A Howlin' Good Time (wolf pics)

[BCBOY]

Went moose hunting this weekend with my dad and my 8 yr old boy. We were positioned just as the fog lifted on a big meadow complex where I always see moose. Not a single swamp donkey was out. I started cow calling and the only answers came from a couple wolves on the other side of the valley. We hunted for several hours and decided to head over see if we could find the wolves. My dad saw one dart across the logging road, so we sat waiting for it to come out. I decided to howl and 3 more darted across the road. Then the whole valley came alive with howling. There had to be well over a dozen wolves in there. My son and I both were howling, with wolves all around us answering us. My dad thought the wolves we saw were juveniles and they sounded young by their howls. There were 2 larger sounding howls below us on the river, so I left my dad and my son howling and moseyed the direction of the larger sounding howls. I worked my way through a patch of timber and came out on an edge of a recent logging block. I started howling and suddenly a wolf appeared in front of me. I got on him just as he went out of sight in the logging debris. He ended up walking only 20 yards from me with no shot opportunity available. I thought he would pick up my scent once he got past me, so I howled and he answered right back. I jumped up on a high stump and saw a good view of him. He was now in the timber moving pretty fast. I let one fly and missed but connected on my second shot. As soon as I saw him go down I howled again and had another one answer me. It wasn't 2 minutes later I heard my dad shoot. My son and my dad had turned around to see what I was doing and my son cried "Wolf". A wolf came out in front of them at about 75 yards. My dad let one rip but had brush in the way so he missed.
It was a cool experience to share with my dad and my son. This is my first wolf. I've had a few "missed" opportunities in the past but have never really had a good shot present itself until now. He looks to be a sub adult of the pack. I'd say he weighed 80-90 pounds. Not a huge dog but not small either.
A couple pics of my son with the wolf.





My dad and my son with the wolf


Me and my son with the wolf






Some scenery pics from the weekend.

[Norm Sauceman]

Great pics!

[thebig1]

those are some awesome pics. thanks so much for sharing them. Congrats on the wolf. should make an awesome rug to hang on the wall.

[OJR]

Beautiful pictures!

Congratulations on getting rid of a wolf! Wish more were taken!!

[fisherguy]

Congrats...its amazing how those buggers can get so close and not give you a shot...always going where they're not supposed to . lol

[RyanH]

Those are some awesome pics!!!!!

[Jeramie]

Man what a dog! Awesome pics and congratulations.

[JimT]

Great pics!!! Congrats on the wolf.

[iron buck]

Great story & pics. It is fantastic to be able to share such quality time with your family........and in such awesome country with the variety of game you have. Thanks for sharing

[DSGB]

Congratulations on your first wolf! I always enjoy your pictures and stories.

[superguide]

Did you skin it yet-there is nothing more rotten on the face of the earth than a timber wolf to skin-they are such neat animals can be so elusive one time and the next time just sit there-guy up here just shot a big black one drinking out his watering bowl of all things-must of been too lazy to walk to the river. Very nice wolf though-they should almost be prime by now.

[BCBOY]

Iron Buck,
It was truly an awesome experience to share with my son. Not many kids get to hear a wolf nowadays, let alone talk to one and see one up close and personal. Definately an experience of a lifetime and one he'll remember for years to come. Pretty cool that this is the first wolf shot in our family since my grandfather had his trapline in Northern Alberta. Just keeping up the family tradition I guess.

Superguide,
His hide was in great condition. I skinned him right on the spot. I'm pretty used to skinning from all the bears I've done while guiding the last few years, so I was pretty fast getting the job done. I had heard they can be stinky buggers but he didn't have any strange odor at all. I did where rubber gloves while skinnin' though, cause I have heard they can carry diseases. I thought I better be safe than sorry.

[superguide]

Wellmaybe you skinned him without him being frozen then thawed out cause the ones I've been around have flat out stunk. Wolves are such an amazing animal I think kind of a once in a lifetime trophy-soime guys up here have called them in with predator calls that would be fun I think.

[huntn4bucks]

Great pics...congrats!

[SavageTaylor]

Awesome photos!