Hunting Something that Can Hunt You

I love to hunt alone and do so most of the time. It is one thing to hunt deer, elk, or turkeys in this manner. However, it is a completely different experience when hunting an apex predator!

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One afternoon earlier this winter, with a few hours of daylight left, I decided to head out into the snowy woods in search of a wolf. As I said, I am used to hunting alone and usually in territory that hold many predators…bears, coyotes, mountain lions, wolves. I’ve been asked by many people if I was afraid to be out there alone with the wild animals. My response has always been an honest “No!” Frankly, based on my experiences, I am more afraid of 2-legged threats than 4-legged ones! I’ve hunted all sorts of big game and have even taken several black bears using spot-and-stalk methods. Exhilarated, yes! Afraid….not a bit!

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On this day, I chose a remote area with many open clear cuts and an area known to hold many wolves. As I hiked in to set up for my first calling sequence, I saw a huge wolf track that had been snowed in. YES!!! The wolves have been here fairly recently! This could be good! I walked several hundred yards on an old logging road and set up where I could see two separate clearings. As I started my calling sequence, first with a wolf howl to see if I could get a response, a chill ran down my spine. For the first time, I was calling an apex predator TO me! It is one thing to be in the same area as a potential predator, but to actually try to bring one into range to shoot…that is a completely different playing field! As I continued to call, using a variety of coyote sounds (wolves hate coyotes and will try to rid them from their territory), the experience became more intense. At any second, from any direction, a solitary wolf or an entire pack could come rushing in without warning. Here I was, alone in the snow, with just my rifle. Would I be ready? I’ve heard stories of wolves hunting the hunter…what if I was surrounded by a pack numbering more than the bullets I carried with me? Several scenarios played through my mind as I sat there, much more acutely aware of my surroundings than I think I have ever been in the woods before. What an intense rush and a tremendously exhilarating experience!!

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In the end, I did two different calling set ups and never had a wolf or even a coyote show up or respond. But it was an awesome, exciting adventure that I can’t wait to do again!!