I live in Idaho, did they not look at what happened to game and ranch animals in Idaho before they put this to a general vote, of course the did but they didn't care because they have their anti-hunting anti- gun anti- ranching agendas
@@easton7838 when have liberals cared about funding they consider that they have blank checks. The commissioners that polis assigned are more concerned about protecting the 159 rare species then the elk or deer population. If you look at the California model if they find an area where an endangered shrew may live they will shut that whole area down to the public. I read an article where one of the commissioners had said his dream is to get the animal populations to a point that hunting will no longer be necessary. Polis’s husband is a big time anti hunter which is part of the reason for the wolf production to be brought to the ballot and the adds that pulled on the heart strings and falsely claimed the wolves saved Yellowstone
@@easton7838 because then it will be easier for them to come after the guns. It's the guns they are after, and if there's no hunting they can try to say there is no reason to have guns.
Why can’t states learn from what happened in Idaho, Wyoming, Montana etc?? There are ALREADY wolves in Colorado (before the introduction) there is no need to go get an additional 15 BC wolves.
Why? Because lephtists don’t care about truth and facts, they want what they want, they know better than anyone, and that’s that. Negative examples mean nothing to them.
Let's get one thing straight. This is not a reintroduction of the native wolf, but an introduction of an invasive species. Canadian Grays are not native to this area. Rocky Mtn Timber Wolves, which are about 2/3 the size of a Canadian Gray, are the native wolf. So yes, there will be negative impacts, just like there always are with an invasive species.
@@swdw973 that seams to be the case. The original stock that was left in Minnesota was the subspecies canis lupus nubilus, and the Yellowstone wolves introduced were of the canis lupus Occidentalis variety, which are 30% larger.
As a colorado native i am beyond tired of denver and boulder making rules for rurual folk. Im about to move to Wyoming or Alaska. They are trying to take the guns away too.
@Glaciershark damn. That is unfortunate. The gun laws are still alot better there. We have magazine restrictions and they are trying for the second time now to ban anything semi auto and anything with a detachable magazine. I could be wrong but in alaska you are not required to get a conceal carry permit.
We need to pass a bill making it illegal for ballot box biology. Put the authority and responsibility back to the professionals on wildlife management, not the outrageous animal rights activists.
Poor Colorado has been taken over by California. As an out of stater, it's amazing the cultural differences between rural Colorado people and the people in the more touristy places. Seems like more than half the people in Durango or Telluride are from the West Coast. I can definitely see why they moved there, it's gorgeous, but all they do, anywhere they go, is create a plastic version of the surrounding area. It's the same way in Austin and Fredericksburg. All hat, no cattle. This would have never passed in old Colorado. Too many Subaru driving city people voting to impose their values onto other who have to bear the brunt of the consequences.
@paulh32042 its liberal Texans and liberal Californians. Another thing is alot of people from the eastern side like denver are moving to rural towns in western colorado and now the housing is so expensive.
@@drewsherk8185it's true. I had the opportunity to transfer to Colorado for work in 07. I turned it down, but looked at property back then. It's shot up exponentially. Same thing in Texas, same in Tennessee where I hunted for decades. All conservative rural areas. Which is why they are what they are and makes them attractive in the first place. So they moved in and immediately begin terraforming their new place into what they just fled. I try to stay abreast of what's happening in local politics anywhere I go. Colorado is being overrun with these ballot initiatives. And you can trace most of the sponsors back to the West Coast. They barely missed on the Mountain Lion thing, and there was a push to have Biden declare a large portion of, I think, the Colorado River valley a nation monument. Which was definitely a precursor to restricting access. Especially when you looked into the sponsor's political background and prior activism. West Coast guy, who went to university and has now decided what's best for rural folks in Colorado. I grew up with and around farmers, fishermen, and oilfield workers. People who thrived in those industries before there was text books on those subjects. Now those textbook readers are trying to lecture the pioneers on how to do things right. 😂😂 Really?!?
Here in washington state the wolves have killed 1000s of deer, elk, moose and ranch animals. They push other predators out like cougars, coyote and black bear out of their habitats. It's a disaster
I'm for hunting. But just on a technical point isn't pushing the cougars, coyotes, and black bear around, the natural order. Coyotes in particular are in my neighbourhood in Toronto. That is relatively new.
@@HondoTrailsideit's a different type of wolf so to speak. They are not acting like normal predators do. If you're seeing new packs of coyotes in your area, you may want to watch your pets. Once they realize that there is endless easy food, they will claim the area quickly.
@@Duck-dp7mqCoyotes are far worse than every single hunting figure will admit publicly.......... Yotes insanely outnumber wolves & they all have to eat !!!! No fawns, no calves = no future
We tried to fight this in CO (we live on a cattle ranch in southeast CO) but the sheer amount of people who live in Denver and the front range outnumbers the entire population of the rest of the state. We are always outnumbered in everything we do, we have no voice. Thank you for posting this video. We have hundreds of miles of fence lines on our place, I can’t imagine the amount of money and time it would take to flag it all. Part of our place is also in the canyons, which is rough country and already filled with mountain lions and the occasional black bear. We also have a ton of coyotes and we lose a few calves to them every year (when the heifer/cow lays down to calve, the coyote will sneak up from behind and eat the head of the calf as it’s being born and then if the heifer/cow gets in the wrong position and can’t get up the coyote will eat her back end and she dies from blood loss and yes we do check on them every single day during calving season). It’s already a tough business when you consider current predators, drought and uncertainty of markets. Adding an apex predator to the mix makes it almost impossible to keep going, especially when you’re threatened with prison if you make the threat go away.
I've seen it here in Wyoming where wolves push herds of elk onto private property where they feel safe. That herd's young become habituated to living on the private property and don't leave it. Then the property owner is dealing with hungry elk and torn up fences while hunters have fewer elk to hunt.
