Of Wolves and Wild dogs

clawmute · 10th January 2009, 07:31 AM

I wrote this little piece a few years back about a couple of experiences here in the Ouachita foothills, and thought a few of you backwoods types like yours truly, might enjoy it.

Frank

OF WOLVES AND WILD DOGS
©2008 Frank L. Jennings
All Copyrights remain with the author

I won’t argue the point as to whether or not the wolves that were doing their best to catch my dog were pure bred. Spanky, my black and white Rat Terrier, zipping along as fast as his short legs would propel him, wasn’t at all interested in their ancestry or DNA. He and I were hunting squirrels near the junction of the Middle and Alum Forks of the Saline river in west central Arkansas and about a mile and one half from home. Spanky Is a good companion, and a fair squirrel dog. It was an overcast, late January day, and we were two miles from home. He was ranging through a sweet gum thicket when he rocketed out of it faster than he had entered. I thought that he had jumped a rabbit and was giving chase. I was shocked to see two very large and very grey wolves twenty yards behind him in hot pursuit of their movable feast. They were about eighty pounds or so each, and were a mottled grey and black with fully billowing tails. I’ve shot both wild dogs and coyotes around our backwoods place, and these guys were neither.

My over-under twenty gauge was slung over my shoulder on a sling, and by the time I had it in my hands, the wolves had made it back to the thicket. I took a snap shot just as they dove into cover, but shot too far behind the last animal. Spanky’s comic look of relief was as intense as my shock. Late that afternoon when coming out of the darkening wooded bottoms, we saw a lone wolf sitting on a high hill above the river, outlined by the fading yellow twilight. I would have given anything for a camera right then. Whether it was one of the pair seen earlier I don’t know, but imagine that it was. I’ve hunted and fished in the Ouachita Mountains and foothills for the past thirty years and have had more than one encounter with assorted canine predators.

Biologists say that any wolves here now are not true, pure wolves, but are wolf - dog crosses. These aggressive but super shy animals can be found over most of the continental United States, and are frequently seen by hunters, trappers, timber cruisers, and others involved in backwoods pursuits. I’m convinced that most of us, even those living near large cities, would be shocked at the number and variety of animals that thrive right under our noses.

On an October night a few years ago, my wife Martha asked, “What’s that noise”? Going outside to listen, it wasn’t hard to hear the growling, snarling uproar down the hill and close to our pond. I had been hunting that day and skinned some squirrels in the place from which the noises were coming. At the far edge of the light cast by the pole mounted night watcher light, dim shapes leaped and whirled in a confusion of legs and hairy forms. Something primitive was going on. After watching quietly for a few minutes I realized that a pack of wild dogs were fighting viciously over the skins I had left at the edge of the woods.

I was carrying a twelve gauge pump shotgun loaded with six doses of buckshot. These wild dogs are notorious for killing calves and other livestock, and humans are not immune from their attacks. The chickens, turkeys and ducks taken from our rural homestead over the years would feed a good sized gathering. I felt no sympathy for them as I shot into the throng once, then again as they scattered. A large and muscular animal ran directly toward me, and dropped several yards away. It was a male cross of some type, short haired with yellow, cat like eyes and long canines. His ears were short and stubby but his color was like a Walker hound. He was definitely not a house pet.

The rest of the pack had scattered, and I walked over to a large, solid black, long haired beast that was still breathing as it lay on its side. I could see the wet area of blood reflected by the dim light. I thought that one of the dogs might run back by me and offer another shot. I believed that the animal at my feet was close to expiring, so I punched it in the ribs with the gun barrel. What a surprise for me! The dying dog jumped to all fours in a flash and began to snarl and chew on the barrel of the shotgun. I was surprised into a temporary paralysis by it’s sudden recovery, but managed to hit it with a shot as it tired of removing the blue from my gun and turned and ran into the night. The whole episode took a few minutes, but is vivid in my memory. I’ve seen other packs of wild dogs in my wanderings over the years, but none as close as this, for they are truly wild and avoid man just as wolves and coyotes do.

Somewhere we have a photo of me in my denim overalls holding up a black wolf that I took on the high ground west of the Alum fork of the Saline river. The Middle Fork borders our place on the west, and the Alum Fork is on the east side of the mountain where we dwell. I was quail hunting with Joe, a black and white English setter. He and I became separated when I had to cross a woven wire mesh fence. Moving on through the woods while Joe looked for a dog sized opening in the fence, I paused to listen to the sound of something moving through the leaves. A dark form was coming directly toward me. It was several seconds before I could tell that the approaching form was a solid black wolf. I have no idea what that animal was up to, but it was very unusual for it to come toward a human. Rabid perhaps? I don’t know. At any rate the top barrel of the over - under twenty gauge dropped him at only ten yards.

