Jackson Hole Outfitters, Maury Jones, Box 117, Grover, Wy 83122 (307)886-3356  Wy Lic #53

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March 2004 Newsletter

Pic of Matt Janes' 30 inch buck 2003

It has been an interesting winter, lots of things going on, particularly regarding the wolves.  First, some Business;

Email Newsletter

Remember, those who sign up on my email newsletter get this first, usually two weeks before bulk snail-mail gets it to your mailbox.  Every couple of weeks or so I send an email message regarding hunting, or our wolf effort, or something I think you will be interested in regarding Wyoming.  I don’t share the list with anyone for any reason, so you will never get spam or viruses from signing up.  Just go to my website www.JacksonHoleOutfitters.com and click on the link.  You get it quicker, you get frequent updates, and I save postage.  Email me and let me know to take you off my postage list.

SUPER Raffle! Permit & Hunt, or CASH!

The Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association is having a “Hunt of a Lifetime” raffle.  The winner gets a Wyoming hunt license/permit good for elk, mule deer, or antelope (your choice of specie and hunt area) plus they get a fully paid hunt with any member of WyOGA.  If you already have an elk tag you get reimbursed the cost.  In lieu of the permit and guided hunt the winner may choose $5,000 cash.  Fill out the enclosed card and send it in, or call the WyOGA office at(307)265-2376 and put it on your credit card.  Cost is $20 per ticket or 3 for $50.  Proceeds go toward helping preserve Wyoming’s big game hunting.  Drawing takes place April 2, so hurry and get your tickets.  I know, you say you never win.  Well, Jim Mills bought a raffle ticket from me one year and he WON!.  Even if you don’t win, the donation goes to a good cause.

Pic of Don Calahan and guide Sparky, 2003

The Big Bad Wolf

Unfortunately I am forced to report that the wolves have discovered Greys River.  A pack of wolves, about 6 of them, have been working on the Forest Park Elk Feedground, about 35 miles up Greys River.  They killed a few elk, then left, then returned for a couple more elk.  Wolves wander a lot.  Senator Delaine Roberts was going up Greys on snowmobile with the game warden and they came upon a freshly killed calf elk right in the middle of the Greys River road.  The elk was barely dead, actually still moving, with blood all over the place and obvious signs of a struggle.  The wolves had moved away at their approach and were nearby.  The Game Warden surveyed the scene and investigated.  The very plain wolf tracks in the new frost were 6 1/4 inches long and 4 inches wide.  Draw that out on a piece of paper and see just how large that is.  Pretty big foot for a canine.  Unfortunately elk, moose, and deer are no match for a pack of wolves.  I have been working the legislature this winter to kill a couple of wolf bills.  Bowing to pressure from the feds, some wanted to water down Wyoming statutes which protect us somewhat from wolves.  We were able to kill the bills.     Wyoming has come under a great deal of criticism by neighboring states because of Wyoming‘s classification of wolves as predators in the majority of the state.  Because of our “predator” designation the US Fish and Wildlife Service rejected Wyoming’s wolf plan.   One very recent Montana newspaper article stated Wyoming's Plan was "too outrageous for even Fish and Wildlife to accept".  Actually, 10 of 11 wolf experts under the Peer Review Process endorsed Wyoming's plan as "adequately protecting a viable population of wolves".  The lone scientist who dissented stated the Plan was adequate but she "wanted" wolves protected statewide instead of just in the northwest near the Parks.  In other words, "science be damned, I have an agenda".  USFWS exact words to a Wyoming Congressional committee in explaining rejection of the Plan were "we can't justify the plan to the Eastern Judge or the Connecticut housewife".  Direct quote.  It was justified to the wolf experts, but not to the enviro-wackos who run the USFWS.  At least the article was correct in one statement, namely that Wyoming would like to kill wolves wherever they are found and by whatever method we can.  That is the only way we can protect our elk, moose, deer, antelope, and bighorn sheep which are being massacred at an alarming rate.  One example will suffice.  The Dunoir Valley near Dubois, Wyoming was historically the home of 80-100 moose.  They are now EXTINCT, thanks to the Washakie Pack of wolves.  The last moose calf was killed on the lawn of Bud Betts in January 2003.  Three wolves also killed the Betts' family dog on their lawn in broad daylight in front of the family.  Yes, Wyoming hates what the feds have done to us and we will fight back.

