Took a little road trip. No ducks for sure.

Hi Dani,

For now he's rolled up in the freezer while I try and decide what to do with him. Top dollar for a wolf like that would be in the $500 - 600 range, but only if someone wanted it for a mount or rug. I don't need a wolf rug, but I might prepare the hide for that, drape it over my favorite chair, and go look for a bigger/better one. When the hunters come up in the fall, there's always a few guys looking for a wolf hide to take back with them.

I took the back straps off the carcass with the intent of giving them a try. I just got off the phone with our wolf biologist and sounds like if I follow regular food safe handling techniques I'll be good to go. I'm not sure I've ever eaten a dog type critter before, but I agree with you, cats are pretty good. I've had mountain lion and lynx and found them quite tasty. Not that I'd want 100lbs of wolf sausage but it seems like a shame to not even try it when I got to do the meat handling myself. When I've gotten meat from a trapper I always wonder if they were careful about the meat handling when their main interest is in the fur.

Tanning is tanning, the difference is in the thickness of the hide and what kid of finished leather you want. Thick skinned critters need extra care to make them soft, whereas thin skinned things are easier.

You are always invited to come up for an adventure sometime.

Mike
 
I'll be very interested to hear how you think the wolf meat tastes. Even what recipe you used, in case I ever decide I need to get a coyote.

Enjoy the wolf skin draped across your chair....it's a pretty one.
 
I poked around in that spot for an hour but never did see any bears, so I headed a different direction that took me past a hill where the sheep get together this time of year for sex and sports. Their rut is just beginning and all the young punks were there bugging ewes, but no mature rams so no classic full speed ahead head butting. Maybe in one more week? When they really get all horned up and fight you can hear the smack from a long way off. It sounds like a shotgun in the distance.
Click to expand...
Mike, I am pretty sure that ram looking back at you is full curl. His tips appear to point up and flare just a little. But then what do I know. After my first sheep hunt this summer spent second guessing every ram I saw, I can fully understand why people pass up lots of rams until they see one that is obvious. Getting close to finishing writing that story. For the wolf hide, have you considered making pillows? A lady up here will take a tanned hide from a hunter and make throw pillows for the couch. Most of her work is with caribou, but she has made some wolf and bear pillows. No word on how often peoples dogs eat those pillows. With all our rain this fall - more to come on top of the snow and ice we now have - I never found the motivation to go looking for a black bear.
 
Mike, Thanks for sharing your part of the country. It sure is fun to see. In Minn we now can shoot wolves but the wolf huggers are trying their best to make sure there is a wolf in every yard eating pets. Really appreciate your pictures and story.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top