On occasion when we need to go to Little Rock, some forty five miles away, we take the scenic route north up highway 9 through part of the Ouachita (wash-it-taw) National Forest, then east on highway 10 and along the south bank of Lake Maumelle and into Little Rock. The entire area is mixed pine and hardwood forests that blanket the rocky hollows and precipices.

On one such drive as we approached the western end of the lake we saw a large grey animal of some sort crossing the pine lined road from one side straight to the other. At first I thought it was just a deer wearing it's grey winter coat. But as we got closer I saw that it had a large fluffy tail. As it crossed the lonesome pavement it looked toward us then in the opposite direction as it slipped into the black pines. That was the largest wolf I've seen in my sixty odd years. I just laugh or smile when the official game and fish people here announce a list of animals we no longer have in our fields and forests. My brother had an interesting experience some years with an "officially non-existent" black panther adjacent to the swamps outside of North Little Rock. No one goes into those swamps, but I've hunted all around them and they are practically inaccessible.

When I launch out to hunt, photograph or just study and observe wild animals in the Arkansas hills and woodlands, I ‘m well aware that there is no way of knowing what experiences are over the next ridge or just across the stream. As to their ancestry, if some four legged critter is trying to eat me, I probably won't take the time to ask about its bloodline. Wolves probably won’t try to catch me or my dog again, but I keep my tree climbing skills polished up. You know, just in case.

hoot gibson · 11th January 2009, 01:28 PM

great story , well writen.

reminds me of my brother in law , he shot a coyote during deer gun season one year , drug it down to the house , and low and behold it was still breathing . i was setting on the porch when him and three other guys was trying to deside the best way to finnish it off without hurting the hide worse than it already was . so spot , my brother in law decided he would just shove a screw driver in its ear and scramble its brain . there was 4 of them standing around it when spot pushed the screwdriver agenst its ear . let me tell you , when that thing jumped up snarling and fighting , you never saw 4 grown men move so fast in your life. im betting that there wasnt a clean pair of shorts in the bunch . h

Bruce Hopf · 17th January 2009, 08:56 AM

My Sister, and Brother in Law, used to live about 60 Miles South West of Fort St John BC., and out where they lived, the Forestry Crews used to go into Government Forests, and do Select Logging.
One day, a couple of the Forestry Workers were out Marking Trees for Timber, and came across a Timber Wolf. It was this time of Year, Snow was a little deep, and the Wolf, started to give Chase. One guy, climbed a tree, before the Wolf got too close, and the other guy, laugh at him, and stayed on the Ground.
The guy wound up, walking around the Tree, trying to keep away from the Wolf. Finally, the guy threw his Safety Helmet away from the Tree, and the Wolf Pounced on it.
That gave the two guys, to get back to their truck, and radioed for help. Some one from the Camp, came to where they where, with a couple of Rifles. The went to where they had last seen the Wolf, and he was still there chewing on the Safety Helmet. They Shot the Wolf, and called in the Authorities.
They did a Rabies Test, and the Wolf was Healthy. The Authorities figured that the Wolf was Baned from the Pack, and was pretty Hungry, and because of the Snow, prevented the Wolf from catching too much to eat. So that is why the Attack took place. After that, the two guys, and the rest of the Forestry Crew, made sure, that they carried an Axe, or something, in case of another Attack. Bruce.

treevet · 19th January 2009, 12:25 AM

Interesting stories. I got a couple...

Many years ago I was living on a farm in rural Hunterdon County NJ. I was in front of the farm house when I heard what I thought was distinctly a baby crying over the hill. I ran over the hill and in the cornfield a pack of 6 wild dogs had a small deer surrounded and had it on the ground.

I chased them off but they left without fear and reluctantly. Later I thought I may have been attacked. The deer died from mental trauma after I took it over the hill as there were no substantial wounds on it.

Another time just maybe 10 years ago there was talk of a pack of wild dogs in this suburban Cinci. vicinity. There were pictures of Rottweilers and pittbulls with their teeth exposed and looking threatening. Homeowners were all worried and hunters were dispatched for days to find and kill them.

