Chance encounters. What would you do?

If you see wolves, the only deer you see will be running full speed with their ears down. Unlikely to get a shot. I would just shoot the wolves, and I have.
 
I would certainly shoot the wolves. Purely for fun. I'd probably shoot the deer regardless of his condition. I mean if he's alive with his entrails hanging out, I couldn't walk away and leave him like that. Sure it's nature but it's my nature to shoot the wolves and put him out of his misery.

As for the elk, I would shoot the biggest one as soon as I could get a clean shot. Don't screw around with an opportunity when you get it. If something happens, you'll be the quiet one in the hunt camp that night, boiling with regret and self disappointment that you didn't take the shot when you had the chance.

Good topic OP.

Slooshark1
 
I suppose wolves would most likely be hunting and killing smaller deer. Probably not a trophy deer... Also the deer would be fully dead before they feasted. I'd shoot my bag limit of wolves, they're numbers need to be controlled.

As for fighting bulls, I would too shoot the bigger rack. I'm not a trophy hunter but they still make good eating!
 
Given the way the wolf populations in northern BC and Alberta have gone, without question shoot every wolf you could before they scattered. Yes a bitten buck is fine.

In one valley this winter / spring, I saw a dozen or more wood bison killed and left to rot, just nose and butthole eaten, the soft parts, in two weeks. Wolves are to the point of out of control and Alberta has even been funding massive culls. BC is looking at the same, you can help if you know how to hunt wolves.

The Elk, take the biggest one- I've been in that exact scenario with rutting Impala fighting.
 
triplepete said:
I suppose wolves would most likely be hunting and killing smaller deer. Probably not a trophy deer... Also the deer would be fully dead before they feasted. I'd shoot my bag limit of wolves, they're numbers need to be controlled.

As for fighting bulls, I would too shoot the bigger rack. I'm not a trophy hunter but they still make good eating!
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Northern Timberwolves are the size of many southern interior BC black bears (no exaggeration) and have no problem bringing down North America's largest mammal, and one not known for being friendly at that, the Wood Bison. They'll eat any deer, of any size, they please. :)

The real reason for the wolf overpopulation is weather, crusted snow (melt, re freeze) lets the wolves run on top and chase down larger game that can barely move in it. We had huge snowfalls and lots of melts / re freezes this last while.
 
Pyd said:
Yup. your excited.
No, you can not shoot wolves that are eating a deer, that is what wolves do.
Same with the elk.
Bring a camera, get lots of pictures of the situations for us, and for yourself. That is what the woods are all about.

Good luck in the upcoming season!
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That's retarded. Shoot every wolf you see. That's what I do.
 
Pyd said:
Yup. your excited.
No, you can not shoot wolves that are eating a deer, that is what wolves do.
Same with the elk.
Bring a camera, get lots of pictures of the situations for us, and for yourself. That is what the woods are all about.

Good luck in the upcoming season!
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In Manitoba any holder of a big game license can shoot wolves; it doesn't place any limitation on the hunter based on what the wolf happens to be doing. Around here, wolves are hunted pretty aggressively. If you lived in a northern community, and put your Pomeranian out for its morning pee, only to see each half of it carried off in different directions by a pair of wolves, you'd get it. That's what wolves do too.
 
If your close enough to see wolves fighting a deer, im sure they can also be close enough to you, take out the wolves, if the deer is beyond hurt, take him out too.
 
Whatever you choose to do, do it quickly, These are both extremely rare scenarios for a hunter to view! And wolves will eat a deer while it is still living....trust me. Jim Mansell
 
Demonical said:
That's retarded. Shoot every wolf you see. That's what I do.
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Retarted? Really man?
I typed before realizing where he lived. In some areas wolves have seasons, and I was answering him as though he was wanting to dispatch an animal because it was doing something wrong, opposed to because he was hunting them. From my perspective I seen the question as though he was inquiring if he "could" shoot an animal out of season because it destroying another.
Much like shooting a deer because two of them were fighting.
I hunt almost every day, and I shoot every coyote I come across, so we wont go in that direction.

Either way OP, if you do have an encounter like that, savor it for a bit, it would be an incredible situation to witness.
A few years ago I had a bald eagle swipe a hen out of my decoys 10 yards in front of me, it is a rare bird where I live (the eagle), and one of those unfortunate times I didn't have my camera rolling.
 
