediately, I planned to draw the bow at the first hint that he was standing. A half hour passed, then another and I remained ready. Eventually the horn tip shifted and I drew. False alarm. A few minutes later, the horn tips tilted again and as I drew the 65#  Jennings compound to full draw  – the buck rose. 

To my surprise, it was not the same 4×4 I had seen two days earlier. This buck was much wider, with considerable antler outside his ears, but it was a quick study. 

Holding at full draw, I considered a shot as the buck starred in my direction, quartering toward me. He had seen my movement. Within seconds he stotted off the bench and down the mountain. The shot offered had not been adequate.

But, I had seen two bucks so I remained motionless and waited for the 3-point. A few more minutes passed. The 3-point appeared from behind a different mahogany bush at about 50 yards.

He was feeding and appeared calm. I put my rangefinder on him – 54 yards – a little further than I cared to shoot. As his head disappeared behind a bush I began my sneak.

My very first step revealed another problem. Another buck, the original 4×4 that I’d seen on opening day, stood looking my direction. I couldn’t move closer. I remained motionless, unsure what the buck would do. Would he bolt and ruin any remaining chances?

The wind blew so hard that the extra length of webbing on my belt strap began to slap against my leg. I worried that they’d hear it.

Eventually the smaller 4×4 calmed down and began feeding away from me. But, in response to the bucks attitude, the 3 point buck was now acting nervous and began to stare in my direction. I decided to take the next available shot at the slightly larger buck.

When he began to reach down for something to eat and flicked his tail, I knocked an arrow, drew and released. The buck hunched up, kicked his hind legs and ran in my direction. As he passed, I attempted to knock another arrow and get a shot off as he slowed, but there wasn’t quite enough time before he stepped out of sight heading down hill – obviously hit.

I became quite anxious. I wasn’t sure where the arrow had struck, but after retrieving the arrow, I was certain of very good penetration.

I gathered my thoughts and waited a few minutes – then I carefully sneaked over the hill and found blood – a good trail. After following the blood drops for about 60 yards, I came upon the buck, laying in the trail, head up and looking down the hill that lay before him – apparently still unaware of what had taken place.

I waited as patiently as I could, hoping the buck would expire.

Feeling pain from the climbing and stress from the uncertainty of the situation, I sat down to wait – only 20 yards from the buck. I couldn’t see the buck’s body so another shot was out of the question. Instinct told me that the buck was probably mortally wounded, but I couldn’t be sure yet.

After about ten or fifteen minutes, I stood to verify the condition of the buck – he was gone. Searching the hillside, I relocated him about 50 yards down hill in a different patch of brush. Once again only his antlers, head and back were visible. I decided to attempt a shot at the neck of the buck.

From 20 yards, I was comfortable that I could hit the target, but would the arrow do the job? I drew and aimed at the base of the buck’s neck. At the release, the arrow glanced off the buck and he took off running down the hill for about 100 yards. Then he stopped and laid down in full view. Now I could see the wound. It appeared to be a liver shot. The arrow had entered the chest cavity about four inches behind the heart, but apparently no major blood vessels had been severed.

I decided to play the waiting game once again. I sat and watched with the buck looking in my direction. Several times he laid his head down and I thought it might be over, but each time he would raise his head back up.

Finally I started thinking about the time of day, I was running out of time. I needed to end this before sunset. Approaching the buck again, I ranged him at 50 yards. With vitals exposed, I wanted to reach 40 yards before I took the killing shot. At 40 yards I began to draw my bow and the buck bolted again – stopping in a small aspen patch about 50 yards further down the hill.

I walked slowly up to the deer. It was not the best shot, but I did have an angle at his chest. Desperate to put this all to an end, I drew and took the best shot I could. As the arrow penetrated deeply, the buck ran down the hill at full speed and disappeared out of sight. I ran to a vantage point, too late. He was out of sight.

I quickly picked up his trail and recovered the bloody arrow, complete penetration. A few drops of blood were splattered on snowberry bushes and sage, but after 20 more yards, the trail evaporated.

