The Hunt and Wolves

July 8, 2000

Do wolves compete with and hurt the success of hunters? This question has been discussed a great deal.  I have written about it, and I will write more. A question that is rarely asked, however, is what effect do human elk and deer hunters have on wolves?

This is especially relevant in Idaho and NW Montana where hunting is permitted in all areas inhabited by wolves.  In the Yellowstone recovery area, a substantial portion (Yellowstone National Park) is permanently closed to hunting.

Assuming that hunters do not shoot wolves, and so far just one wolf is known to have been shot by a hunter, hunters provide wolves with a substantial potential source of meat at a time of year when wolves need it most.

In areas of abundant prey, winter is the time of the wolf.  Wolves have the great advantage during the winter, especially as winter wears on. By winter all members of the pack can hunt (at least a bit). Wolves are better able to run on top of the snow, while their prey often breaks through crusted snow. Wolves grow stronger as winter persists and the elk, deer and moose grow weaker.

In April, wolf pups are born. At first they are easy to feed, and springtime brings new prey in the form of deer fawn, and elk calves.

By the end of summer wolf pups weigh 40-50 pounds and require much more food, but they cannot hunt. Their elk prey is at its prime. By August elk calves can outrun the wolves. Cows and bulls are usually sleek and fat. Late summer and fall is the time of the elk.

Where elk and deer are hunted by humans, however, there is another factor. Some elk and deer and wounded, but escape, perhaps to die miles from where they were shot. Hunters leave part of their trophy in the woods in the form of gut piles and sometimes major portions of the animal's meat.

Archery hunters have a higher ratio of escaped wounded animals.

All this happens just at the time wolves are at their greatest competitive disadvantage.  It is my view that the hunt is often of substantial benefit to wolves.

In Idaho the archery hunt begins as early as mid-August. The general hunt and various special hunts continue in September into December.

It is my hypothesis that one reason the Idaho wolf population seems to have grown more rapidly than the Yellowstone is the hunt.  I would like to see research how wolves specifically respond to the hunt.