Cliff great vid. Love how you tackle these topics and I love your channel! I'm a CO native. I hunt the Flat Topps, Montana, Wyoming, Kansas, Idaho and on and on. Spent over 15 straight days in this year archery hunting ELK, Deer and Bear in the Flat Topps. As a CO native and voter - THIS IS A HUGE issue and BAD mojo as you well know since you live here as well ... here are a few points: 1. Wolves were already here and the liberal vote (Denver County) voted to spend $3 million dollars to "reintroduce" the wolves when they were already here. STUPID money spent! 2. Anyone that does not live, ranch, etc., should NOT be voting on a bill or legislation for "other" areas of CO that they do not live in, spend tax money, etc. In the 2024's election, (this years elections) I was NOT able to vote on a tax increase for Denver County residence, because I live in Jefferson County. It had NO direct bearing on my paycheck, so I could not vote on these specific amendments. The same should apply here... Why would someone that lives in downtown Denver be allowed to vote for a bill that DOES not affect them in anyway shape of form? 3. There is NO management plan to handle the explosive population of Wolves --- they breed very quickly. ID, MT, WA, OR, MN, and WI, are prime examples of what an apex predator does to a landscape, if not properly managed. Not too mention the negative economic impact they've had on these states! 4. The budget to handle predation, live stock kills, etc., is now bankrupt! In this months edition of BUGLE (Rocky MT Elk Foundation) addressed in detail what the wolf pack kill of livestock and the overall cost to the tax payers of CO, CA, MT, etc. In that article there were 29 livestock confirmed kills since the reintroduction of this pack in CO. Which, by the way, had a female that was already known for her problems killing livestock and, yet, we allowed her to be released in CO. Now we the taxpayer will pay the CO DOW to capture and relocate the Copper Creek Pack to then be released in Grand County. Now the taxpayers of CO are paying for the "reintroduction", "recapture and relocate" and all the livestock kills. Which again, the budget is already bankrupted in its first year!! 5. CO is NOT Yellowstone. Our ecosystem is completely different then the Yellowstone basin. The argument that it will bring back native plants, restore rivers, and on and on is a DUMB argument - its misplaced and is comparing apples to oranges. WE ARE NOT YELLOWSTONE! 6. Now we have rewards of up to and over $50,000 for information on a anyone that killed the alpha male of the Copper Creek Pack. This is just a microcosm of the conflict that is coming, if its not already here. I'm with our Ranchers and Farmers and those that live to produce off the land and help me put food on my table and everyone that lives in Denver County who voted for this mess! I support them whole-heartily and this is STUPID for CO --- we are in for a major conflict and the WOLVES will loss this battle! 7. I'm not a Wolf hater - on the contrary - they have their place in the ecosystem that they would be allowed to strive. CO is not one of those places. Now if they come naturally, then-so-be it. Again, I'm not a "SMOKE A PACK A DAY" guy, but I get why those that believe a dead wolf is a good wolf! Wolves in the lower 48, does not make sense for a lot of reasons ... this needs to be repealed! Thanks again for your channel, I truly enjoy it very much! CO natives lets keep this going --- THIS NEEDS TO BE REPEALED the sooner the better!
They’re gonna be introducing them within 5 miles of my buddies property in unit 33. The ungulate population is already in decline. This is going to be really tough on the remaining elk and deer in the area
We didn't even see an elk in unit 33 during 4th season. Most hunters we talked to mostly said the same thing. Just didn't make sense where the elk went. Turns out, a few of those wolves were all over unit 33 that fall and especially during 4th season. That units elk was probably halfway to Utah by the time we got there!
Nice alarmist click bait article to get people to freak out. Wolf reintroduction is proven to work. If a rancher loses an animal, they get compensated. Wolves don’t attack humans. The last thing a wolf wants to do is to go around Vail or Aspen or Grand Junction or any town. You know that. I don’t even know why you would mention that except to just get people to freak out about their Pekingese getting eaten by a wolf which is not gonna happen. Some random pitbull is gonna do that not a wolf. Come on, dude such a bullshit article.
I thought i saw they are putting them south of i70 at garfield creek state wildlife area (a couple ridges over from where i hunt) in addition to west rifle creek in 33.
That picture is just missing the part where the rancher is carrying a rifle. I'm looking forward to the day when I'm out hunting in the Califrado mountains and come across a pile of wolf crap with pieces of Birkenstock sandals and a Beyond Meat burger wrapper in it the poop.
Thanks Cliff for being a strong voice in opposition on the matter. It seems as if hunters don’t have a dog in the fight currently. Is there an organization similar to CRWM whether ag based or not that is spearheading any sort of opposition vote proposition? It would be nice if we could all get behind it
I grew up in an agrarian family in Oklahoma, but I now live city doodler life in Denver. I've told everyone who would listen to me in this city that my biggest problem with this wolf reintroduction was the fact that it was going to turn good men (and maybe women) into felons. Of course, aside from maybe Washington Park, Aspen and Vail are where they belong the most. The problem is complete ignorance. These voters know nothing about what it's like to keep coyotes off your calves, hawks off your fowl, or ATV riders from cutting your fences. They teach their children that farmers and ranchers aren't essential because they can grow gardens.
I live in Montana. A year ago, I went up to hunt whitetail up on Edith Peak. The only sign I saw were Wolf prints everywhere. At least we do have a Wolf season
There is serious talk currently about introducing legislation to repeal this initiative , though I can't recall the exact organization. Wouldn't hurt to check CRWM Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Mgmt about it.
These wolves will cross every road, every fence, you name it. In Wisconsin they were put up north above 64. Now they cover the state. They are in towns, farm lands. You name it.
I have a friend ttjat that lives around Meeker, there is talk that if you have to shoot a wolf, use a .22 so it will run off and die sometime and somewhere else. Pretty rough talk but these folks up there will not put up with it
@@iddddaduncan the goal is no more than 150 over a two year period and 200 at any given point. Only problem is they never wrote down HOW to manage them once the goal is reached. That was done intentionally. Polis has been packing his wildlife commission with activist (not biologist as historical) throughout his term and they ultimately decide if we hunt them or not. There will be thousands of wolves in Colorado within a two decades, just like Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, except with more population than those three states combined.
Excellent review Cliff! And of course the other thing they never talk about is COST! To my knowledge, the 7 actions CPW is taking in response to the rancher's petition have not been totally sized in terms of $$$ nor has the money to execute them been committed given we are looking at a $700K+ deficit in the state budget for this year! Candidly, I will be shocked if CPW gets the required funding this effort will take and of course that will introduce even more risk and distrust!
Let us embrace the olde ways. Some local men could do what needs to be done. There are a lot of great hunters who know how to dispose of the wolf problem, and many are good at keeping their public land hunting spots secret. It needs to be handled early before they populate and spread.
dude the olde ways? The 'legacy' of cattle ranching in the old west has only existed a few generations. The vast majority of the history of human existence, we have competed with predators, and the fact these new ways of exterminating all predators to try to make the world your pasture, happened later in the US than in europe, is the reason we had more natural resources.
