Wolves on Drummond Island

[NorWester]

Just wanted to let you know that my dog did have a bell on and it was still on when we found her. I have had coyotes get into my dogs and the bites have been in the back end or around the head and ears. Never had a fatal coyote incident thank goodness. If you would have seen the size of the bite marks you would know that no coyote bit her. Also we never did hear any coyotes but we did hear the wolf howl.

Sounds very much like wolf. You wont hear coyotes if there are wolves in the area as the coyotes dont want to end up like your dog did. Tough luck either way

[Dave Roop]

Fella's There is another problem on Drummond, in a category of HUNTER HARRASSMENT, there is an IDIOT that lives on the Plains, to the right of the dead end
Whle we were there the week of Oct 26, just beore we got there this IDIOT, locked a hunters Beagles in his Van and demanded $100.00 from the hunters, not sure what te outcome was, l heard that the DNR and Sheriff's office was involved.
Let's face it, we are more and more been harassed and looked down on, The harrassment started on Beaver in the mid 90's from new people moving to Beaver along with a lot of the full time residents, l know from first hand becaus l would get back in their face however, l finally sold out, l just could not enjoy myself any more it seemed like every time l would run my beagles, l would have some type of run in with some idiot.
I hope this is not the beginning of the same thing on Drummond.
If l choose to go back to Drummond l would definetly check in with the DNR and the Sheriff's office.To see if there is any problems, l hope this is just a isolated problem and not wide spread.
The business people on Drummond needs the hunters to help the economy.

[S.R.Patch]

The incident was handled by the DNR, the Sheriff seemed not to want involved.
There is a right way and there is wrong, "getting back in their face" does not promote your case.
There was trespass involved, but it was incidental as the boys were a bit lost and happened to come out on the man's property. The fellow had picked up their hounds but then, he wanted extortion money for their return.
After the DNR got involved, the hounds were returned. None of the folks on the Isl. were happy about what the fellow had done, but still, we have to respect peoples property and keep in good graces too remain welcome, we are guest. The main thing, the people of the Island saw who was wrong and many said so and welcomed all hunter back. I think the fellow will well know what he can and can't do by next year, communities have a way of policing there own...

I never got the privilege to hunt Beaver Isl. before it's demise to hare hunters, but, I remember something about you being the unofficial/official Ambassador to Beaver Isl. hare hunting.
Since you have the diplomatic experience, could you offer advice on how to keep this from happening to Drummond?

[backyard beagler]

we must have been lucky, we lost a worthless female the first day and she was found later the next day just fine. we hunted for 3 days with no problem what so ever.

[TallPaul]

We crossed two sets of wolf tracks up in the plains last winter, and across many spots on the mainland. And that was just after a fresh snow, needless to say I didn't waste any time getting back into the dogs. I hope you reported your loss to the DNR, you won't get payment, but they should be let known how much of a negative impact these wolves are causing. My thoughts on bells, are, it is just a dinner bell, for when your dog goes silent and a running for his life, the bell gives his persuer direction. It still blows my mind how a wolf can be on the endangered or threaten list, when just a hour north or east across the border, they are subjected to harvest, and thrive in numbers all across the Canadian prov's and Alaska. You know we just had a defeat in a vote for Dove hunting here in Michigan, I sure as hell didn't get to vote on the "reintroduction" of that blessed thing. Another thing, if your from out of state and have had such losses, I would write a letter, including the amount of monies you spent while in our state and send it to Lansing, director of natural resoures. Send multiple copies, one to the MUCC and whoever else will listen. We as sportsman need to be heard, there is a lot of money that is spent by us, some communities that survive, via rabbit, bird, deer and bear hunters.
No love lost here.
Paul

[NorWester]

Paul, wolves dont need bells to know your hound is in the area. Trust me.......they know. It's strange how folks think that the bells attract the wolves, like they wouldnt hear, smell or see a bunch of hounds crashing around in the woods. Wolf behavior appears to be different in the states where aggressiveness is tolerated. There are wolves all over the place where I am and the problems seem to be limited. One possible reason is that the bold, bad actors are not tolerated. A wolf that preys on domestic pets, livestock soon gets himself dead and not able to reproduce similar characteristics or behavior.

[deacon]

Paul, can you give me contact info. to notify the proper folks in Michigan as you suggested?

