Wolves. Wolf hunting. Opinions?

[Onew~]

Please keep the discussion civil and do not lash out on those whose opinions differ from yours.

Wolves have had a flow of popularity to the point where you could even call them mainstream. I am one who has taken interest in them, it was a long time ago and the only thing I knew about wolves was they had a pack lead by Alphas. But in the gap of space I've done a lot of research, from their size to diet and behavior. Anyhow, the flow of popularity, mainly Gray wolves, has resulted in a lot of wolf related things. Fursonas, games, clubs, etc.

Most people take interest in Gray Wolves, but there are many subspecies of wolves, many endangered. Of course we won't really be talking about hunting the endangered species. Gray wolves are (no longer) not threatened anymore. In my opinion I don't have interest in hunting, I don't really want to do it, but I'm not against other people doing it as long as it's a "clean" death. I mean, if a wolf was taking down calves on a ranch, then something has to be done about it, you can't just sit there and watch your business die because, oh, the wolves are hungry.

So, what are your opinions? Against it? For it? Want to do it?

EDIT: This thread has come a long way, and there are a few people who have seem to forgotten there is a difference from HUNTING and from POACHING. Hunting does not cause extinction - poaching does. There are regulations on hunting of all animals, "tags" are sold for hunting, and if you use your tags and hunt more animals after that it is considered poaching and it is against the law. So please don't call fellow CS members who hunt "animal murderers" or people who are driving animals to extinction, because unless they're poaching, they aren't.

[WinterDrift]

I agree with you, recently wolves have just became an internet idol or something along those lines. Don't get me wrong though, they're still my favorite animal, and I've been intrigued by them since I was very young. However, I DO understand that they (Grey wolves) need to be hunted to keep a stable populatuion. Would I go wolf hunting? No. I've never been able to bring myself to hunt any kind of animal (deer, raccooon, etc.). I only agree with killing as long as it's humane. No, I don't like animals being killed, but I (unlike some I know) understand that it must be done. Like I said though, as long as it's HUMANE and FAIR. I do not think ariel hunting (of wolves or any animal) is fair, and I do not support that.
I just wish that these "wolfaboos" would understand that they do need to be killed to balance the population, and I also wish that wolf lovers who do understand weren't misreputated as a wolfaboo

[van]

I love wolves myself, but I also agree with wolf hunting, as long as the hunter is responsible. As in, using every thing they can, whether it be for donating, selling, or compost. I understand that not everything of the wolf can and will be used, but things such as the bones, meat, and fur are definitely usable. 

I would like to go wolf hunting  someday, I think it'd be fun - and their fur is just gorgeous, but unfortunately costs quite a bit of money. I do have a wolf pelt myself, but he doesn't have paws, and it's not quite as rewarding as being able to say that you saw the wolf while it was alive and earned it yourself.
 I love wolves, and seeing them in nature would be rewarding in itself as well, whether I actually could bring one down or not. 

[Saracirce]

I'm on the wall about hunting in general. I can see why it's necessary and I understand why people would prefer hunting/eating game over eating meat from a store BUT I don't see how killing any animal can be 'fun'. Everything leading up to it, yes, fun. But killing the animal? I can't see how that part of it is fun. I am against trapping though, where you catch the animal's paw or leg in a snare and then it just sits there until you come around and 'humanely' kill it.

On wolf hunting in general, I'm for it for population control. Sort of on the wall for 'problem wolves' unless you have solid proof that wolf you just killed was the one actually killing your animals (as in, it has an extremely unique marking/trait to make it stand out and you caught it on camera or you shot it while it was hunting/killing/eating your animal).

I could never hunt or kill an animal myself (aside from seafood). I would be interested in wildlife photography using tactics similar to hunters though. Where my 'catches' and 'trophies' would be awesome pictures of the animals doing what they do. That would be totally awesome and fun.

[Gà.]