I hunt in moose creek in the gallatin range. I hunt hard hike hard, i have seen one moose in 5 years. They destroy ungulate populations. Dont get me started about the mule deer numbers! Disgraceful is the term I prefer!
The entitled losers making money off my public lands who are rude when i meet them on the trial, and ally with the Californians to persecute mountain bikers and bar them from public lands? Why would I ask them anything?
you are not wrong. and i believe that you know that you are not wrong. a problem, however, seems to be that the populace of ranchers whose lives depend on producing our food supply also are not sueing the anti hunting wolf restorationists enough for their inalienable rights. but also i am not wholly informed on the issue so maybe they are sueing. Personally, as a non rancher I am ok with wolves reintro, but also hunting seasons, tag purchases, and agricultural-rancher immunity to protecting their herds should also be incorporated into it.
Are there any dark colored vehicles running around with blacked out windows? If so, the introduction has already started.that is what they did in Montana when they first started talking about introducing a "small" number just as an experiment. Thirty years later the packs have started coming out of the mountains onto the drainage coulees and river breaks. They are growing in numbers very fast. There is nothing out there to keep their numbers in check. Livestock protection dogs won't help either those dogs don't have a chance to protect themselves little own the livestock they are meant to protect.
My question is why introduce them in winter if you don’t want them eating cattle when everything is forced into the valleys at least in summer deer and elk are more dispersed in the environment
Doesn't matter when you introduce them, they will follow whatever species they find easiest to obtain @ whatever time of the year.. If the intent is for them to eat deer and elk, just think about how deer and elk move seasonally. The reality is that Ranchers are a management partner with CPW with regards to elk. It's a delicate partnership that is going to face more tests as wolves push more elk onto ranch lands where they have more safety. Ranchers don't really want more elk on their lands as they can be a real problem without adequate perceived compensation. ( accept maybe during hunting season) It's a utopian fantasy to think that wolves can exist here in some state of balance without creating all the sorts of fall out we are currently seeing.
Doesn't matter when you introduce them, they are going to follow the food. If the intent was for them to feed on elk and deer, well, where are the elk and deer during the winter? An awful lot will locate near lower elevation ranch lands during winter. Wolves will push even more onto ranch lands as they will seek that safety. This will create even more disruption to the relationship CPW has with the ranching community who are critical partners in wildlife management.
Wolves DO NOT maintain ranges in the mountains. ALL wolves make their main range in winter ranges so they can feast when times are hardest to hunt. They rarely follow herds back into the mountains. Why does CPW think they will hole up in the mountains? Why do they not realize the low valleys are the wolves' natural range, and now they are full of subdivision? RIP wapiti.
I have a lot I could say, and none of it would be kind. edit: pretty sure you know where I stand on the issue. I'm just biting my lip. Unfortunately, I don't think your wrong.
Sorry to tell you this but they are releasing 15 wolves that they just caught in British Columbia this month (January’25) in Garfield Creek State Wildlife area south of I-70. In the upcoming months their plan is to release another 15 in Rifle Creek State Wildlife area.
Huge mistake, here in Idaho it took about 15-20yrs for Elk/Deer, ranchers to readjust to the new predator and that was when we were allowed to manage them.
I love the fact that they are using money from hunters to pay for this! Completely makes me sick from an elk hunters perspective and these ranchers are not subsidized by the government like farmers! Just another reason to boycott Colorado! Nothing but a drug cartel anyways!
The state should have not only a compensation program for livestock producers. The state should also bear the cost of of wolf re-introduction preventative measures for livestock interests. Furthermore, Parks and Wildlife should also be billed annually for consumptive use and damages to other wildlife by wolves. Sportsmen and Conservationist organizations have given generously to make Colorado's wildlife great and diverse. To not include their efforts is also a failure of the state, and needs to be addressed. It gets more expensive quick. A Camel is a fine Horse put together by a committee. Hoping it gets better before it gets worse.😉👍
You sound soft. Like you've had life too easy for too long. LIke some sort city dweller who can't hack it in nature. Probably get lost if you lost sight of your vehicle in the woods. You're not entitled tothe world being your pasture.
The Irony here is (If Colorado Parks and Wildlife is funded like Idaho's Fish and Game) that it ends up being the hunters that fund everything to do with wolves, not the "Liberal bunny huggers" that voted for the wolves. In other words, the very people who fought AGAINST the re-introduction of wolves, foot the bill for ALL of it!! the ones that voted for it (sitting on their couch in suburbia watching National Geographic) don't pay a dime. We need a way to make those who voted for wolves, foot the entire bill for the wolves, IMHO
Well, if hunters and ranchers just kill the wolves without caring about what fish and game think…maybe fish and game would stop fucking around with reintroducing wolves
I live in Utah and often hunt the Colorado border. We’ve seen tracks following the elk into our state. Terrible decision. Please tell the wolves they need to stay in Colorado.
oh the horror, now maybe you'll have to be fit enough to get more than a few hundred yards from your truck. Maybe even learn how to track. Gosh my heart breaks for you.
Cliff- great video. There are pluses and minuses to wolf reintroduction. First thing is from a purely biological perspective, return to to their natural is a great thing. Natural prey and predator In the eco system is always good to see . The negatives: with a wolf population, deer and elk herds will be broken up as the large herds attract wolves ( just like with the cattle ranches) harder for hunters to find these animals and after a few years there will not be the tourism when more tags are not filled. Additionally, depending on the politics of the state and federal government, the wolves may be protected even when they reach or exceed their carrying capacity so population control would not be possible. Thus causes the wolf range to expand and put more pressure on cattle herds and domestic animals in suburbs. In short- if wolves are allowed on the landscape, they’ve got to be managed just like every other species or it will be catastrophic to other game animals, agriculture, and tourism that attracts so many to Colorado.- sorry for the long winded comment- cheers!
The law in Colorado only allows for wolves to establish west of the continental divide... liberals weaponized biology in this instance, so there is zero positives. FYI, human and wolves have never peacefully lived alongside each other. 10s of thousands of years of war between species, and we somehow forgot about it in one generation.
How about they do the ten jay and do the correct studies for this whole thing. Are the wolves from Canada ever in Colorado no what about the native wolves that was there and still down there wow now you have a endangered species
They had a mandated timeframe to begin the physical introduction and fraudulently bypassed federal protocols by introducing them only on state lands. Which conveniently sidestepped the fact that there are not enough state lands to maintain population objectives of the plan and knowing full well they will primarily occupy federal lands.
