Montana Woods N Water December 2016 Print Edition | Page 11

PREDATOR HUNTING CONTINUED
My plan is to discuss seasonally appropriate topics so you can
literally take that months information and immediately apply it in
the field. MWNW has given me free reign to discuss everything
from predator habits and calling techniques to guns, gear and calling
safety.
We live in an amazing place with opportunities to hunt a variety of
predators that most people can only dream of. In the January
edition we will explore the fundamentals of wolf behavior and
calling strategies. I would like to share one of my first wolf hunting
experiences. Hopefully you will find it both entertaining and
informative and just maybe it will spark your interest to get out this
winter for some late season predator hunting!
The Montana wolf season usually starts the first week of September
and wolves can only be hunted with archery equipment during that
period. The general rifle season now starts on September 15th. I
hunt with a long bow and was out at least part of every day during
the archery season. I have no idea how many miles I walked but I
never found any fresh sign or heard so much as a howl. By the time
the archery season closed I was definitely feeling the pressure.
When the general season opened I was once again out in the woods
pursuing wolves but now carrying my rifle in an effort to increase
my odds for success. Three weeks later I had time off from work and
was hunting a very large drainage in the mountains north of my
home. I had hiked in a little over 3 miles on a gated road when at
about 9:30 in the morning I came to an intersection of three trails
where I saw some old wolf scat. At least now I knew I was
potentially in the right area. I went only a few steps further and
found a pile of still warm (don’t ask) wolf scat and a wet urine
puddle. Since the temperature was a balmy 21 degrees, I knew the
wolves had to be very close. I stood there for a minute trying to
figure out which of the paths they might have taken. After looking
around a bit, I decided the best place for me to set up would be
right there in that intersection as it afforded me the best visibility to
see something coming in to my calls. I stepped off the trail into a
cluster of large pine trees that would afford me a little bit of cover.
I was using a Flextone rabbit distress call and began blowing a
sequence of sounds on it. I had been calling for less than two
minutes when I heard something crashing through the woods
directly behind me and it was coming in fast. I knew it was going to
be either a wolf or a bear coming in that hard since in my
experience, coyotes and lions make little if any noise on their
approach. As I spun around I was already bringing my rifle up to my
shoulder. Looking back now, I clearly remember as I turned I could
see a wolf bounding through the brush straight towards me. I also
recall seeing in my peripheral vision, the movement of another wolf
off to my right side. The wolf coming at me was a very large male
with a dark face and bright golden eyes. At that moment I knew this
was the wolf I had dreamed of for so many years. In the split second
it had taken for me to turn and raise my rifle, the wolf had seen my
movement and came to a complete stop at a distance of eighteen
yards, staring straight at me.
I will forever remember looking into those wild golden eyes as the
crosshairs settled on the center of his chest. I don’t recall hearing
the gun blast or feeling the recoil of the shot, I just remember
seeing him go down. I automatically chambered another round and
then ran forward to be sure that it was over. Continued on pg. 21
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