One day I was at my dump on a large school campus and the dump was in a remote and hidden area. I heard a noise and turned around and there they were.....couple of labs, what looked like a basset hound with long legs, and couple of golden retriever mixes. They looked like "the gang that couldn't shoot straight" (old comedy movie reference).

I wanted to pick up a stick and throw it to play with them. They ran off with their tails wagging and thrilled at being free on a beautiful day.

Anyway, didn't see them for a while and then in the newspaper there was another pict of wild dogs and a caption that was something like..."local hero police finally track down and kill wild dog pack".

What a joke.

Gunslinger · 19th January 2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoot gibson

great story , well writen.

reminds me of my brother in law , he shot a coyote during deer gun season one year , drug it down to the house , and low and behold it was still breathing . i was setting on the porch when him and three other guys was trying to deside the best way to finnish it off without hurting the hide worse than it already was . so spot , my brother in law decided he would just shove a screw driver in its ear and scramble its brain . there was 4 of them standing around it when spot pushed the screwdriver agenst its ear . let me tell you , when that thing jumped up snarling and fighting , you never saw 4 grown men move so fast in your life. im betting that there wasnt a clean pair of shorts in the bunch . h

After reading this story I was convinced that hunters are their own worst enemies. Could you give more ammunition to anti-hunters? Scrambling its brain with a screwdriver? It's just these kind of things that anti's use to get laws passed banning all hunting.

Therrin · 21st January 2009, 06:01 PM

Gunslinger, if your name was Hoot and your brother-in-law's name was Spot...you might feel differently.

When I was managing the horse ranch in Lake Hughes, there was one point where a mountain lion was coming through the area pretty regularly. A couple of the neighbors sheep got shredded and some of their dogs did as well. The soil was moist and we found alot of big prints which gave it away pretty solidly.
One night I woke up to the ranch dogs barking like crazy from inside the house. I went outside and the horses were all freaked out... took a headlamp and a gun with me and found a brand new baby colt, maybe 2 hours old or so, broken and torn up on the ground. Still alive actually, but just barely. It was ripped up pretty badly. The mother had a couple scratches but nothing too deep. I think I ended up treating her with...what was it...furisol? I could be wrong though.
I carried the baby colt out by the property line and it was still alive even then, put a bullet through it's head and then had to bury it at something like 3 or 4 in the morning.

Those big cats can be pretty wicked. There were 20 families who lived up in that canyon, set about 30 miles away from any civilized area. For several months alot of us around there carried side arms or shotguns when we went out riding or if we had to go through the back-canyon pass for any reason.
At some point we heard that someone shot a big mountain lion about 6 miles or so away, and after that we didnt seem to have any more trouble with it. They apparently run a route that they follow in circles or some such. That one had it coming for a while though and finally got it.

treevet · 21st January 2009, 11:44 PM

While on a little tangent to include "wild cats"....I went on a hitchhiking fishing trip while in highschool with my best friend. We were way up above Peterborough Ontario where I lived. At one point we were setting up a camp spot and I went around a big boulder and right in front of me was a huge cat that I would equate to bigger than a Mastiff dog.

I looked right in his eyes and he looked in mine and I turned and ran around the boulder and he ran the other way too. He sounded real heavy I remember, on the floor of the woods. Probably the dumlbest thing I coulda done. What else you gonna do tho, square off with him or curl up in a ball? We got back on the road.

Gunslinger · 22nd January 2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Therrin

Gunslinger, if your name was Hoot and your brother-in-law's name was Spot...you might feel differently.

Just wanted to point out that many hunters are constantly defending what they actually do which is kill animals. When someone mentions scrambling a live animals' brains with a screwdriver how can you defend that?

Bruce Hopf · 22nd January 2009, 09:11 AM

Around this Part of Ontario, the Coyotes are pretty thick. The Gang, I used to hunt with, get 20 or more Coyotes a Winter, while Hunting. In a County North East of me, they have such a Problem, that there has been a Bounty on them for over 10 Years. A lot of them are Coy-Dogs as well. There has been one around here about 5 Years ago. Seen Tracks of him, and my Best Friend almost hit him with his Car. Bruce.

Therrin · 22nd January 2009, 09:25 AM

Gunslinger....

So I'm guessing you dont eat eggs right? Or meat? Have you ever seen how messy and cruel some of the slaughterhouses look? I'm guessing you dont...especially if you eat meat, because you'd rather ignore the fact that what you're eating is an ANIMAL THAT WAS KILLED.