I hunted elk in Northern Colorado near Waldon in 2022. Heard wolf howls and saw tracks and scat. They are already in Colorado now. Moved in from Wyoming.
70-90% reduction in game animals here in Idaho. That's elk, moose, whitetail and mule deer. Fish and Game and Feds spent millions trying to save the woodland caribou in the panhandle, wolves wiped out what didn't run to Canada.
@@thistledewoutdoors3331 I can tell you for a fact. having seen the impact with my own eyes (where I live).. the wolves crushed the numbers of moose, elk and deer in the first years of introduction. things have balanced out now, but initially it was a bloodbath. And I believe the balance now has more to do with being able to hunt wolves and the state shooting numbers of wolves from helicopter in the winter.
If you think there are any bearers that will stop a wolf pack from moving when and where they want to your crazy. I live in Wyoming eastern Wyo, 10 years from the release of wolves in Yellowstone they have moved across the state of Wyoming. Say good by to your ranchers and your wildlife.
Yellowstone ground zero of wolf introduction still has the most wildlife of anywhere in the lower 48. The wildlife is still everywhere and I know of not one single ranch that went out of business do to wolves. Most lose only a few percent to predators.
Yellowstone is where they should be. It is an intact ecosystem spanning millions of acres and a bridge to other low human population largely intact ecosystems. Colorado is anything but that. Thinking we can reintroduce a species like wolves without adequate planning in place for all the co ingenues that will arise naturally leads…..right where we are.
Let's see some follow up videos on the stats. There's 10 reintroduced wolves, I think 1 died, 1 got shot ($75,000 reward) 8 remaining, not sure how many livestock killed...probably less than 100. 15 getting introduced this year, another 10-15 in 2026. I get it, it is tough to eke out a living up there in grand and jackson county. All of these cattle and supporting farms that grow alfalfa take over %50 of Colorados river water...life is not fair. The ranchers are compensated for killed animals...doesn't account for other costs they bare from the reintroduction. I wish there was somewhere wild enough that people wouldn't notice them. Like the San Juans, where there's been breeding populations for at-least the 15 years that i have personally seen. There should be a hunt allowed WHEN there is a problem population... fair chase on public lands or excedingly rare times there are problem individual animals that won't leave individual properties running people out of a living. Give the landowner 1 tag they can sell to the highest bidder.... bidding starts at 100 grand. Those mega ranches up by sleepy cat would likely pay millions
Most of RANCHES are not alfalfa. They are Hay for the cattle. North park is nothing Colorado River drainage it is plate River drainage which flows east to the Gulf of Mexico. Gets your facts straight
They would love it.... They rich bring in more $ than a rancher ever could....... I seen it happen all around me with my hunting shack in Buena Vista & my home in the Springs.... It's disgusting that is grown men are crying about the 4 legged wolves - When it's the 2 legged ones that kill everything ..... Even Cliff here would admit that - except he's got financial obligations to his sponsors & whatnot..... ALL are apart of the same machine playing both sides of the fence.
Just wait, be patient,the wolves don't stay where the politicians and feel good people think they will. Eventually they will find the elk in the fairy land area of estates park easy prey, along with a poodle appetizer, then sit back and be amused at how quickly people change their minds.
I think we do tend to overreact. I'm not in favor of the referendum, but there are wolves in other places and it's not the apocalyptic event we think it will be. I know it effects people, and if I could chose, I would probably say its a bad idea, but I guess my point is we'll figure it out. I know Colorado is more densely populated than other western states, so I do see some issues coming up that maybe we don't hear as much about up north, and I am concerned that the political climate here won't allow for lethal removals when appropriate, so we'll kind of handicap ourselves from managing the situation more effectively. I actually do think we will eventually have some problems, particularly with the pets issues you allude to, that may shift the climate towards more sensible management policies. The wolves will eventually leak out to Boulder, Fort Collins, Aspen, and Vail. Just a matter of time...
carcass management; if i was a rancher and the government was trying to deny me my individual rights to protect my herd and run my business, i think i might accidentally woopsie woopsie leave the carcass out and then have my protection device with a decibal reduction device attached and then i’d take a day off from ranching and post up a couple hundred yards away from the carcass and see if attracts anything. could be an excellent idea for herd protection especially with viable subsonic option such as the 8.6 blackout
They will decimate dee and elk herds. It is criminal to introduce them. They were a plains animal when they were here, predating on plains bison and elk. Not alpine deer populations. We have seen nothing good from this in Montana and Idaho.
They may be only putting them in northern Colorado, but it won't take the long to be in the south. Here in mt the population blew up and there are packs hundreds of miles from where they were introduced in Yellowstone.
Just started to watch. You are still talking about the I70 line. I find that thought and statement laughable at best. They will move into those areas in short order. They will stay if they find prey, period.
Ever since putting those game fences in the deer and elk along that corridor are essentially distinct. Sure game fences aren’t going to stop wolves, but it is a short term barrier for them. They aren’t going to follow their prey sources across the highway.
Personally as a public land hunter i look forward to the wolves forcing elk to move around the state and off of private land-locked areas. I would also like to believe that reintroducing their main Apex predator we would see far less spread of CWD. Further i was under the impression that since reintroduction began weve only had like 20 or so predations on live stock? (Which the state paid over market price for) so i dont understand where the concern from ranchers are coming from
I believe it will generally be the inverse. More elk will vacate the public land in favor of private land sanctuaries where wolves are less likely as well.
Yea, lotta knee jerk responses in this comment section. Decent scientific research (not like the research for the vid and the jab ssris etc but actually decent science) shows ungulate populations are healthier when they are forced to run more, and that wolves kill the weak, while hunters kill the strong. In the long term, wolves improve deer and elk herds. They make things impossible for fat lazy drunk hunters who get lost if they lose sight of their vehicle to kill lazy complacent ungulates in sight of roads.
I feel like if you dumped them in the east weminuche they might do alright until they come into the san luis valley - in the same way you see those invisible fence shock collars for dogs, i wonder if there’s a way to do that in large vicinity for wolves… it would be neat to see where else they are even remotely considering.
this is a great demonstration of the level of intelligence of people with yoru viewpoint if you think electric shock collars could work on a regional level. You should stop and think how much money that would cost.