I'm all for it. I love wolves, but then again they're WOLVES. Their not my australian cattle dog sitting by my feet, their that dog some 5 miles away hunting a moose. I would love to go wolf hunting, and trapping, personally, I agree with. Has anyone ever seen 'Yukon Men' ? Well, their a great example. many people don't like them, but they survive off the pelts of their animals and the meat. A beaver can get gas money and a meal for your family. Wolf can offer enough money to pay for gas for a weeks worth of snowmachine gas. A bear, well, a bear is a lot of food, even if you don't trap them. I think a wolf can be killed whether its bothering your animals or land or not. Ariel hunting I think is dumb, and no one should do it.

But, then again, I don't want to see a wolf. I mean, sure, I've seen bears, heck, I was 50yards away from a bear, but wolves seem, more dangerous. A bear, if it attacks, you shoot it. A wolf pack attacks you have to worry about shooting 4 or more wolves, depending on the pack size.

Oh and Saracirce > A snare kills the animal within seconds of being snared (it get caught, chokes, worries, jerk, chokes, and dies, within 30 seconds about, and their disoriented because brain signals are usually interupted due to the force of the wire). A foot trap traps the animals foot, which its numb within minutes of being trapped so its not really in pain, and then you go kill it. Although depending on the animal it usually falls asleep where it dies (say I was trapping marten - It was in the trap, fell over, head upside down, dizzy, falls asleep, doesn't wake up). I just had to point that out, sorry

[van]

Oh and Saracirce > A snare kills the animal within seconds of being snared (it get caught, chokes, worries, jerk, chokes, and dies, within 30 seconds about, and their disoriented because brain signals are usually interupted due to the force of the wire). A foot trap traps the animals foot, which its numb within minutes of being trapped so its not really in pain, and then you go kill it. Although depending on the animal it usually falls asleep where it dies (say I was trapping marten - It was in the trap, fell over, head upside down, dizzy, falls asleep, doesn't wake up). :) I just had to point that out, sorry :)

Finally, someone who's actually educated about trapping. It seems that most people like to give trappers this bad reputation of causing animals to thrash around, chew off their legs and suffer terribly for days on end, when that is far from the truth. I honestly don't even understand how that stereotype came to be, other than crazy animal rights orginizations spreading propaganda - but I thought no one listened to them anymore. XD

[Gà.]

Oh and Saracirce > A snare kills the animal within seconds of being snared (it get caught, chokes, worries, jerk, chokes, and dies, within 30 seconds about, and their disoriented because brain signals are usually interupted due to the force of the wire). A foot trap traps the animals foot, which its numb within minutes of being trapped so its not really in pain, and then you go kill it. Although depending on the animal it usually falls asleep where it dies (say I was trapping marten - It was in the trap, fell over, head upside down, dizzy, falls asleep, doesn't wake up). I just had to point that out, sorry

Finally, someone who's actually educated about trapping. It seems that most people like to give trappers this bad reputation of causing animals to thrash around, chew off their legs and suffer terribly for days on end, when that is far from the truth. I honestly don't even understand how that stereotype came to be, other than crazy animal rights orginizations spreading propaganda - but I thought no one listened to them anymore. XD

Well I took a trapping class w/ a friend, but so far all we've caught is a squirrel, poo

I think its really only wolverines who chew off legs, whereas wolves, coyotes, bobcats, will rip off toes. Thats why you use a conibear for wolverines so it snaps their neck. Oh and your supposed to check your trapline like every couple days or so. (just rambling on, lol)
Not sure, I know around here theres this 'comic' that gives trappers a bad rep, not sure how many other people read it though.
LOL, I sure don't. PETA once said this thing about how 'chaining your dog is a form of abuse', and at the time I thought they meant w/ a collar, food, water, shelter, etc. Because my friend is a musher and she has them set up with a collar, a chain that hooks to their collar, then feeds and waters them with shelter. We both just laughed and she said, "Yup, PETA's affecting Alaska", but when I looked on their site they meant like the people who abuse their animals. Not sure why they didn't just say leaving your dog out in te heat or something.. Oh well, back on the subject.
Do you trap?