Downcast, and tired, I didn’t have the patience to search for the tiny drops of blood, but I felt certain that I could find the buck by checking the most likely spots for him to bed down. With about an hour left until dark, I felt an urge to hurry.

I searched up the canyon and down, across the sage flat and in the nearby aspen patch. Where had he gone? The sun was setting on my chances of recovering the buck in an edible condition.

I was doomed. Mentally and physically exhausted I climbed out of the canyon, not believing I could have come so close with such a bad outcome. I figured I’d recover the buck in the morning, but next-day recoveries are generally horns only. Laying out all night with intestines in place produces unpalatable venison.

Arriving in camp near 10:30 PM, I related the story to Rob. He volunteered to help in the morning.

Shortly after first light, Rob and I began to scour the buck’s trail, this time, with assistance, my reading glasses and a good night’s rest.

One drop at a time, I trailed the buck 200 yards across the sagebrush flat and into the draw where the small spring creek disappeared. Rob found blood on rocks along the edge of the creek and in the willows. It wasn’t long before Rob announced he’d found the buck.

A nice 3x3 buck taken with archery equipment in 2000.

Good news. He had fallen into the creek and had been covered by ice-cold mountain spring water all night. The meat was saved and so was my attitude. It didn’t take up long to complete a photo session, bone out the meat and load the bounty into my backpack for the mile-long hike back to the ATV. The hunt had been validated.

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Thoughts for Planning Your Deer Hunt in 2010

This young X12 buck was taken during the '08 rifle season at more than 11,000 feet elevation. California has some big mountains.

Whether hunting public lands in an X zone, D zone or B zone, your best bet is to find a camp site that is remote enough that other hunters won’t be in your face. Once you locate such a site, the next key is to set up your camp early enough to give yourself a head start.

Last deer season, we arrived at our camp site two days before the opener. The year before, we arrived at our camp site three days before the opener. In order to arrive at your camp site two days before opening day, you must leave home the day before that. In other words, you need to devote three or four of your days off to arriving in position to hunt before everybody else.

This may sound painful, and to some extent it is, but getting there early is one key (but not a guarantee) to having a place to hunt (on public ground) that is not overrun with hunters. It also gives you time to set your camp up leisurely, locate good glassing locations and to intercept other hunters who may intend to set up camp right in your lap.

I remember my brother telling me about watching a group of bucks that lived in a high bowl in X9a. He located the bucks and camped out in position to respot them on opening morning. When first light arrived, he spotted only a new camp and tent set up in the middle of the bowl where the bucks had been.

Last year, I was scouting the ridge just north of our camp when I spotted five riders and their mules heading directly for the basin which we intended to hunt. I was very concerned as a camp in that basin would have severely limited our hunting territory. As I approached, one of the riders turned towards me and stopped to visit.

When I explained where our camp site was and where we intended to hunt, he graciously volunteered to reverse course, for three main reasons. 1.) He knew that the seven of us could not successfully hunt within a mile of each other. 2.) He respected the fact that we were there ahead of him. 3) He was a gentleman.

Not everybody would have done what he did, and I respect him for leaving us room to hunt without making a big deal of it. Even though we had a fair amount of territory to ourselves, the three of us didn’t take home a buck. But, we did have chances and that’s all you can hope for. With a little luck we could have knocked down a big buck.

It’s not only other hunters that can interfere with your hunt. On another recent hunt, a group of geologists made camp next to us and proceeded to bang on rocks on the ridge top all day long the day before the season opened.

Two years ago, we arrived at or base camp ahead of everybody and spent three days glassing for deer. When opening day arrived, we knew where just about every buck in the canyon was hiding and we benefited from the head start. We’re not in the shape we used to be, but with a three-day head start, we were able to get into position to have the opportunities to fill tags. Sometimes things work out.

Three of the four of us bagged bucks that year - all of them were at pretty high elevations. Most of the hunters we observed were hunting below us.

One of the keys to finding a big buck, is to have time to locate it before the shooting starts. Each day the season wears on,  bucks become harder to find and you’ll only locate then in their hides if you know approximately where they live.

Then, you can sit on top of them until they move and give away their location. With luck you’ll get a shot and hopefully you won’t have to carry him too far to reach camp.

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