Fish and Wildlife Wolf Cull within RFMA

[M shooter]

I just received a letter from Fish and Wildlife informing me that they are going to be doing a wolf cull within the boundaries of my RFMA.

I know they have done this before in other parts of the province but this is the first time I have heard of it in the NE part of Alberta.

What are the experiences of other trappers that have gone thru this. Will they give me the opportunity to salvage any of the furs? Are they even worth salvaging given that some trigger happy officer hanging out of a helicopter will be taking them down.

Is there any sort of compensation based on the number of wolves they remove?

[RockyMountainMusic]

Originally Posted by M shooter

I just received a letter from Fish and Wildlife informing me that they are going to be doing a wolf cull within the boundaries of my RFMA.

I know they have done this before in other parts of the province but this is the first time I have heard of it in the NE part of Alberta.

What are the experiences of other trappers that have gone thru this. Will they give me the opportunity to salvage any of the furs? Are they even worth salvaging given that some trigger happy officer hanging out of a helicopter will be taking them down.

Is there any sort of compensation based on the number of wolves they remove?

No you don't get the pelts, and no you get no compensation. Just wait for the poison that's next and will take out most of your other fur bearers too. We have been fighting the Gov for years in our country with little to no help because everyone has so much hate for the wolves they are blind to everything else. As much as I believe in predator control what they do is plain disgusting. Good luck up there your going to need it, I said long time ago this will spread and not just affect our area but most don't listen til it affects them personally!

[The Spruce]

Same on my line. I plan to have most of the wolves in my shop before they show up. I am assuming this is going to take place on the bombing range, but may affect packs that boarder it. Wish I could trap there, you could just drop a snare over a wolves head while feeding it a tuna sandwich up there. But why would the government want to salvage fur....hey wait, isn't it illegal to waste?

Spruce

[RockyMountainMusic]

Originally Posted by The Spruce

Same on my line. I plan to have most of the wolves in my shop before they show up. I am assuming this is going to take place on the bombing range, but may affect packs that boarder it. Wish I could trap there, you could just drop a snare over a wolves head while feeding it a tuna sandwich up there. But why would the government want to salvage fur....hey wait, isn't it illegal to waste?

Spruce

It was illegal for the chopper owners to take the hides to BC and sell them too but didn't stop them.....The laws don't apply to the GOV Any chance I can get a copy of these letters from one of you? Ill PM you both my email

[catnthehat]

I was informed as well , they are going in on a friend's line.
Cat

[nube]

Save the Caribou at all costs lol But the sheep and goats don't need any help

It sure would be interesting to have a chat with some of the Bio's face to face about this stuff. The stupidity of some of it is unreal

[HunterDave]

Curious.....What is the reason for a wolf cull in areas other than where the woodland caribou are? Wasn't that the reason for the wolf cull in the first place?

[Flight01]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

I was informed as well , they are going in on a friend's line.
Cat

Where abouts Cat? I haven't been informed of anything.

[blgoodbrand1]

Why is not the first call to the area trapper?
"Here are some funds. Get the gear and bait you need and hammer the wolves"
If the trapper doesn't want to then look to alternatives.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sooner]

Originally Posted by blgoodbrand1

Why is not the first call to the area trapper?
"Here are some funds. Get the gear and bait you need and hammer the wolves"
If the trapper doesn't want to then look to alternatives.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Seems to me getting trappers to do the work by supporting a solid bounty would still be cheaper then the run and gun by helicopter and poison bait sites. Win win Imo.

[Torkdiesel]

Originally Posted by blgoodbrand1

Why is not the first call to the area trapper?
"Here are some funds. Get the gear and bait you need and hammer the wolves"
If the trapper doesn't want to then look to alternatives.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep !!!

[nube]

Any anyone who says a trapper can't decimate the wolf population is wrong. I am not seeing much for tracks in the areas i hammered them last year. Which totally shocks me. I am used to trying to wipe out coyotes at home here and seem to get nowhere with them but these wolf packs I hit last year are really hurtin now. I think I actually did the moose and deer some good. I have actually seen some moose this year which was nice and have seen more deer this year than all other years combined. Might be a fluke but if not it really has changed things.

[Torkdiesel]

Originally Posted by nube

Any anyone who says a trapper can't decimate the wolf population is wrong. I am not seeing much for tracks in the areas i hammered them last year. Which totally shocks me. I am used to trying to wipe out coyotes at home here and seem to get nowhere with them but these wolf packs I hit last year are really hurtin now. I think I actually did the moose and deer some good. I have actually seen some moose this year which was nice and have seen more deer this year than all other years combined. Might be a fluke but if not it really has changed things.

