A Frightening, True Halloween Tale

[hardhead]

Greetings Will,

Sorry I have been out of touch! I do appreciate you keeping me posted and this thing is always in my thoughts. Your latest email reminded me of an incident that occurred last archery season with one of my guides and his hunters:

Joe and Mike were glassing for elk on "Bucks Knob", a point which allows one to overlook nearly the entire East side of Dome Mountain. Joe and Mike had been hunting all week, the elk being the normal, elusive critters they are. Joe and Mike were good matches as far as hunters and guides go. Joe is a graduate of MSU, works with children in the summers and overall is a well versed, open minded individual, and as a matter of fact, he and I had many conversations about the wolves. His stand was always pro-wolf. Mike, an acomplished surgeon with the rare down-to-earth attitude many guides enjoy.

The two of them were taking in the big mountain, Montana sky and after sitting for an hour or so, a small pack of wolves frolicking below them in the basin about a 1/2 mile away. Any wildlife one sees while archery hunting is a true treat, and of course, this was extra special for Joe who was now able to share his depth of knowledge of the wolves with Mike who was very interested. However, little did Joe know that in just a couple of minutes his "opinion" of the wolves would quickly change.

I was on another ridge, doing much the same, with the exception of seeing wolves, I was also with a hunter hoping to see some elk. A call came over the radio..."can someone please drive up to Bucks knob quickly...". This is a very unusual request, as we don't "drive" anywhere when hunting. I called back and asked Joe if everything was okay...his shakey response was, "Jerry, there are two wolves stalking us...we need someone to come up here fast...will bear spray work on them?" I was not sure how to respond, as Joe is not one for practical jokes and I knew he was serious. I called the base and told someone to do as Joe asked...

Later that evening at dinner the two told their story..with while faces and hollow eyes. They had seen the wolves from a long distance...one which they felt was safe. The wolves eventually went out of their sight underneath the ridge they were sitting on. As the evening light faded Joee and Mike began to walk out. They had walked just a couple steps when not 20 yards away from them, directly in their path was a large, black wolf, snarling in a crouched position. Joe and Mike then made an attempt to back away from the wolf and head in the opposite direction, just as we are taught with any threatening predator. After walking several hundred yards they felt they were in the clear. Once again, the black wolf, and another approached them, exhibiting intentions that scared both the guide and hunter. This is when they made the call on the radio for a rescue.

While the two anxiously awaited for the rig to show up, darkness now coming quickly the two stood back to back, Mike with bear spray, Mike with an arrow knocked at full draw. However, each fought with a mental battle...the archery hunter...thinking that when can I say I felt threatened...is it 20 yards...is it 10 yards...or do I have to wait until the wolf is actually sinking it's teeth into me? Joe, being the once pro wolf advocate... wondering if spraying them with the bear spray would be considered harrassment? Imagine that...having to "think" before you protect your life? A life which could be potential taken by a large dog? I am sure there are worse ways to die, but at least when it comes to saving one's own life, you don't have to worry about paying fines, going to prison and things like that.

The suburban eventually came, the wolves still watched from a distance. Some might say this was just a fluke. However, I would say this is just a small sample of what is to come. Wolves will learn not only to lose their fear of humans...but, that humans taste just as good as everything else, and they are really easy pickins... because it will always be their fault for being where they shouldn't.

So, in essence, eventually the predators will have more rights than us and we will just have to live with that. So, Will, I guess we will have to learn to look at photos of our mountains, listen to elk bugle on tape. Take Care, CA.

[hardhead]

This e-mail was sent to me by a friend in Montana. The names of the participants have been changed. The only reason I post this is to show you how the reintroduction of wolves is decimating industry and livelihood. Most of what you hear in the media is pro-reclaim-the-wilderness-at-all-costs! There are human costs that are not often talked about - but who cares, right? The cattle and sheep industry is beginning to feel the pangs of tree-hugger philosophy. Please, FReepers, be content with vegetables and grain on your plate - the time is coming when steak will be against the law. The changes are happening a little bit at a time and most people do not notice or do not care.

[Support Free Republic]

A Recall AND a Fundraiser? I'm toast.

Let's get this over with FAST. Please contribute!

[Dan Evans]

Thank you for posting that. I have a friend who lives in the mountains here in Colorado and she has been bothered by cougars and bears (also deer). Her tree-hugging daughter, who says she wants to "co-exist" with the creatures, has just had a baby. I'll bet her mind changes when the kid is old enough to play outdoors.