You're damn right that people who hunt kill animals. That's what hunting IS. However, hunting is more of a sporting chance than hustling a cow into a stock and slitting it's throat so that you can enjoy your hamburger.

Think about that before you get up on your high horse.

Bruce Hopf · 22nd January 2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Therrin

Gunslinger....

So I'm guessing you don't eat eggs right? Or meat? Have you ever seen how messy and cruel some of the slaughterhouses look? I'm guessing you don't...especially if you eat meat, because you'd rather ignore the fact that what you're eating is an ANIMAL THAT WAS KILLED.

You're damn right that people who hunt kill animals. That's what hunting IS. However, hunting is more of a sporting chance than hustling a cow into a stock and slitting it's throat so that you can enjoy your hamburger.

Think about that before you get up on your high horse.

I agree with you here on that one Ken. Up here in Ontario, they use a Stunner, before they Stick the Throat. The Stunner projects a Steel Bolt into the Head of the Animal.
I always carried a 222 REM rifle while Hunting Fox, and Coyote, and a 12 Gauge for Deer. When ever I had to finish off an Animal like that, I've always put a round in the Head, to finish it off. If i didn't get to the Fox, or Coyote before the Hounds did, well they did the Job, before I got to the animal. Bruce.

Gunslinger · 23rd January 2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Therrin

Gunslinger....

So I'm guessing you dont eat eggs right? Or meat? Have you ever seen how messy and cruel some of the slaughterhouses look? I'm guessing you dont...especially if you eat meat, because you'd rather ignore the fact that what you're eating is an ANIMAL THAT WAS KILLED.

You're damn right that people who hunt kill animals. That's what hunting IS. However, hunting is more of a sporting chance than hustling a cow into a stock and slitting it's throat so that you can enjoy your hamburger.

Think about that before you get up on your high horse.

High horse? Actually I'll take the high road and not say what most of us call people who scramble a live animals' brain to save a hide.

I've been a hunter and NRA member for over 20 years and yes I eat animal products and have no problem with using animals for food. But as a hunter I'm often defending hunting to people who don't. The same people that would end hunting tomorrow if they could.

When they publicize that hunters wound animals and then scramble their brains with a screwdriver it's impossible to defend the right to hunt. If you read my post closely you'll see that was my point.

Hunters can be their own worst enemies when they say things that are inflammatory. And regarding the coyote a simple bullet to the head would have been sufficient.

Therrin · 23rd January 2009, 10:28 AM

Actually after carefully reading your post I just realized that it could have been taken either of two different ways, and I apparently took it the unintended way.

I cant really defend the scrambling of an animal's brain with a screwdriver as it's not something I'd ever do. If I lived somewhere that people were named "Hoot" and "Spot"... Hmm, it probably wouldnt seem as odd I suppose.

And yes... a bullet would have been much quicker and shouldnt have ruined the hide if placed well.

I'm still trying to decide if taking a perfectly live and otherwise happy lobster and dropping him in a pot of boiling water while he's still alive fits into this topic or not. If you look at it within context, then I think it does. Sounds kinda cruel ya know.
Then again, I dont know many folks who try to suffocate the lobster or anything before boiling it. I guess to each his own, and for the people who complain and want to protest all this kinda stuff... they should take a VERY carefull look at their own life and the means-to-the-end which allows them the things they have and use.

Steve Tipton · 24th January 2009, 07:02 AM

I put crabs and lobsters (when I get them) on ice before cooking. This puts them to sleep first.

hoot gibson · 30th January 2009, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunslinger

After reading this story I was convinced that hunters are their own worst enemies. Could you give more ammunition to anti-hunters? Scrambling its brain with a screwdriver? It's just these kind of things that anti's use to get laws passed banning all hunting.

there is nothing you are going to say on here that willl hurt hunting except being one of those people who think all hunters should stand around and hug each other in a big tent , and kill there animals the humain way .hide there camo clothing and guns on the way to the hunt , so someone wont see them and want to stop all hunting . get a grip on reality , the anti hunters are going to do what ever they can to stop us , and posting a hunting story on a forum aint going to fuel them or slow them down . whats the difference than scrambling some brains , to shooting an arrow or bullet through the lungs of a deer and letting it run off and bleed to death .. so gunslinger , when they come to kill me i hope they stick a screw driver in my ear and scramble my brains so i die quickly, instead of running a sharp thing through my lungs so i die a slower death . you must really dislike trappers then .

hoot

p.s. i am 53 years old , and cant remember a time when i havnt been a hunter and killer .

hoot gibson · 30th January 2009, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunslinger

High horse? Actually I'll take the high road and not say what most of us call people who scramble a live animals' brain to save a hide.