Without a doubt you helped out the deer and moose that were left by wiping out a good number of the remaining wolves in the area.

Now your area probably was in tough shape already with the thinning of the ungulate population by hunters and the wolves already. And from the looks of the starving wolves you caught last year that were in terrible shape they were likely barely hanging on as it was. But snaring them and taking them out surely made a difference.

From what I've been reading about removing wolves from an area is the moose population can rebound and increase by up to 50% in as little as 7-10 years. The key is to reducing the numbers by a substantial amount when their population is healthy also.

High volume snaring will hopefully be the answer for me

[nube]

I also noticed the wolves I am catching this year have good fur on them as well. All in good shape as well and fat. Not sure if it is the weather or that their are less wolves in a pack to feed or what but it is interesting to note

[M shooter]

I received a phone call from Env and Parks and got some more details about the wolf cull. They are talking about 200 wolves in the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range and upwards of 400 wolves outside of the range.

There has been absolutely no consultation or information prior to this, they will not be keeping track of the number of wolves taken from within each RFMA and there is no compensation on the table.

I find it hard to swallow when they hold industry and individuals up such high standards as far as consultation and effective use of our natural resources but when the government wants to so something they literally just run and gun.

[nube]

Is it possible to sue the Govt over this? Do you think it would be a valid lawsuit? Trappers that have their area wiped out of fur bearing animals and taken money out of the trappers pocket. Wonder if there would be a possibility of success if one was started. Maybe it would wake the Govt up either way......

[kingrat]

You want to sue the government for killing wolves on government land? Ya it sucks but I'm sure there's nothing you can do about it.

[nube]

I'm thinking outside the box. Ya it sounds dumb but when are we going to fight back guys? When is enough going to be enough?
From what I have seen the last couple years on this forum is we are real good at sticking our heads in the sand and taking what is fed to us...
Enjoy it while you got it boys and girls because its all going to be gone soon.
Pretty obvious where things are headed with the way the antis are pecking away and the way the Gov't controls things.
So laugh if you want at my hair brained ideas. No prob but I don't see much for ideas getting floated around. We don't have much of an offence do we?

[Wolftrapper]

Maybe the Govt has listened to all the people complaining about the wolves for the last few years.

On our line, my partner and I have had great success the last few years with Wolves. I think we've kept the numbers in check really well.
Maybe there are areas where trappers, hunters, ranchers, etc haven't had as much luck or success.
So let them cull a few. Sorry but I don't see what the big problem is.
Why should there be any compensation?

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by nube

I'm thinking outside the box. Ya it sounds dumb but when are we going to fight back guys? When is enough going to be enough?
From what I have seen the last couple years on this forum is we are real good at sticking our heads in the sand and taking what is fed to us...
Enjoy it while you got it boys and girls because its all going to be gone soon.
Pretty obvious where things are headed with the way the antis are pecking away and the way the Gov't controls things.
So laugh if you want at my hair brained ideas. No prob but I don't see much for ideas getting floated around. We don't have much of an offence do we?

Not putting down your brainstorm, just posing some questions that may validate the concept.

What would you (trappers) be suing for, lost potential income?
Or something else, like inhumane practices or conservation concerns.... ?

Could you prove that you consistently make a profit trapping wolves?

Would a similar lawsuit be applicable to other wildlife resources?
Eg, Should Ouftitters sue on the grounds the government is cutting into their potential profits by implementing a cull on deer or elk?

[waterninja]

Originally Posted by nube

I'm thinking outside the box. Ya it sounds dumb but when are we going to fight back guys? When is enough going to be enough?
From what I have seen the last couple years on this forum is we are real good at sticking our heads in the sand and taking what is fed to us...
Enjoy it while you got it boys and girls because its all going to be gone soon.
Pretty obvious where things are headed with the way the antis are pecking away and the way the Gov't controls things.
So laugh if you want at my hair brained ideas. No prob but I don't see much for ideas getting floated around. We don't have much of an offence do we?

Thinking outside the box never hurt anyone. I can see how this is frustrating you and many other trappers. Problem is it's next to impossible to fight the people who make the rules (and can change them if need be). Also, there may be other agenda's that are in play, and a trappers concern's are probably near the bottom of the list.
It does not just affect trappers. I predict that in 20 years there will be very few lakes left to fish in AB, and in 50 practically none. Same with hunting. New regs and dwindling big game, not to mention fewer places to hunt, will pretty well put an end to hunting as we know it.

[Big Grey Wolf]

As a trapper I do not like the Govt just going onto traplines to do a wolf cull. However we are now way above a good balance in wolf population in the province. The number is around 7000 wolves. The biologist feel 3-4000 is a more sustainable level to not devastate the elk, moose, caribou and deer population. Thus with very low prices and large number of man hours to prepare a wolf pelt we trappers will never be able to reduce population to the required level. A proper bounty/incentive in the $500-$1000 range would sure help the cull and save Alberta tax payer significant amount of money.