Pic of Craig McBride with his almost-30-incher, 2003

Lopez will give it another go!

In 1999, Stephen Lopez and his Dad, Bernard, hunted elk with us.  They had a great hunt and so Stephen and his brother, Lauren, will hunt elk with us this year.  Stephen is wanting to improve on his spike and hoping this year’s bull will be bigger than his Dad’s big 6x6. (see Photo)

Last time around they had a rather uneventful first day.  The second morning while we were all bustling around to leave camp extra early, guide Warren was puttering around and telling the Lopez boys to hang loose.  Warren claimed he was going to kill a bull right behind camp.  So they rode out just before daylight, long after the others had left.  Rode about a half hour and Warren spotted a big six-pointer on a timbered hillside, 250 yards away.  Bernard got off, took careful aim and shot.  Warren said, “You missed, shoot again.”  Bernard claimed he hit the bull, but obediently prepared another round.  The bull toppled over from the first shot.  Great 6x6!  They were back in camp with it by 10 o’clock.

Pic of Don Bloch's trophy buck, 2003

More on the Wolves

Sorry if I spend too much time on wolves, but it is becoming a major problem in Wyoming and the west.  Some places in Idaho are really hurtin’ for elk.  I recently attended a banquet/fundraiser in Idaho Falls sponsored by the Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition.  It was attended by 470 very anti-wolf people, mostly from Idaho, but also from Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.  I was one of the 8 speakers.  I emphasized the jurisdictional issue, that is that a state can determine its own destiny without federal interference.  A couple of the Idaho legislators spoke and they detailed the dishonesty of the feds in putting the wolf here and in mismanaging them in violation of the Endangered Species Act.  Frankly, I think the ESA is a major tool to eliminate our guns.  They dump a land shark, the wolf, on our wildlife.  It will eventually eliminate the surplus which we now hunt.  Without hunting the wackos will claim we don’t need guns.  Yes, I believe it is a conspiracy and I am doing what I can.  One resident of Idaho who spoke openly asked people to kill wolves wherever and whenever and by whatever means they can.  If the “law” was broken putting the wolves here, are we required to obey it? I don’t know.

Wolves impacting wildlife

Wildlife near Dubois, Wyoming, has been severely impacted by wolf predation mainly because of the Washakie Wolf Pack which has numbered as many as twenty seven.  In 1995 the Dunoir elk herd was estimated at 4,200.  The present actual count is 1,426.  Spike elk harvest is often a barometer to use in determining how many calf elk survive to two years old.  In 1998 --  168 spike elk were checked through the Dubois check station.  In 1999  -- 131.  In 2000  -- no record.  In 2001 – 60.  In 2002  -- 34.  In 2003  -- 22.  This reduction of 83% in just 6 years is a very alarming statistic!  Don’t get me wrong.  Wyoming still has some great elk hunting, but we are in a fight for our wildlife.  Your purchase of a raffle ticket will help us in a lawsuit to challenge fed jurisdiction.

Tom Dances with a Rattler!!

This past summer while guiding for prairie dogs (yes, I do that.  Go to http://www.PrairieDogOutfitters.com ) I killed a rattlesnake right under our truck.  Reminds me of my many years in Arizona where rattle-y-snakes were a constant hazard.  I’ll never forget when old Tom, my mentor, went walking across a little draw to kick the Gambel’s Quail out while I stood nearby to whop them as they tried to make an escape.  Suddenly Tom began jumping up and down in one place in a very animated way, then shot three times at the ground at his feet with a 12 gauge shotgun.  I went over to view the ragged remains of a large Diamondback (Coon-tail) rattler.  Tom said he had stepped on it and it had instinctively coiled around his foot and he had to kick it off with the other foot before it could figure out where to strike.  I had lots of close calls like that myself, but I don’t think any rattler is any more dangerous than some of those snakes referred to as politicians and bureaucrats.  They are the most dangerous kind because with a stroke of a pen they can cause all kinds of damage to our wildlife and our hunting heritage.  Yes, I’m talking again about the “endangered” species.  Besides wolves we have ravens, crows, magpies, and pelicans that are protected and are destroying our wildlife.  The ravens and magpies are destroying our sage grouse nests and chicks.  The pelicans, all 300 of them on Palisades lake, eat way too many fish.

Anyway, keep in touch with me.  I hope to hunt with many of you in the near future.  Jonesy