14 replies to this topic

[gonefishn]

State officials have approved a plan for the aerial shooting of wolves that have killed pets and scared residents in and near Port Heiden.
The plan was approved after the Alaska Peninsula community appealed to the state for help with three wolf packs that have been killing pets and are becoming increasingly bold around humans. The wolves pose a threat to the town, public safety and wildlife officials said.
The wolf-killing operation was to begin immediately. Pilots under contract with the agencies were already in Port Heiden, trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said Wednesday.
The hungry wolves have killed five dogs and two cats, including two dogs recently. While they mostly come into town at night, the wolves also have been seen during the day.
Port Heiden Mayor Scott Anderson said he welcomed the help: "We sure don't want to lose nobody," he said.
He also said the village doesn't want to lose any more pets.
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Joseph Masters said the wolves would be killed as quickly as possible in a coordinated effort. The plan was to back-trail wolf tracks to locate the animals that have been involved in incidents in the village.
The operation will involve fixed-wing aircraft and pilots under contract with the two agencies, said Bruce Dale, the Department of Fish and Game's area supervisor. He said shooters most likely will be department employees.
The exact number of wolves involved in the attacks on dogs and cats in the town was not known, but residents have reported three packs with anywhere from seven to 20 animals.
"The frequency, aggressive nature, and number of wolves involved in the attacks is unacceptable from a public safety standpoint," said Lem Butler, Fish and Game's area biologist in King Salmon.
Butler flew to the community Monday afternoon to gather information on the wolf attacks.
Residents say wolves previously have come into Port Heiden looking for food, but not in these numbers. They report that the half dozen wolves killed in recent months by residents were skinny.
The situation has residents scared and thinking about what occurred in the village of Chignik Lake, another Alaska Peninsula town, in March: A teacher out jogging was killed by two hungry wolves.
Dale said the Port Heiden situation was serious.
"We will take out any wolves we can link to incidents in the village,"

[youngdon]

OK now there's a job I'd like to have shooting wolves from an airplane or from anywhere for that matter.

[Chris Miller]

OK now there's a job I'd like to have shooting wolves from an airplane or from anywhere for that matter.

Makes 2 of us! They do a number on piggies and yotes here in TX. The law reads that one can not benefit financially from "guiding" such a hunt though. SO.... it's a free gig IF you can get in on it!

Sign me up!

[hassell]

When they did the big wolf kill in northern BC they used mainly helicopter's, always wanted to try it out of my little plane when I had it but it never came to be. They shot about 2500 of them.

[On a call]

WHERE DO I SIGN UP !!!!

I soooo would love to fly and shoot !...well not fly the plane and shoot...geeze you know what I mean

[Chris Miller]

WHERE DO I SIGN UP !!!!

I soooo would love to fly and shoot !...well not fly the plane and shoot...geeze you know what I mean

Pretty sure you said what you meant..... fly and shoot... it's ok, I think we would all love to do that!

[On a call]

I wonder...would this be like those movies of choppers in Vietnam ? Except your not being fired back on.

Hey Knapper...here is a job for you and your boy.

[youngdon]

Ac-130 !!!

[On a call]

ac-130 ??

Must be a chopper...

[knapper]

They call them now Spectra gunships. with mini guns out the side and 105 mm out the back.

[youngdon]

ac-130 ??

Must be a chopper...

Google it these things are awesome.

[On a call]

Wow..would you really call that a gun ship ? or somthing a bit more ?

[NattyB]

My brother hunted wolves in Alaska a few years ago. They didn't get any wolves, but they did get a lynx. Anyway, he talked with an old Swede who shot many many wolves in his day. He said, "When you hunt from a plane, you have to lead them from behind. You have to shoot behind them!" He also said they use a 12 gauge with buckshot. I'd give it a shot.
RS, NattyB

[Mattuk]

My brother hunted wolves in Alaska a few years ago. They didn't get any wolves, but they did get a lynx. Anyway, he talked with an old Swede who shot many many wolves in his day. He said, "When you hunt from a plane, you have to lead them from behind. You have to shoot behind them!" He also said they use a 12 gauge with buckshot. I'd give it a shot.
RS, NattyB

Not really hunting is it.

[NattyB]

You're right. Shooting wolves from a plane isn't really hunting...it's predator control. I would do wolf control work if given the opportunity, but I do think it lacks much of the sport. More of the story is that each wolf kills X number of caribou and the Caribou were loosing. Wolf hunters were very welcome. My brother was hunting with calls and they did have a pack responding when the Lynx decided to break in and go for the call. I suppose the Wolves let the Lynx go first. RS, NattyB