I've been a hunter and NRA member for over 20 years and yes I eat animal products and have no problem with using animals for food. But as a hunter I'm often defending hunting to people who don't. The same people that would end hunting tomorrow if they could.

When they publicize that hunters wound animals and then scramble their brains with a screwdriver it's impossible to defend the right to hunt. If you read my post closely you'll see that was my point.

Hunters can be their own worst enemies when they say things that are inflammatory. And regarding the coyote a simple bullet to the head would have been sufficient.

i would really like to know what you call people who try to kill there game quickly and humainly gunslinger . but i guess your one of those people who would rather let it run off and die somewhere where you dont have to see it . a simple bullet to the head just couldnt be done at that time and place .
hoot

Eric Frei · 1st February 2009, 06:41 PM

In a sense we're fairly lucky here out in the bush.

In reality there's not much that will kill you other than snakes and crocs.

We have no lions, mountain lions, coyotes, bears, tigers, gorillas, rhinos etc.

Most are giant marsupials. We did have Tasmania Tigers but they killed them all, extinct except for a few crackpot sightings like bigfoot.

The crocs are way up north, the snakes are on the ground and you'd step on them.

We do have dingoes and they have done some damage in the past but in the grand scheme of things you'd be killed by a tree before a dingo.

There's feral pigs (razorbacks), goats, dogs and cats but generally a man with some wits would easily handle the bush predators.

This is probably the best footage of nature working as a team you'll ever see

, sometimes just ask, are we just part of the meal deal?

Leif Raukleiv · 1st February 2009, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

In a sense we're fairly lucky here out in the bush.

In reality there's not much that will kill you other than snakes and crocs.

We have no lions, mountain lions, coyotes, bears, tigers, gorillas, rhinos etc.

Most are giant marsupials. We did have Tasmania Tigers but they killed them all, extinct except for a few crackpot sightings like bigfoot.

The crocs are way up north, the snakes are on the ground and you'd step on them.

This is probably the best footage of nature working as a team you'll ever see, sometimes just ask, are we just part of the meal deal?

I have heard of dangerous frogs in Australia. Is that correct?

Leif.

Jeff Darby · 1st February 2009, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeifR

I have heard of dangerous frogs in Australia. Is that correct?

Leif.

LOL..Leif..Only if you eat them..or they scare you to death when they jump on you in the darkness..LOL

Leif Raukleiv · 1st February 2009, 07:07 PM

Leif

Eric Frei · 1st February 2009, 07:49 PM

LOL, you must be thinking of New Zealand.

They had some very dangerous frogs ... hmmm, lets see.

Ah, that's right.

These

Extremely Dangerous frogs

sank a ship in 1985!

Jeff Darby · 1st February 2009, 07:54 PM

Oh those dangerous frogs..be carefull of them their likely to sink your dreams...LOL