[Wolftrapper]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

As a trapper I do not like the Govt just going onto traplines to do a wolf cull. However we are now way above a good balance in wolf population in the province. The number is around 7000 wolves. The biologist feel 3-4000 is a more sustainable level to not devastate the elk, moose, caribou and deer population. Thus with very low prices and large number of man hours to prepare a wolf pelt we trappers will never be able to reduce population to the required level. A proper bounty/incentive in the $500-$1000 range would sure help the cull and save Alberta tax payer significant amount of money.

No offence intended at all, but as trappers, there isn't really any money in any of it. We trap because we love the way of life, the history, etc.
We shouldn't be selective on our lines just because a certain animal is to much work.
Not all of us require money to act. It seems some of the newer, younger trappers on this forum need that along with being noticed.
How about beaver? What do we get for a top grade pelt? Not much and a lot of work goes into skinning and fleshing one. At least for me, maybe I'm no good at it, lol.

Anyway the situation now isn't maybe the best, I don't know. But at least they are doing something to keep high numbers in check.
It's going to cost money no matter how it's done.

Have a great day everyone. I have traps to set and check now.

[RockyMountainMusic]

Sadly many of you are right on watching the last of our passions be taken from us as we stand and watch it in the near future. As most of you know we have put in tireless hours and effort in stopping this joke and so far it is just being spread into your trapping country now which we knew was coming. There is legal action to be taken the rouble is getting all involved and the cost, the ATA should be involved and they say they are in talks with GOA but this shows clearly they are not or don't mean anything on the GOA's eyes. Then again they rely on GOV money so big surprise ( I'm not bashing ATA as I understand the volunteers involved and the time and effort it takes) but if we don't have them for support who do we have. How is it that the GOV can break laws and get away with it? It makes it ok because they are the GOV? If you or I left a fur bearer to Rot or Incinerated hundreds of Furs from cougars to Grizz etc we would be in jail. If you killed a moose out of season to feed your family or kept a bull trout to eat they would throw you behind bars but its ok for them to do all these things. Just like others have said they blame the wolf but there is no action against other predators like grizzlies/cougars etc to save other species . There is no biology in AB its sick. This world is retarded

[nube]

Originally Posted by Wolftrapper

No offence intended at all, but as trappers, there isn't really any money in any of it. We trap because we love the way of life, the history, etc.
We shouldn't be selective on our lines just because a certain animal is to much work.
Not all of us require money to act. It seems some of the newer, younger trappers on this forum need that along with being noticed.
How about beaver? What do we get for a top grade pelt? Not much and a lot of work goes into skinning and fleshing one. At least for me, maybe I'm no good at it, lol.

Anyway the situation now isn't maybe the best, I don't know. But at least they are doing something to keep high numbers in check.
It's going to cost money no matter how it's done.

Have a great day everyone. I have traps to set and check now.

You are right we shouldn't be selective but there is also bad business practice as well. You might have a bank account to alow you to trap as a hobbie and do it for nothing but many do not. I myself don't like to do things for free and loose money. That's not good business!
But I also enjoy trapping as well.
I am not sure where you're seeing that the newer younger trappers are in it for the money? I don't see that. It sure as heck isn't my main objective. I spent the spring and fall trapping beaver and have been hitting the wolves pretty good the last 2 years. I've probably made enough to break even or better with a few lucky sales with my wolves.

[HunterDave]

Originally Posted by Wolftrapper

No offence intended at all, but as trappers, there isn't really any money in any of it. We trap because we love the way of life, the history, etc.
We shouldn't be selective on our lines just because a certain animal is to much work.
Not all of us require money to act. It seems some of the newer, younger trappers on this forum need that along with being noticed.
How about beaver? What do we get for a top grade pelt? Not much and a lot of work goes into skinning and fleshing one. At least for me, maybe I'm no good at it, lol.

Anyway the situation now isn't maybe the best, I don't know. But at least they are doing something to keep high numbers in check.
It's going to cost money no matter how it's done.

Have a great day everyone. I have traps to set and check now.

Careful painting all trappers with the same brush, Wolftrapper. Lots of guys consider trapping a business and do very well at it. Sometimes I wish that I was 10 years younger so I could go harder and generate more income from it. To me, operating at a loss and saying that you are only doing it because you enjoy the lifestyle is a bit of a cop out for not going hard. With all this talk about RFMA's being under utilized by guys who just want hunting camps, a trapper who is just going through the motions with no concern for turning a profit isn't much better IMO.