@ dude i have no horse in this race i could give a literal shit either way buddy - i have no clue how much that would cost and was just playing devils advocate
The way you speak about this is delusional, like youre talking about wherewovles, like releasing wolves in the san juans would lead to wolves stalking the streets of durango immediately. There are no wolves on the streets of bozeman dude. I think the WEF is waging a war on farmers and ranchers, for economic gain as well as political power, but I also have little sympathy for hunters and ranchers whining about how things are so hard for them because they have to compete with natural predator that science has shown to benefit ungulate populations. I'm not some city dwelling liberal but I don't care about ranchers losing cattle. This isn't some age old way of life, its existed for a few generations, and only flourished in the wake of absolutely destructive slaughter of bison, wolves, cats, and grizzly. I've lived on ranches, 'dated' a ranchers daughter, I have tons of sympathy for the challenges food producers face against hedge funds and mega corporations, but not the natural environment. You're not entitled to the world being your garden. I've seen plenty of dead cattle from falling in slot canyons, freezing to death, etc. I don't care too much about a few a year being lost to wolves when you get reimbursed for your loss. Get some range riders. In a larger sense, if you want political power in todays america, you darn well better find a way to make common cause with those who are different than you, and not just preach to the choir so to speak.
Everyone cries about wolves but, it's cool for coyotes, Bobcats, Mountain lions, Bears - To still remain...????????? Hardened ranching & hunters are Literally crying about the Wilderness - NOT BEING WILD !!!! Ranchers should keep their herd on their own property. Hunters are bothered by cows and sheep ruining the hunt....
Cliff, I appreciate your perspective. Now, I'm probably gonna ruffle some feathers, but in my opinion, if you (I mean the collective "you" here) believe in conservation, then you can't pick and choose which animals you want to include in your ecosystem. We're not talking about Jurassic Park. We eradicated one of the most intelligent and awe-inspiring species at the behest of ranchers (with the support of the gov't), and we did it in very recent history because they were an inconvenience. We did the same to the buffalo, the natives, grizzlies, etc., during an era when little respect or forethought was given to the natural world. And here we are, a century later, and the backbone of the conservation movement (hunters and fishermen) are once again claiming that these creatures have no right to exist here. Sure, it was a good thing to rescue deer, elk, bald eagles, bison, etc. But wolves and grizzlies? They can get fucked. Here's a question. With all we know about biology, ecology, and conservation, if you were alive in the early 20th century, would you have supported the intentional extermination of wolves? I'd like to think that many of you who now oppose their reintroduction would have, conversely, also spoken out against their extinction and opted for a management program that takes all parties' needs into account, not just the ranchers. Look, it's complicated. Are wolves going to kill livestock? Yes. Are they going to kill elk, deer, antelope, etc.? Of course. And when they hit the target number of wolves, should we open up a wolf hunting season? Damn straight. And if the people block that hunting season from happening, I will be just as outspoken about the need to hunt them as I am about their right to exist in this state. I'm as big of a hunter as anyone on here. But I'm also an animal lover, and sometimes you gotta take the good with the bad. I'm happy to pitch in some extra pennies in my taxes to offset the losses for ranchers, and I'll gladly accept the fact that my elk hunts might be less successful going forward. That's my two cents. Let the angry comments roll in.
I completely understand your perspective. I personally think if we could go back, we’d never populate the mountains of the west the way we have. It’s an ecosystem that has the natural carrying capacity of almost zero humans. But that is gone and in CO it is gone way more than many of the other states. The touch of man when it comes to managing elk, deer and other wildlife in CO is way deeper than most people perceive. Do wolves deserve a spot in that world? Sure, maybe. BUT it’s unfair and unjust for a group who bares ZERO of the cost to hoist 100% of that burden on groups that don’t want that change. Ranchers won’t be compensated for the hassle it creates for them and hunters will lose opportunity they invested in building. There will never be a hunted wolf in Colorado. Recent history with wolf advocates has proved this to be the case.
@@CliffGray I hear ya. And sadly, you may be right about wolves never being hunted here. But we did defeat a completely backward lion hunting ban that I thought was sure to pass, so maybe there's hope. To your point about the burden falling on the ranchers who don't want it, that's kinda the way democracy goes, isn't it? I say that with sympathy. Rural America has a vastly disproportionate amount of political power in the legislative branch, which means that many city folks deal with laws, tax codes, and politicians that they don't want either. Is it fair that ranchers are being asked to pay for change they didn't vote for? No. And I'll gladly vote to change that. Is it also fair that our tax dollars subsidize their operational costs while they deny us access to public land, put gates across public roads, and, at least once each archery season, scare the crap out of me when I think one of their black cows is a black bear standing in the trail on public land? Debatable, but I think not. My question still stands. Would you vote to exterminate wolves from their natural habitat if they were thriving there today? If not, then why should we let politics, which will always be messy, stand in the way of righting a wrong? And I'm pretty sure farmers and ranchers in every state where wolves have been reintroduced took issue with it. Should we have listened to them and let wolves go extinct? There isn't a law out there that doesn't inconvenience somebody.
@@prez803the problem I have with your statement is about us being a democracy. We aren't. Direct democracy was never intended for this nation which is what this vote is. The state legislators want to be like California where they don't actually have to work and introduce law and put their names on it. Not a single politician has to say that they voted for wolves when an angry rancher comes to their office...
There was also 60 million bison, and 10 million elk before any Europeans arrived. I don’t hear you crying about getting those numbers back on par, because that was the natural ecosystem.
@@progradepainting3755too late! No place for buffalos, neighter wolves in CO. Ppl are too many. What if dinosaurs where available? Would we need them back?
I'm a big hunting fan. But i also support the wolves. It was ok to wipe them out?? People can be very selfish. So they'll be less elk and deer. OMG. The wolf is an important part of the ecosystem. The greater Yellowstone basin has flourished. It took some time, but there's less erosion along many creeks and rivers now. Why because they are not being over browsed by too many ungulates. This intern has also helped the beaver population. Now, there's no hunting in Yellowstone. So more animals are available to predators like the wolf. But after almost 30 years populations are fairly stable. Placing wolves in ag areas seems silly, especially when the state dose have vast and remote wilderness ares. Its a very sore subject. I just spent 7 days hunting in northern Idaho, near St. Joe's national forrest. Didn't realize that there were wolves in idaho. I don't know the game numbers , but i can tell you we sawr signs of a lot of game. Loaded with deer and elk especially. Sawr moose and even some mule deer. Never sawr a wolf , only their tracks. And you can hunt em in idaho.