10th January 2009, 07:31 AM	#1
clawmute Sappling Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ouachita Mountains, west central Arkansas Posts: 11	Of Wolves and Wild dogs I wrote this little piece a few years back about a couple of experiences here in the Ouachita foothills, and thought a few of you backwoods types like yours truly, might enjoy it. Frank OF WOLVES AND WILD DOGS ©2008 Frank L. Jennings All Copyrights remain with the author I won’t argue the point as to whether or not the wolves that were doing their best to catch my dog were pure bred. Spanky, my black and white Rat Terrier, zipping along as fast as his short legs would propel him, wasn’t at all interested in their ancestry or DNA. He and I were hunting squirrels near the junction of the Middle and Alum Forks of the Saline river in west central Arkansas and about a mile and one half from home. Spanky Is a good companion, and a fair squirrel dog. It was an overcast, late January day, and we were two miles from home. He was ranging through a sweet gum thicket when he rocketed out of it faster than he had entered. I thought that he had jumped a rabbit and was giving chase. I was shocked to see two very large and very grey wolves twenty yards behind him in hot pursuit of their movable feast. They were about eighty pounds or so each, and were a mottled grey and black with fully billowing tails. I’ve shot both wild dogs and coyotes around our backwoods place, and these guys were neither. My over-under twenty gauge was slung over my shoulder on a sling, and by the time I had it in my hands, the wolves had made it back to the thicket. I took a snap shot just as they dove into cover, but shot too far behind the last animal. Spanky’s comic look of relief was as intense as my shock. Late that afternoon when coming out of the darkening wooded bottoms, we saw a lone wolf sitting on a high hill above the river, outlined by the fading yellow twilight. I would have given anything for a camera right then. Whether it was one of the pair seen earlier I don’t know, but imagine that it was. I’ve hunted and fished in the Ouachita Mountains and foothills for the past thirty years and have had more than one encounter with assorted canine predators. Biologists say that any wolves here now are not true, pure wolves, but are wolf - dog crosses. These aggressive but super shy animals can be found over most of the continental United States, and are frequently seen by hunters, trappers, timber cruisers, and others involved in backwoods pursuits. I’m convinced that most of us, even those living near large cities, would be shocked at the number and variety of animals that thrive right under our noses. On an October night a few years ago, my wife Martha asked, “What’s that noise”? Going outside to listen, it wasn’t hard to hear the growling, snarling uproar down the hill and close to our pond. I had been hunting that day and skinned some squirrels in the place from which the noises were coming. At the far edge of the light cast by the pole mounted night watcher light, dim shapes leaped and whirled in a confusion of legs and hairy forms. Something primitive was going on. After watching quietly for a few minutes I realized that a pack of wild dogs were fighting viciously over the skins I had left at the edge of the woods. I was carrying a twelve gauge pump shotgun loaded with six doses of buckshot. These wild dogs are notorious for killing calves and other livestock, and humans are not immune from their attacks. The chickens, turkeys and ducks taken from our rural homestead over the years would feed a good sized gathering. I felt no sympathy for them as I shot into the throng once, then again as they scattered. A large and muscular animal ran directly toward me, and dropped several yards away. It was a male cross of some type, short haired with yellow, cat like eyes and long canines. His ears were short and stubby but his color was like a Walker hound. He was definitely not a house pet. The rest of the pack had scattered, and I walked over to a large, solid black, long haired beast that was still breathing as it lay on its side. I could see the wet area of blood reflected by the dim light. I thought that one of the dogs might run back by me and offer another shot. I believed that the animal at my feet was close to expiring, so I punched it in the ribs with the gun barrel. What a surprise for me! The dying dog jumped to all fours in a flash and began to snarl and chew on the barrel of the shotgun. I was surprised into a temporary paralysis by it’s sudden recovery, but managed to hit it with a shot as it tired of removing the blue from my gun and turned and ran into the night. The whole episode took a few minutes, but is vivid in my memory. I’ve seen other packs of wild dogs in my wanderings over the years, but none as close as this, for they are truly wild and avoid man just as wolves and coyotes do. Somewhere we have a photo of me in my denim overalls holding up a black wolf that I took on the high ground west of the Alum fork of the Saline river. The Middle Fork borders our place on the west, and the Alum Fork is on the east side of the mountain where we dwell. I was quail hunting with Joe, a black and white English setter. He and I became separated when I had to cross a woven wire mesh fence. Moving on through the woods while Joe looked for a dog sized opening in the fence, I paused to listen to the sound of something moving through the leaves. A dark form was coming directly toward me. It was several seconds before I could tell that the approaching form was a solid black wolf. I have no idea what that animal was up to, but it was very unusual for it to come toward a human. Rabid perhaps? I don’t know. At any rate the top barrel of the over - under twenty gauge dropped him at only ten yards. On occasion when we need to go to Little Rock, some forty five miles away, we take the scenic route north up highway 9 through part of the Ouachita (wash-it-taw) National Forest, then east on highway 10 and along the south bank of Lake Maumelle and into Little Rock. The entire area is mixed pine and hardwood forests that blanket the rocky hollows and precipices. On one such drive as we approached the western end of the lake we saw a large grey animal of some sort crossing the pine lined road from one side straight to the other. At first I thought it was just a deer wearing it's grey winter coat. But as we got closer I saw that it had a large fluffy tail. As it crossed the lonesome pavement it looked toward us then in the opposite direction as it slipped into the black pines. That was the largest wolf I've seen in my sixty odd years. I just laugh or smile when the official game and fish people here announce a list of animals we no longer have in our fields and forests. My brother had an interesting experience some years with an "officially non-existent" black panther adjacent to the swamps outside of North Little Rock. No one goes into those swamps, but I've hunted all around them and they are practically inaccessible. When I launch out to hunt, photograph or just study and observe wild animals in the Arkansas hills and woodlands, I ‘m well aware that there is no way of knowing what experiences are over the next ridge or just across the stream. As to their ancestry, if some four legged critter is trying to eat me, I probably won't take the time to ask about its bloodline. Wolves probably won’t try to catch me or my dog again, but I keep my tree climbing skills polished up. You know, just in case. __________________ Money is a defense & knowledge is a defense, but the excellency of wisdom is that it gives life to them that have it.