[Red Boots]

I have always felt that the oft repeated mantra that wolves NEVER attack humans is likely not true. Did our forefathers kill them whenever they saw them just because they were a bunch of bloodthirsty killers, or did they have a more honest and realistic knowledge, based on experience, of themselves as prey?? I'm thinking it was likely the latter.

[hardhead]

Even the most skeptical person cannot explain the instinctive fear that humans have of wolves. It surely has a basis in fact and cannot be attributed to wolf stories from Transylvania.

[hardhead]

Now thats not what the post says. The reintroduction, the act of reintroduction, is what is decimating the cattle, sheep, hunting, and guide industries. Its happening slowly but is moving forward. Maybe you don't hear all the news where you live? In Wyoming we hear it all the time. Of course its also probably just a matter of time where wolves will be shot on site.

[joesnuffy]

When predators are given sanctuary special treatment and humans no longer spill their blood
they become emboldened...and will kill and eat people..

Two and four legged predators pretty much act the same way..except for the eating part
but that may change as well...

Wolves have been a little slower to catch on then the coyotes...and bears

All critters get bolder when their blood isnt occasionaly spilt..they need to be tuned up now and again lets them know who is boss..

Problem is the forest service it seems would rather us be victims and predators rule
considering predators dont pay their salaries I am kinda suprised at their lack of loyalty

[joesnuffy]

When predators are given sanctuary special treatment and humans no longer spill their blood
they become emboldened...and will kill and eat people..

Two and four legged predators pretty much act the same way..except for the eating part
but that may change as well...

Wolves have been a little slower to catch on then the coyotes...and bears

All critters get bolder when their blood isnt occasionaly spilt..they need to be tuned up now and again lets them know who is boss..

Problem is the forest service it seems would rather us be victims and predators rule
considering predators dont pay their salaries I am kinda suprised at their lack of loyalty

Good story BTW & thanks for it

[umgud]

I spend a lot of time in the wilds. I am not an archery fan, thinking a 300 Winmag trumps a bow. I don't belittle or ridicule those who hunt with bows, but I suggest carrying a powerful handgun as a backup. I do, whether hunting or not.

[Sentis]

Wolves in the past were unlikely to attack humans because they saw Humans as predators. Predators generally steer clear of each other and wolves are smart like any dog owner will know and see Humans as superior predators.
In the future if humans are not allowwed to defend themselves wolves will stop viewing Man as a predator and there will be more attacks.

[kaylar]

If humans have an instinctive fear of wolves, then how did our ancestors ever domesticate them and turn them into our best friends in the first place?

[hardhead]

Probably the same system that turned humans from eating humans (as a rule, in deference to Jeffrey). The ancient wolves were slowly domesticated and trained to live with the human, who gave them food and shelter. Then they were purposely bred to fulfill whatever role their breeders (humanity) wanted them to be. That did not erase the human fear of 'un-domesticated, flesh-eating' wolves. Are you trying to tell me my poodle is a descendant of lobo? ;o)>

[lowbridge]

You said this was a Halloween tale. No Werewolves? No ghosts? No Bigfoot (Sasquatch)? :-)

[Quilla]

Amen to carrying a powerful handgun. My husband and I hunt deer (bow and gun) in areas where there are no human predators per se. I've been looking into booking him a bear bow hunt as a Christmas gift. Would you happen to know the legal ramifications if caught carrying a gun for protection during bow only hunting seasons?

[BluH2o]

Did our forefathers kill them whenever they saw them just because they were a bunch of bloodthirsty killers ...

I'm old enough to remember when wolves had the same reputation as great white sharks. Wolves were hunted relentlessly, poisoned, shot from aircraft, whatever worked. Then as their numbers decreased and they virtually disappeared from the lower 48 ... concern began to grow they would disappear entirely. Sentiment began to change and today most people have a favorable impression of wolves. Wolves were never the killers they were portrayed to be ... bears & cougars easily kill more humans ... however, they do pose somewhat of a danger to cattle in areas where ranchland is in close proximity to their hunting ground. Montana and parts of Wyoming fall into this category.

[CapnMcK]

Interesting to make the comparison between predators in the wild and the predators we find in our urban areas. We are told that both are harmless to us, and that if we just understand them, they'll live peacefully with us. We give them protection from those who would protect themselves from attack. We are made to feel guilty for intruding on "their" turf, and they become bolder and more savage with each quivvering backwards step we take. There's a lesson to be learned here, but I doubt if those who need it will listen.

[firewalk]

bttt

[strela]

1. "Glassing?" I've never heard that term before - what does it mean?

2. I was absolutely SURE this story was going to devolve into something involving finding a detached human arm with a hook for a hand on the outer car door handle.

[Lucy Lake]

Ping.