Contrary to changing public belief, and the vision of the noble wolf, wolves DO kill for amusement when in a situation with lots of opportunity. These wild Wood Bison stuck to the trails they'd packed in a valley due to 6+ feet of snow with a hard ice crust on top they fall through, wolves killed a dozen or more of them in two weeks within a handful of miles of each other, and ate almost nothing off most of the kills, I watched the kills right until break up and they sank into the bog / river largely uneaten. I used to be one of the most "ardent" wolf supporters, but with what I'm seeing, control is called for and important. We're screwing up the climate and exacerbating the melts, so we have a role to play in managing the resultant wolf explosion. Just my small change.

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Pyd said:
Retarted? Really man?
I typed before realizing where he lived. In some areas wolves have seasons, and I was answering him as though he was wanting to dispatch an animal because it was doing something wrong, opposed to because he was hunting them. From my perspective I seen the question as though he was inquiring if he "could" shoot an animal out of season because it destroying another.
Much like shooting a deer because two of them were fighting.
I hunt almost every day, and I shoot every coyote I come across, so we wont go in that direction.

Either way OP, if you do have an encounter like that, savor it for a bit, it would be an incredible situation to witness.
A few years ago I had a bald eagle swipe a hen out of my decoys 10 yards in front of me, it is a rare bird where I live (the eagle), and one of those unfortunate times I didn't have my camera rolling.
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Some folks just need to be a little more civil here, in northern parlance which is particularly strong in northern Alberta "That's retarded." just means "I disagree". There'll be a four letter word and an insult combined in the statement if you're actually being insulted. Other examples of northern parlance,

"What the F#$K?" means "I need more information."

"I think you should go F#$K yourself." means "It seems we disagree."

"I think you should go F#$K yourself a$$hole." means "It seems we disagree, and I don't like you."

...and so forth.
 
In BC, if you shoot an animal, tag it, and a bear claims it, you are required to walk away, and can request a free replacement tag. Might also be the same for cougars.
However, to my knowledge, there is nothing in the BC regs that require a hunter NOT to shoot wolves attacking deer. Best case scanario, film it in HD. Get some awesome footage.
Shoot as many wolves as you can, and don't move, wait a long while, they'll be back, and shoot those wolves as well. Wolves carry hydatid disease, worms, ticks and fleas. Not sure if I'd want to eat a deer that got bit. Up to you. If the deer appears survivable, up to you. If it's dead when you touch it, that's another grey legal area, as it's a 'found' item, and belongs to the Govt. When you handle wolves, wear gloves.

Second scenario, nothing illegal at all in shooting those Elk. Again, I would want video first. The problem with that kill is the bulls are full of adrenaline, blood and testosterone, so the meat...... meh. Probably crap for at least an hour.
Once again up to you. Maybe one got wounded in the fight. Let it calm right down and put it to sleep before the wolves tear it up slowly.
My two bits.
 
Ardent said:
Given the way the wolf populations in northern BC and Alberta have gone, without question shoot every wolf you could before they scattered. Yes a bitten buck is fine.

In one valley this winter / spring, I saw a dozen or more wood bison killed and left to rot, just nose and butthole eaten, the soft parts, in two weeks. Wolves are to the point of out of control and Alberta has even been funding massive culls. BC is looking at the same, you can help if you know how to hunt wolves.

The Elk, take the biggest one- I've been in that exact scenario with rutting Impala fighting.
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Is that near Blueberry? I'd like to put the location on my MAP on Wolftracker if you wanna PM me, thanks!
 
Ardent said:
I used to be one of the most "ardent" wolf supporters, but with what I'm seeing, control is called for and important. We're screwing up the climate and exacerbating the melts, so we have a role to play in managing the resultant wolf explosion. Just my small change.
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Totally agree that predators need to be controlled just as we do with populations of deer, moose, etc. And where the populations are too high or out of control, pressure is properly applied. But as hunters, we don't do ourselves any favours when we say we're shooting them for fun, etc. (Not that you made that kind of comment). Treat every hunting endeavour from a conservation and wildlife management perspective, and we'll all be better off for it.

Edit: As for the OP's original question(s), others' advice about avoiding shooting those deer/elk is well taken. Too much lactic acid from exertion/chase/battle will cause a 'gamey' taste in the meat.
 
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