wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

Yesterday morning, 1/2 before sunrise Isaw two does running full tilt across the field from my stand. I did not know why, because there were no other hunters, and they could not have winded me. Anyway, about 1 minute later a largecanine came trotting down the trail angled towards my stand. As it approached to 30 yards, I hastily drew my bow. It stopped at 27 yards and stared at my direction. I lined up my pin and squeezed the trigger.
I saw the arrow land on the trail and it looked like a clean miss. The animal turned on a dime and started trotting back the way it came. It stopped at the top of a rise and stared back in my direction. Then it wasgone. I started to ask myself was thata really big coyote? or a wolf? It had a grey coat, and face with black and white coloured fur. The large size of the tracks answered my question.
I hunted for a few more hours and then get down to retrieve my arrow. I wassurprised to find it wascovered in blood and one muzzy blade was bent really badly. That animal did not act as if it was hit at all! I trailed the wolf for the rest of the day. I tracked the blood trail for over 700 yards. I found three bloody beds(but I don't think I was bumping it). Eventually it got into a thickblack spruce bog. I trailed it on my hands and knees (very wet!)butonly found one small blood drop in my lasttwo hours of searching. Since I could not find any more blood and it was getting dark, I gave up.
I have never trailed a canine/predator before, did I do anything wrong? Does anyone have any hints or suggestions in case this ever happens again? I feel awful, but I know I tried my best.

P.S. It is legal to hunt wolves in Manitoba with a deer license.

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

It is my opinion that you should have known about the legality of your shot before you pulled the trigger.

Tom

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

I don't believe he is asking our opinion of legality. He states right in his post that it is legal to shoot a wolf in Manitoba with a deer license. He is asking about trailing a wounded wolf or coyote. Read the post before jumping on him.
I think you did the right thing. I know coyotes can be very tough to kill if you don't hit them exactly right with a rifle. They can also run a long way when wounded, and a swamp is where they will head. Tough place to look this time of year.
Brian

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

Legality is Deiffinately not the issue! Just remember the three S'.....
Shoot, Shovel and Shut-up!

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

what legality would that be???

I think you did all you could do,you did a long track job , sorry you just didn't catch up.

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

puch

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

YES I THINK YOU DID OK

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

LOL..BAWAHAAA

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

It is sad that you guys can't read. Look at his P.S.

To the guy who said to shoot, shovel and shut up. You have no respect for wild life management. Too bad.

Tom

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

statjunk, I don't see what you're seeing. He clearly states in his P.S. that it IS LEGAL to shoot a wolf with a deer license.
Brian

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

Hey Jono. I too live in Manitoba and have had wolves chase deer by my stand. I haven't shot at one - I'm saving my deer tag for a deer. But the wolves are big at least in the eastern part of the province.

And just to put it to rest - it is legal to shoot a wolf if you have an unused deer license in Manitoba.

Sorry to hear you lost him - they make a beautiful trophy.

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

After sitting in stand for a few more hours after the shot, that critter would've been in one of those beds, dead as a hammer, if you'd hit the vitals. Mark it down as a flesh wound.

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

I'm the one that can't read. Too bad for me. lol.

Tom

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

I don't know anything about wolves, but I can tell you if anyone found out you DIDN'T try to shoot a coyote in the area that I hunt in SD, they'd probably kick you out of the county.

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

my cousin shot a coyote 2 yrs ago and we tracked it all afternoon and into the night, we went back out in the morning and found it laying right by and old pond...
we never thought we would find it the next day...he hit it a little far back behind the front shoulders, but it was enough to kill it....

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

Did you mean "puke"?
If so, Clarify why.

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

I thought he meant pooch, or paunch, meaning it was hit in the guts.

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

Thanks for your responses guys.
My best guess is that I made a flesh wound somewhere in the front part of the chest cavity or neck.Based on the blood/smell of the arrow I don't think I hit the paunch.

For clarification Jennings CMX: You need abig game license to hunt a wolf, but you do not need to tag it.

I really would have liked a wolf skin. I have wolf fur around my winter jacket and it is very warm.
But let me tell you it sure is a rush tracking a wounded wolf by yourself in deep dark woods with only your bow and a sharp knife!

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

THat was the 1st thing that came in my head. I bet every sense was on full alert following a wounded wolf trail like that. I might have had to gone for backup from MR Ruger. ;)

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

Tom I know you have issues with your reading but:D I think Jearred was making a joke... Least thats the way I took it..LOL

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

Cut statjunk some slack. It looked like Juno posted- P.S.Is itlegal to hunt wolves in Manitoba with a deer license, when he posted "P.S. It is legal to hunt wolves in Manitoba with a deer license." Statjunk made a simple mistake, and you guys jumped on him for jumping on someone else, which led to me jumping on you! :D;)

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

Thanks Kraton... No harm from this guy. By the way Tom..... I AM WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT!!!!!:D

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

The only thing I can see that you did wrong (in my opinion) , is that you shot at an animal without positive identification of your target. Yes , it's legal to shoot wolves there , and coyotes too , but it could have also been a dog. You might not have a problem shooting dogs either?? I'm just pointing out the golden rule taught to me as a child , making sure you positively know what your shooting at.

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

Thanks Bowfanatic. Point taken. I don’t make a practice of shooting without knowing the species I’m shooting at, but I so rarely see wolves that it took me a few minutes to realize what I had seen. I think it would be impossible to verify 100% that it wasn’t a dog, but I was 99% sure it wasn’t. BTW domestic dogs should not be anywhere near my hunting spot (especially at that hour). If I ever start seeing dogs in this area then I’ll know they are wild. I have no patience for wild dogs.

RE: wolf hunting- did I do something wrong?
 

You are right Jono - wolves do not have to be tagged. My mistake. That may change things for me....