[Grimace]

I could never hunt or kill an animal myself (aside from seafood).

Why is seafood any different?

[Saracirce]

Oh and Saracirce > A snare kills the animal within seconds of being snared (it get caught, chokes, worries, jerk, chokes, and dies, within 30 seconds about, and their disoriented because brain signals are usually interupted due to the force of the wire). A foot trap traps the animals foot, which its numb within minutes of being trapped so its not really in pain, and then you go kill it. Although depending on the animal it usually falls asleep where it dies (say I was trapping marten - It was in the trap, fell over, head upside down, dizzy, falls asleep, doesn't wake up). I just had to point that out, sorry

The pain the animal is in isn't the only thing I care about. I also care about how much stress the animal has. Any animal that has it's paw caught in a trap will be extremely stressed, no matter how long it is until the hunter comes around to check. Wouldn't you be extremely stressed and scared if part of your body was caught in something and was totally numb but you still couldn't get out or get away? And then it takes the hunter up to TWO WHOLE DAYS to come set you free? Yeah, that's not cruel or stressful at all. I have no problem with an animal being killed quickly and humanely as long as you have the proper permits for said animal.

And why is it every single time someone says they're against something another person isn't, the other person responds with something about 'animal rights extremists' or PETA? I frankly find it insulting. I actually care enough to look into the things I'm against. I don't take anyone on their word, especially PETA. Sure, I get the terminology wrong but that doesn't mean I don't know what I'm talking about.

@Grimace: Seafood is different because I was raised catching and eating my own seafood. I can emotionally disconnect with said animal, while I can't with deer, ducks, etc. I have no problem with people who hunt with proper permits, uses all of the animal, and kills them quickly and humanely.

[Gà.]

Oh and Saracirce > A snare kills the animal within seconds of being snared (it get caught, chokes, worries, jerk, chokes, and dies, within 30 seconds about, and their disoriented because brain signals are usually interupted due to the force of the wire). A foot trap traps the animals foot, which its numb within minutes of being trapped so its not really in pain, and then you go kill it. Although depending on the animal it usually falls asleep where it dies (say I was trapping marten - It was in the trap, fell over, head upside down, dizzy, falls asleep, doesn't wake up). I just had to point that out, sorry

The pain the animal is in isn't the only thing I care about. I also care about how much stress the animal has. Any animal that has it's paw caught in a trap will be extremely stressed, no matter how long it is until the hunter comes around to check. Wouldn't you be extremely stressed and scared if part of your body was caught in something and was totally numb but you still couldn't get out or get away? And then it takes the hunter up to TWO WHOLE DAYS to come set you free? Yeah, that's not cruel or stressful at all. I have no problem with an animal being killed quickly and humanely as long as you have the proper permits for said animal.

And why is it every single time someone says they're against something another person isn't, the other person responds with something about 'animal rights extremists' or PETA? I frankly find it insulting. I actually care enough to look into the things I'm against. I don't take anyone on their word, especially PETA. Sure, I get the terminology wrong but that doesn't mean I don't know what I'm talking about.

@Grimace: Seafood is different because I was raised catching and eating my own seafood. I can emotionally disconnect with said animal, while I can't with deer, ducks, etc. I have no problem with people who hunt with proper permits, uses all of the animal, and kills them quickly and humanely.

OK, if your stressed, would you sleep? Once the said trapper instructor had come around to a sleeping wolf. The wolf was alive, healthy, etc. Had been there for about 2 days. Asleep. Now, you can say it was stressed and I would understand why you would, but IMO that isn't a stressed animal. If you say it is and back it up with facts, then I may change my opinion. You also have to take into consideration many trappers use mostly snares and conibears, so generally most animals don't suffer. I can agree with you, some parts of trapping is cruel/inhumane. And I respect your opinion not liking it, but some people Have to trap so that they can survive.

PETA being mentioned had no way no how relation to you. It was a funny memory that popped into my mind of me and my friend. Sorry if it insulted you, but it wasn't because of you.