[TallPaul]

Norwester, Yes a wolf will know when there are other canines in the area, I just never use bells as a method of driving off yotes or wolves. I'd hope my presence along would be enough. But more and more we are hearing about these bold wolves that attact and kill dogs within yards of a human, and even coming into towns in the middle of the day. As a wolf has done, I believe in Escanaba, last year. I do believe there is a difference in populations and behavior, between areas where populations are subject to some type of "harvest" and those that don't. I don't claim to be an expert, but am aware of the behavioral characteristics of the wolf, and simply don't care for him. Call me greedy, but I'd rather not compete with him for hares or deer. In fact my family and I are moving to Houghton/Hancock area next year with our 4 young boys, all of which are under 4, and I'm worried that the beagles may draw in one such wolf and be a threat to my boys.
Those States that don't have wolves, watch your resource commisions, let your opinions be known.
In Michigan, the wolf is now across the UP and south of the bridge.
I'll look for some addresses.
Paul

[S.R.Patch]

Paul,
I saw the anti-dove adv. on TV while on Drummond, made me sick, tear jerker for the Disney crowd.
This is how the anti's will defeat hunting, appeal to the public Disney sentiment, the majority of Joe public doesn't hunt, so show them and paint it ugly, then, put a referendum on the ballot and vote it out by popular choosing.... This is how they got it done in England and the anti's have come here to finish it, species by species...
All history, science, study and Burns Report were cast out the window as to the benefits of hunting to the species, environment and economy.
It was totally decided by the nonhunting majority, that had no knowledge or interest in sport, or animal welfare.

What do you think Joe public would say had that dove in the advert., been a hare or rabbit...?

Michigan is a wonderful State, full of wild game and good people. The majority I've seen are country and hunting folks, who just want to be left alone and enjoy their home land.
The way it's going up their now, those folks are going to have to come out in force and show again how they got to be known and how they got their state name...(correction)"THE "Wolverine" STATE"...

[jt&z's dad]

I was with Tall Paul on that hunt to Drummond when we found the wolf tracks, I had never heard of a problem with wolves prior to that. The locals had warned us about the yotes and we always try to pick up an hour before dark. 2 years before this hunt on Drummond my cousin and I had a real scare with the yotes while we had our young nephew with us. The hounds had gotten past us while trying to pick them up on a hot hare about 4:30. We thought they would make it back out of the swamp that they were running in before dark so we decided not to pursue them. BAD IDEA, after another 30 minutes we figured we better go in and get them as we could hear them running circles inside the swamp. Left the youngster at the truck and started hiking in. Halfway in we hear yotes yipping and heading towards the 3 hounds running. When we got there we saw 3 yotes 50 feet from the running hounds and closing fast. Got off 2 shots but were to far away to to any damage. We got lucky and can only hope we scared the yotes enough to keep them from hunting hounds for a month or 2.

As far as the wolves go I agree with Paul, We didn't have a say on introducing them back here. I understand the significance of a balanced eco system and that they are a natural predator, but I don't think the DNR is giving us all of the facts on the population numbers or were they know they are. Just be carefull!!!

[Vickie]

I did forward this thread to the DNR wildlife biologist. He did appreciate it. He also has beagles.

[sgc]

Hey Patch; what State are you hunting in? Michigan isn't the Badger State! (I believe that may be Wisconsin).

[bluegrass]

Stan, I believe Charles meant the "Wolverine" state....LOL...

BTW Patch, I saw you parked on Drummond, had to back up to read your name on your dog box to make sure it was you, now WE know one of your honey holes... Tony

[S.R.Patch]

Ooooh!!! my bad...
Knew it was one of those really mean critters...

Tony, you should have stopped on in, could have helped us look for hounds...
Those weren't honey holes, we were trying to get away from honey holes to get some long races, but still got splits and lost hounds...

Wish you had stopped in and said hi...

[bluegrass]

Funny you should mention lost hounds...we had JUST finished rounding our hounds up after a hare decided to test the limits of our trackers...Brian Westra finally found the hounds about a mile away from where we turned out. All in all it wasn't too bad though. Lots of good running, not much for killing though, very thick and the rabbits were very hard to see. But I don't think the hounds shut up for more than 30 seconds on any rabbit they ran. We had some fantastic running out by Sheep Ranch, probably should have killed more there than on the plains...when we slowed down and checked your truck it was getting late and the weather was turning nasty cold...we didnt hear any hounds running close to your truck so we headed back to Papins to warm up in that cabin...Tony