11th January 2009, 01:28 PM	#2
hoot gibson Former Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: central ohio Posts: 116	Re: Of Wolves and Wild dogs great story , well writen. reminds me of my brother in law , he shot a coyote during deer gun season one year , drug it down to the house , and low and behold it was still breathing . i was setting on the porch when him and three other guys was trying to deside the best way to finnish it off without hurting the hide worse than it already was . so spot , my brother in law decided he would just shove a screw driver in its ear and scramble its brain . there was 4 of them standing around it when spot pushed the screwdriver agenst its ear . let me tell you , when that thing jumped up snarling and fighting , you never saw 4 grown men move so fast in your life. im betting that there wasnt a clean pair of shorts in the bunch . h

17th January 2009, 08:56 AM	#3
Bruce Hopf Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North of Sebringville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,167	Re: Of Wolves and Wild dogs My Sister, and Brother in Law, used to live about 60 Miles South West of Fort St John BC., and out where they lived, the Forestry Crews used to go into Government Forests, and do Select Logging. One day, a couple of the Forestry Workers were out Marking Trees for Timber, and came across a Timber Wolf. It was this time of Year, Snow was a little deep, and the Wolf, started to give Chase. One guy, climbed a tree, before the Wolf got too close, and the other guy, laugh at him, and stayed on the Ground. The guy wound up, walking around the Tree, trying to keep away from the Wolf. Finally, the guy threw his Safety Helmet away from the Tree, and the Wolf Pounced on it. That gave the two guys, to get back to their truck, and radioed for help. Some one from the Camp, came to where they where, with a couple of Rifles. The went to where they had last seen the Wolf, and he was still there chewing on the Safety Helmet. They Shot the Wolf, and called in the Authorities. They did a Rabies Test, and the Wolf was Healthy. The Authorities figured that the Wolf was Baned from the Pack, and was pretty Hungry, and because of the Snow, prevented the Wolf from catching too much to eat. So that is why the Attack took place. After that, the two guys, and the rest of the Forestry Crew, made sure, that they carried an Axe, or something, in case of another Attack. Bruce. __________________ McCulloch chain saws 1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's, 2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener, 1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver 2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10 Stihl chain saws 2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084, Strunk chain saws 1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

19th January 2009, 12:25 AM	#4
treevet Monument Status Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Posts: 2,119	Re: Of Wolves and Wild dogs Interesting stories. I got a couple... Many years ago I was living on a farm in rural Hunterdon County NJ. I was in front of the farm house when I heard what I thought was distinctly a baby crying over the hill. I ran over the hill and in the cornfield a pack of 6 wild dogs had a small deer surrounded and had it on the ground. I chased them off but they left without fear and reluctantly. Later I thought I may have been attacked. The deer died from mental trauma after I took it over the hill as there were no substantial wounds on it. Another time just maybe 10 years ago there was talk of a pack of wild dogs in this suburban Cinci. vicinity. There were pictures of Rottweilers and pittbulls with their teeth exposed and looking threatening. Homeowners were all worried and hunters were dispatched for days to find and kill them. One day I was at my dump on a large school campus and the dump was in a remote and hidden area. I heard a noise and turned around and there they were.....couple of labs, what looked like a basset hound with long legs, and couple of golden retriever mixes. They looked like "the gang that couldn't shoot straight" (old comedy movie reference). I wanted to pick up a stick and throw it to play with them. They ran off with their tails wagging and thrilled at being free on a beautiful day. Anyway, didn't see them for a while and then in the newspaper there was another pict of wild dogs and a caption that was something like..."local hero police finally track down and kill wild dog pack". What a joke.