WRT wolf bounties. As much as I enjoy trapping, I would not leave my local $100/day (?) coyote trapping business to go trap wolves 300 kms away (Cold Lake) for just what I'd get for the pelt at auction. If the rules allowed me to participate in a $500 to $1000 bounty it is something that I might seriously consider doing. It'd be a lot more work but the potential to make decent money after expenses is a strong motivator. I don't know anyone, despite their love for trapping, who would drop what they are doing to pursue a potentially money losing venture. Folks that can must have a healthier bank account than mine.....lol.

I wholeheartedly agree that the populations of all furbearers should be managed despite the value of them or the work involved with trapping and putting them up. For me a beaver is worth $40 to $50 and that makes it worth my while. Similarly, muskrats are only worth about $3 each but I can catch them in bunches so to me it is worthwhile trapping them. Despite my love for trapping, if they were worthless I wouldn't be putting in much effort to trap them if it cost me money to do it. To each their own I guess.

[Wolftrapper]

Originally Posted by HunterDave

Careful painting all trappers with the same brush, Wolftrapper. Lots of guys consider trapping a business and do very well at it. Sometimes I wish that I was 10 years younger so I could go harder and generate more income from it. To me, operating at a loss and saying that you are only doing it because you enjoy the lifestyle is a bit of a cop out for not going hard. With all this talk about RFMA's being under utilized by guys who just want hunting camps, a trapper who is just going through the motions with no concern for turning a profit isn't much better IMO.

WRT wolf bounties. As much as I enjoy trapping, I would not leave my local $100/day (?) coyote trapping business to go trap wolves 300 kms away (Cold Lake) for just what I'd get for the pelt at auction. If the rules allowed me to participate in a $500 to $1000 bounty it is something that I might seriously consider doing. It'd be a lot more work but the potential to make decent money after expenses is a strong motivator. I don't know anyone, despite their love for trapping, who would drop what they are doing to pursue a potentially money losing venture. Folks that can must have a healthier bank account than mine.....lol.

I wholeheartedly agree that the populations of all furbearers should be managed despite the value of them or the work involved with trapping and putting them up. For me a beaver is worth $40 to $50 and that makes it worth my while. Similarly, muskrats are only worth about $3 each but I can catch them in bunches so to me it is worthwhile trapping them. Despite my love for trapping, if they were worthless I wouldn't be putting in much effort to trap them if it cost me money to do it. To each their own I guess.

Not painting with the same brush at all. I'm not sure where you get that from.
Just responding to a previous poster and to a couple that complain about everything on here.
Anyway I won't say anymore as it's pointless as some like to go around in circles and I don't have the time or willingness to do the same.
Have a safe, good year out there.

[357xp]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

As a trapper I do not like the Govt just going onto traplines to do a wolf cull. However we are now way above a good balance in wolf population in the province. The number is around 7000 wolves. The biologist feel 3-4000 is a more sustainable level to not devastate the elk, moose, caribou and deer population. Thus with very low prices and large number of man hours to prepare a wolf pelt we trappers will never be able to reduce population to the required level. A proper bounty/incentive in the $500-$1000 range would sure help the cull and save Alberta tax payer significant amount of money.

What really gets me is how they put a number on the amount of a species we have in the province. I don't think they even are close. Might work for down south, but there is a lot of bush up here, there's no way they really know the numbers. Example; Alberta grizzles......nuff said

[F Mandolin]

I don't know what you trappers want and can't imagine anyone who has ever skinned and stretched a wolf wanting to do it today for next to nothing. As for bounties they are just a giant sinkhole with no results. I don't want my tax money being wasted on them and i think the fish and game got clued in when the Government refused to even look at their bounty proposal for the province. From what I have seen trappers can't make a dent in their numbers anyway, but then the government will get shut down long before they do either.

[jawa]

Originally Posted by F Mandolin

I don't know what you trappers want and can't imagine anyone who has ever skinned and stretched a wolf wanting to do it today for next to nothing. As for bounties they are just a giant sinkhole with no results. I don't want my tax money being wasted on them and i think the fish and game got clued in when the Government refused to even look at their bounty proposal for the province. From what I have seen trappers can't make a dent in their numbers anyway, but then the government will get shut down long before they do either.

Trolling me thinks.......I will bite whats cheaper helicopter shooting or paying a bounty.
Whats more ethical paying a couple hundred for a bounty and haveing the hides get used or leaving them rot?
Whats more target specific snares ,and traps in the right hands, Hunters baiting and shooting or poison?
My opinion put a bounty mutch cheaper
To help deter fraud make people drop a pin or way mark on phone or Gps with date at least proves they were in the area