The Yellowstone study is completely fabricated. All of those ungulates where encouraged to congregate there for tourist reasons, and no management or hunting was allowed on the park, so naturally there were higher levels of browsing and erosion when you make it a petting zoo for the bison, elk, and antelope. Not to mention, there were 10 million elk, and 60 million bison roaming in every field, meadow and basin from Nevada to Appalachia before any management. That was the natural ecosystem.
@jimrice4699 I'm not lecturing anyone. Just my opinion, from what I've seen and read. The Yellowstone study is out there. Why don't you look it up. I believe all native species should be allowed to survive. Just like us
Nothing makes me sleep better at night than to listen to Colorado guys cry about wolves or management! Atleast you got the chance to vote on it up north no one was even asked and it’s been 30 years of hell ever since so congratulations!
Thanks for great info. I voted for the wolves. I think they're really cool animals and I don't see why we can't maintain a limited population same as we do with mountain lions. If indeed their foisting these wolves right into the most intensive agricultural areas, that seems totally crazy to me. I hadn't heard they were doing that. I don't see why we can't limit the packs to more recreational areas (national parks etc). Millionaires should keep their pets on a leash anyway.
I hear ya. Unfortunately, I'd say that yes the wolves are being unloaded into the most ag dependent areas in the state. That does tend to correlate with ungulate population also.
They are really cool animals. It's a shame that you didn't think beyond that to the actual world they would be introduced into before voting. You got swindled into turning wolves into political pawns A Couple reasons why they wouldn't be able to do as you ask : Hunting them is not and will not be allowed. Hunting is somewhat limited tool for this purpose to begin with. Please reference the expansion of the Mountain lion population despite hunting seasons. Colorado is not a zoo with walls and bars. Wolves are a nomadic and free ranging species that require vast areas of land to propagate and maintain genetic viability. Their population dynamics involve a certain number of juveniles departing from their origin packs and seeking other territories and individuals to create new packs. Limiting them to only certain areas is not a viable way to reintroduce a species because you can't control where they roam. The current long term population goals are counter to this argument as well. No way to maintain that many wolves on such limited landscape. The reality with the current plan is that as more are introduced, and as they propagate outward, they will inevitably start to encroach south of I70, into the Delta/Montrose corridor and Gunnison Basin, Southern Colorado, eventually New Mexico and probably Utah. The deceptive plan to avoid Federal oversite by only introducing them on state lands was a complete fraud. They will most likely primarily occupy federal lands. There are other reasons as well related to the particular climate and geography of Colorado that tends to concentrate them into the worst possible places for them to thrive.
Wolves like to hunt in packs just for fun. They'll tear apart anything they come across just for a good time, won't even eat the meat. The people promoting wolf introduction want cattle all killed because they thrive on chaos and destruction, with a loyalty to predatory animals over the lives of humans. These are demented people that belong in asylums, not anywhere near the seats of government.
@@jasonworrall3018 how do you limit packs to national park acreage when they travel the distance of an entire wilderness area/ national forest in just 1 day?? And have a home range territory range that's massive
I live in Idaho, did they not look at what happened to game and ranch animals in Idaho before they put this to a general vote, of course the did but they didn't care because they have their anti-hunting anti- gun anti- ranching agendas
The true reason they are putting wolves in is to try to get rid of hunting in Colorado
@@jasonshumake777why would they want to get rid of it when it is funding the state
@@jasonshumake777same with WA
@@easton7838 when have liberals cared about funding they consider that they have blank checks. The commissioners that polis assigned are more concerned about protecting the 159 rare species then the elk or deer population. If you look at the California model if they find an area where an endangered shrew may live they will shut that whole area down to the public. I read an article where one of the commissioners had said his dream is to get the animal populations to a point that hunting will no longer be necessary. Polis’s husband is a big time anti hunter which is part of the reason for the wolf production to be brought to the ballot and the adds that pulled on the heart strings and falsely claimed the wolves saved Yellowstone
@@easton7838 because then it will be easier for them to come after the guns. It's the guns they are after, and if there's no hunting they can try to say there is no reason to have guns.
Why can’t states learn from what happened in Idaho, Wyoming, Montana etc??
There are ALREADY wolves in Colorado (before the introduction) there is no need to go get an additional 15 BC wolves.
Why? Because lephtists don’t care about truth and facts, they want what they want, they know better than anyone, and that’s that. Negative examples mean nothing to them.
Let's get one thing straight. This is not a reintroduction of the native wolf, but an introduction of an invasive species. Canadian Grays are not native to this area. Rocky Mtn Timber Wolves, which are about 2/3 the size of a Canadian Gray, are the native wolf. So yes, there will be negative impacts, just like there always are with an invasive species.
@@swdw973 that seams to be the case. The original stock that was left in Minnesota was the subspecies canis lupus nubilus, and the Yellowstone wolves introduced were of the canis lupus Occidentalis variety, which are 30% larger.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST POINT!!! YOU ARENT REINTRODUCING ANYTHING!!!!
As a colorado native i am beyond tired of denver and boulder making rules for rurual folk. Im about to move to Wyoming or Alaska. They are trying to take the guns away too.
Liberalism is what’s destroying California
Alaska is pretty Liberal too believe it or not
@Glaciershark just anchoridge, and its not nearly as bad as colorado. But yes.
@@drewsherk8185 Well I am in a remote village and i guarantee this town voted blue. Most of the people are in Anchorage…
@Glaciershark damn. That is unfortunate. The gun laws are still alot better there. We have magazine restrictions and they are trying for the second time now to ban anything semi auto and anything with a detachable magazine. I could be wrong but in alaska you are not required to get a conceal carry permit.
We need to pass a bill making it illegal for ballot box biology. Put the authority and responsibility back to the professionals on wildlife management, not the outrageous animal rights activists.
Need to pass a bill where only educated people can vote...
Poor Colorado has been taken over by California. As an out of stater, it's amazing the cultural differences between rural Colorado people and the people in the more touristy places. Seems like more than half the people in Durango or Telluride are from the West Coast. I can definitely see why they moved there, it's gorgeous, but all they do, anywhere they go, is create a plastic version of the surrounding area. It's the same way in Austin and Fredericksburg. All hat, no cattle.
This would have never passed in old Colorado. Too many Subaru driving city people voting to impose their values onto other who have to bear the brunt of the consequences.
