MONTANA DAN TRAPPING
The Youngest Wolf Wacker & The Curse of the Black Wolf By Dan Helterline On the heels of this years tremendously successful coyote trapping season , I was eager to dive into wolf trapping , Alexis was old enough to attend one of the mandatory wolf trapping certification classes required by the Fish and Game and would be accompanying me as time and school permitted on this years wolf trap line . Last year I was able to harvest my limit of five wolves and I was hoping this season would be as productive as well , talking to some of the cat hunters that were out in early December , it sounded like there was a good amount of wolf sign in the areas that I like to trap . I was delightfully optimistic that it would be a good season , little did I know just how good .
On opening morning I was able to get about a dozen sets out and I figured that was a good start , I would add sets as I checked and found fresh sign , the conditions were good , the ground wasn ’ t froze solid and we had a nice blanket of snow . The first check was a Saturday so Alexis and I loaded up and headed out , I had some bobcat sets east of town we would check first before we headed over Lone Man Divide and into the Thompson River drainage to check our wolf sets . One of our cat sets produced a nice tom bobcat , but as we made our way along our wolf line we came up empty , I had to remind Alexis that the second check was always the best and she needed to remain positive . While making our rounds we did happen to meet the local Game Warden , Troy Hinck and while checking our licenses he remarked that he was glad to see a young lady out with her dad learning how to trap . On our way back to town we stopped at my cousin ' s cabin in Mud Creek to get something hot to drink and warm up , over a cup of coffee , Jay mentioned that it was 24 below zero when they got up that morning !
The next check fell on a Monday and I had a good feeling that morning so I told Alexis she was going to miss a few hours of school while we quickly checked our wolf sets , she reluctantly agreed and put on her trapping cloths and set her school clothes aside , she had made the honor roll with straight A ’ s during the previous quarter , so I figured missing a few hours of school to check traps was acceptable . The first set that we drove close to I can check by getting in the back of the parked truck and looking over a small rise to see where the trap is set , this allows me to check the set from a distance and not having to approach it , helping keep disturbance to a minimum . As I got in the back and gained enough height to see the set location I immediately caught some movement and it didn ’ t take long to realize we had just caught our first wolf of the season !
We got one , get your gun Alexis , I quickly hollered ! Before I could get out of the back of the truck , she was out of the door , pink cricket in hand , saying really , we got a wolf ! Yep , I told you the second check is always the best , let ' s go check it out , as we raced up the bank to get to where we could better see our prized catch . As we approached the wolf oddly enough it was wagging its tail , I had to think to myself , this wolf must not know who we are , as we got closer the wolf began barking and then eventually howled at us .
Alexis found this amusing as we readied the crickett for Alexis ’ s first wolf dispatch . After we quickly dispatched the wolf , we remade the set , then drug the male wolf down to the road and load in the truck after the mandatory picture taking session . Of course on our way back to town we had to stop at Jay and Theresa ’ s cabin and show off Alexis ’ s first wolf , they were very impressed that Alexis had already got a wolf and the season had just started ! I will admit I was a bit proud myself , my daughter had harvested her first wolf the same month she had taken her wolf trapping certification class , I don ’ t think too many trappers can claim that .
I was able to catch a couple of wolves on checks when Alexis was in school , Christmas break was almost here and then she would be able to check with me on a regular basis . It just happened that we were due to check traps on Christmas day so after all the presents were opened and breakfast was done , I told Alexis to get on those camo cloths Santa had brought her , we were going to go field test them . She offered a little resistance saying she wanted to stay home and try out her new Chrome Book , but I firmly reminded her that there would be plenty of time for that later . Soon we were headed for Lone Man Divide , Alexis clad in here newly acquired camo cloths , and myself happy to be out of the house and headed for the woods .
Continued on page 9 .
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