21st January 2009, 06:01 PM	#6
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,497	Re: Of Wolves and Wild dogs Gunslinger, if your name was Hoot and your brother-in-law's name was Spot...you might feel differently. When I was managing the horse ranch in Lake Hughes, there was one point where a mountain lion was coming through the area pretty regularly. A couple of the neighbors sheep got shredded and some of their dogs did as well. The soil was moist and we found alot of big prints which gave it away pretty solidly. One night I woke up to the ranch dogs barking like crazy from inside the house. I went outside and the horses were all freaked out... took a headlamp and a gun with me and found a brand new baby colt, maybe 2 hours old or so, broken and torn up on the ground. Still alive actually, but just barely. It was ripped up pretty badly. The mother had a couple scratches but nothing too deep. I think I ended up treating her with...what was it...furisol? I could be wrong though. I carried the baby colt out by the property line and it was still alive even then, put a bullet through it's head and then had to bury it at something like 3 or 4 in the morning. Those big cats can be pretty wicked. There were 20 families who lived up in that canyon, set about 30 miles away from any civilized area. For several months alot of us around there carried side arms or shotguns when we went out riding or if we had to go through the back-canyon pass for any reason. At some point we heard that someone shot a big mountain lion about 6 miles or so away, and after that we didnt seem to have any more trouble with it. They apparently run a route that they follow in circles or some such. That one had it coming for a while though and finally got it.

21st January 2009, 11:44 PM	#7
treevet Monument Status Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Posts: 2,119	Re: Of Wolves and Wild dogs While on a little tangent to include "wild cats"....I went on a hitchhiking fishing trip while in highschool with my best friend. We were way up above Peterborough Ontario where I lived. At one point we were setting up a camp spot and I went around a big boulder and right in front of me was a huge cat that I would equate to bigger than a Mastiff dog. I looked right in his eyes and he looked in mine and I turned and ran around the boulder and he ran the other way too. He sounded real heavy I remember, on the floor of the woods. Probably the dumlbest thing I coulda done. What else you gonna do tho, square off with him or curl up in a ball? We got back on the road.

22nd January 2009, 09:11 AM	#9
Bruce Hopf Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North of Sebringville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,167	Re: Of Wolves and Wild dogs Around this Part of Ontario, the Coyotes are pretty thick. The Gang, I used to hunt with, get 20 or more Coyotes a Winter, while Hunting. In a County North East of me, they have such a Problem, that there has been a Bounty on them for over 10 Years. A lot of them are Coy-Dogs as well. There has been one around here about 5 Years ago. Seen Tracks of him, and my Best Friend almost hit him with his Car. Bruce. __________________ McCulloch chain saws 1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's, 2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener, 1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver 2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10 Stihl chain saws 2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084, Strunk chain saws 1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

22nd January 2009, 09:25 AM	#10
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,497	Re: Of Wolves and Wild dogs Gunslinger.... So I'm guessing you dont eat eggs right? Or meat? Have you ever seen how messy and cruel some of the slaughterhouses look? I'm guessing you dont...especially if you eat meat, because you'd rather ignore the fact that what you're eating is an ANIMAL THAT WAS KILLED. You're damn right that people who hunt kill animals. That's what hunting IS. However, hunting is more of a sporting chance than hustling a cow into a stock and slitting it's throat so that you can enjoy your hamburger. Think about that before you get up on your high horse.

23rd January 2009, 10:28 AM	#13
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,497	Re: Of Wolves and Wild dogs Actually after carefully reading your post I just realized that it could have been taken either of two different ways, and I apparently took it the unintended way. I cant really defend the scrambling of an animal's brain with a screwdriver as it's not something I'd ever do. If I lived somewhere that people were named "Hoot" and "Spot"... Hmm, it probably wouldnt seem as odd I suppose. And yes... a bullet would have been much quicker and shouldnt have ruined the hide if placed well. I'm still trying to decide if taking a perfectly live and otherwise happy lobster and dropping him in a pot of boiling water while he's still alive fits into this topic or not. If you look at it within context, then I think it does. Sounds kinda cruel ya know. Then again, I dont know many folks who try to suffocate the lobster or anything before boiling it. I guess to each his own, and for the people who complain and want to protest all this kinda stuff... they should take a VERY carefull look at their own life and the means-to-the-end which allows them the things they have and use.

24th January 2009, 07:02 AM	#14
Steve Tipton Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 821	Re: Of Wolves and Wild dogs I put crabs and lobsters (when I get them) on ice before cooking. This puts them to sleep first. __________________ Heightmaster

1st February 2009, 07:07 PM	#20
Leif Raukleiv Mature tree Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 288	Re: Of Wolves and Wild dogs Leif __________________ My place - Bjørndalen. http://www.youtube.com/user/MultiVoff

1st February 2009, 07:54 PM	#22
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,059	Re: Of Wolves and Wild dogs Oh those dangerous frogs..be carefull of them their likely to sink your dreams...LOL __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

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