Yeah, it’s an interesting, repeated trend
@paulh32042 its liberal Texans and liberal Californians. Another thing is alot of people from the eastern side like denver are moving to rural towns in western colorado and now the housing is so expensive.
@@drewsherk8185it's true. I had the opportunity to transfer to Colorado for work in 07. I turned it down, but looked at property back then. It's shot up exponentially. Same thing in Texas, same in Tennessee where I hunted for decades.
All conservative rural areas. Which is why they are what they are and makes them attractive in the first place. So they moved in and immediately begin terraforming their new place into what they just fled.
I try to stay abreast of what's happening in local politics anywhere I go. Colorado is being overrun with these ballot initiatives. And you can trace most of the sponsors back to the West Coast. They barely missed on the Mountain Lion thing, and there was a push to have Biden declare a large portion of, I think, the Colorado River valley a nation monument. Which was definitely a precursor to restricting access. Especially when you looked into the sponsor's political background and prior activism. West Coast guy, who went to university and has now decided what's best for rural folks in Colorado.
I grew up with and around farmers, fishermen, and oilfield workers. People who thrived in those industries before there was text books on those subjects. Now those textbook readers are trying to lecture the pioneers on how to do things right. 😂😂 Really?!?
West coast voters spread like an std
Here in washington state the wolves have killed 1000s of deer, elk, moose and ranch animals. They push other predators out like cougars, coyote and black bear out of their habitats. It's a disaster
I'm for hunting. But just on a technical point isn't pushing the cougars, coyotes, and black bear around, the natural order. Coyotes in particular are in my neighbourhood in Toronto. That is relatively new.
@@HondoTrailsideit's a different type of wolf so to speak. They are not acting like normal predators do. If you're seeing new packs of coyotes in your area, you may want to watch your pets. Once they realize that there is endless easy food, they will claim the area quickly.
No they don't... The coexist
@@Duck-dp7mqCoyotes are far worse than every single hunting figure will admit publicly.......... Yotes insanely outnumber wolves & they all have to eat !!!! No fawns, no calves = no future
@@thistledewoutdoors3331 Animals that already a propensity for livestock predation, like these ons, do not.
We tried to fight this in CO (we live on a cattle ranch in southeast CO) but the sheer amount of people who live in Denver and the front range outnumbers the entire population of the rest of the state. We are always outnumbered in everything we do, we have no voice. Thank you for posting this video. We have hundreds of miles of fence lines on our place, I can’t imagine the amount of money and time it would take to flag it all. Part of our place is also in the canyons, which is rough country and already filled with mountain lions and the occasional black bear. We also have a ton of coyotes and we lose a few calves to them every year (when the heifer/cow lays down to calve, the coyote will sneak up from behind and eat the head of the calf as it’s being born and then if the heifer/cow gets in the wrong position and can’t get up the coyote will eat her back end and she dies from blood loss and yes we do check on them every single day during calving season). It’s already a tough business when you consider current predators, drought and uncertainty of markets. Adding an apex predator to the mix makes it almost impossible to keep going, especially when you’re threatened with prison if you make the threat go away.
I've seen it here in Wyoming where wolves push herds of elk onto private property where they feel safe. That herd's young become habituated to living on the private property and don't leave it. Then the property owner is dealing with hungry elk and torn up fences while hunters have fewer elk to hunt.
How would they only push them on private property?
@@trashpanda2396Elk have learned how to read private property signs
Cliff great vid. Love how you tackle these topics and I love your channel! I'm a CO native. I hunt the Flat Topps, Montana, Wyoming, Kansas, Idaho and on and on. Spent over 15 straight days in this year archery hunting ELK, Deer and Bear in the Flat Topps. As a CO native and voter - THIS IS A HUGE issue and BAD mojo as you well know since you live here as well ... here are a few points:
1. Wolves were already here and the liberal vote (Denver County) voted to spend $3 million dollars to "reintroduce" the wolves when they were already here. STUPID money spent!
2. Anyone that does not live, ranch, etc., should NOT be voting on a bill or legislation for "other" areas of CO that they do not live in, spend tax money, etc. In the 2024's election, (this years elections) I was NOT able to vote on a tax increase for Denver County residence, because I live in Jefferson County. It had NO direct bearing on my paycheck, so I could not vote on these specific amendments. The same should apply here... Why would someone that lives in downtown Denver be allowed to vote for a bill that DOES not affect them in anyway shape of form?
3. There is NO management plan to handle the explosive population of Wolves --- they breed very quickly. ID, MT, WA, OR, MN, and WI, are prime examples of what an apex predator does to a landscape, if not properly managed. Not too mention the negative economic impact they've had on these states!
4. The budget to handle predation, live stock kills, etc., is now bankrupt! In this months edition of BUGLE (Rocky MT Elk Foundation) addressed in detail what the wolf pack kill of livestock and the overall cost to the tax payers of CO, CA, MT, etc. In that article there were 29 livestock confirmed kills since the reintroduction of this pack in CO. Which, by the way, had a female that was already known for her problems killing livestock and, yet, we allowed her to be released in CO. Now we the taxpayer will pay the CO DOW to capture and relocate the Copper Creek Pack to then be released in Grand County. Now the taxpayers of CO are paying for the "reintroduction", "recapture and relocate" and all the livestock kills. Which again, the budget is already bankrupted in its first year!!
5. CO is NOT Yellowstone. Our ecosystem is completely different then the Yellowstone basin. The argument that it will bring back native plants, restore rivers, and on and on is a DUMB argument - its misplaced and is comparing apples to oranges. WE ARE NOT YELLOWSTONE!
6. Now we have rewards of up to and over $50,000 for information on a anyone that killed the alpha male of the Copper Creek Pack. This is just a microcosm of the conflict that is coming, if its not already here. I'm with our Ranchers and Farmers and those that live to produce off the land and help me put food on my table and everyone that lives in Denver County who voted for this mess! I support them whole-heartily and this is STUPID for CO --- we are in for a major conflict and the WOLVES will loss this battle!
7. I'm not a Wolf hater - on the contrary - they have their place in the ecosystem that they would be allowed to strive. CO is not one of those places. Now if they come naturally, then-so-be it. Again, I'm not a "SMOKE A PACK A DAY" guy, but I get why those that believe a dead wolf is a good wolf! Wolves in the lower 48, does not make sense for a lot of reasons ... this needs to be repealed!
Thanks again for your channel, I truly enjoy it very much! CO natives lets keep this going --- THIS NEEDS TO BE REPEALED the sooner the better!
They’re gonna be introducing them within 5 miles of my buddies property in unit 33. The ungulate population is already in decline. This is going to be really tough on the remaining elk and deer in the area
yep, and they will be killing livestock in meeker, craig and silt before winter is over
We didn't even see an elk in unit 33 during 4th season. Most hunters we talked to mostly said the same thing. Just didn't make sense where the elk went. Turns out, a few of those wolves were all over unit 33 that fall and especially during 4th season. That units elk was probably halfway to Utah by the time we got there!
Nice alarmist click bait article to get people to freak out.
Wolf reintroduction is proven to work. If a rancher loses an animal, they get compensated. Wolves don’t attack humans. The last thing a wolf wants to do is to go around Vail or Aspen or Grand Junction or any town. You know that. I don’t even know why you would mention that except to just get people to freak out about their Pekingese getting eaten by a wolf which is not gonna happen. Some random pitbull is gonna do that not a wolf. Come on, dude such a bullshit article.
SSS
I thought i saw they are putting them south of i70 at garfield creek state wildlife area (a couple ridges over from where i hunt) in addition to west rifle creek in 33.
It's not the wolves moving into CO that I'm annoyed with....
Every western state is being destroyed by migration from other states and countries
That picture is just missing the part where the rancher is carrying a rifle.
I'm looking forward to the day when I'm out hunting in the Califrado mountains and come across a pile of wolf crap with pieces of Birkenstock sandals and a Beyond Meat burger wrapper in it the poop.
bwhahah!
Choot 'em.
Thanks Cliff for being a strong voice in opposition on the matter. It seems as if hunters don’t have a dog in the fight currently. Is there an organization similar to CRWM whether ag based or not that is spearheading any sort of opposition vote proposition? It would be nice if we could all get behind it
The places that voted for it won’t have to deal with the repercussions
I grew up in an agrarian family in Oklahoma, but I now live city doodler life in Denver. I've told everyone who would listen to me in this city that my biggest problem with this wolf reintroduction was the fact that it was going to turn good men (and maybe women) into felons. Of course, aside from maybe Washington Park, Aspen and Vail are where they belong the most.
The problem is complete ignorance. These voters know nothing about what it's like to keep coyotes off your calves, hawks off your fowl, or ATV riders from cutting your fences. They teach their children that farmers and ranchers aren't essential because they can grow gardens.
they arnen't that great of men then. seem more entitled spoiled lazy and weak.
@ You try raising cattle and then come back and tell us it's for the spoiled, lazy, and weak.
@@jamesj9744 no its not. Hence the whining.
@@davidgreenwood6029 Please take a remedial writing course at the library before you comment again.
@@jamesj9744 ohnoes I made one typo!!!!. This is all you've got?
I live in Montana. A year ago, I went up to hunt whitetail up on Edith Peak. The only sign I saw were Wolf prints everywhere. At least we do have a Wolf season
There is serious talk currently about introducing legislation to repeal this initiative , though I can't recall the exact organization. Wouldn't hurt to check CRWM Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Mgmt about it.
These wolves will cross every road, every fence, you name it. In Wisconsin they were put up north above 64. Now they cover the state. They are in towns, farm lands. You name it.
I have a friend ttjat that lives around Meeker, there is talk that if you have to shoot a wolf, use a .22 so it will run off and die sometime and somewhere else. Pretty rough talk but these folks up there will not put up with it
The only people who voted yes for this are those who have never camped a single night in the mountains..
You better get the goal number of wolves written in stone because once you hit that number they are not going to allow you to mange them.
@@iddddaduncan the goal is no more than 150 over a two year period and 200 at any given point. Only problem is they never wrote down HOW to manage them once the goal is reached. That was done intentionally. Polis has been packing his wildlife commission with activist (not biologist as historical) throughout his term and they ultimately decide if we hunt them or not. There will be thousands of wolves in Colorado within a two decades, just like Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, except with more population than those three states combined.
Totally agree with you man! Just a heads up, your audio seemed really low on this video for some reason, watching on a phone had to turn it way up.
thanks. appreciate the heads up
I have hunted and fished my entire life, never once have I seen a single example of an “introduction” end well. People never learn
Excellent review Cliff! And of course the other thing they never talk about is COST! To my knowledge, the 7 actions CPW is taking in response to the rancher's petition have not been totally sized in terms of $$$ nor has the money to execute them been committed given we are looking at a $700K+ deficit in the state budget for this year! Candidly, I will be shocked if CPW gets the required funding this effort will take and of course that will introduce even more risk and distrust!
I thought it was $1B in the hole and possibly closer to $1.5B. They must've found a way to role some bills to next year
It started out at $1B... supposedly, got it down some, but may go back up anyway!
Let us embrace the olde ways. Some local men could do what needs to be done. There are a lot of great hunters who know how to dispose of the wolf problem, and many are good at keeping their public land hunting spots secret. It needs to be handled early before they populate and spread.
dude the olde ways? The 'legacy' of cattle ranching in the old west has only existed a few generations. The vast majority of the history of human existence, we have competed with predators, and the fact these new ways of exterminating all predators to try to make the world your pasture, happened later in the US than in europe, is the reason we had more natural resources.
If wolves are do great how come they signed an agreement to not introduce them within 50 or so miles of any of the reservations?
I hunt in moose creek in the gallatin range. I hunt hard hike hard, i have seen one moose in 5 years. They destroy ungulate populations. Dont get me started about the mule deer numbers! Disgraceful is the term I prefer!
You sound like you need to hunt quieter.
ask any outfitter from NW Montana about wolves
The entitled losers making money off my public lands who are rude when i meet them on the trial, and ally with the Californians to persecute mountain bikers and bar them from public lands? Why would I ask them anything?
SMOKE A PACK A WEEK....
you are not wrong. and i believe that you know that you are not wrong. a problem, however, seems to be that the populace of ranchers whose lives depend on producing our food supply also are not sueing the anti hunting wolf restorationists enough for their inalienable rights. but also i am not wholly informed on the issue so maybe they are sueing. Personally, as a non rancher I am ok with wolves reintro, but also hunting seasons, tag purchases, and agricultural-rancher immunity to protecting their herds should also be incorporated into it.
Are there any dark colored vehicles running around with blacked out windows? If so, the introduction has already started.that is what they did in Montana when they first started talking about introducing a "small" number just as an experiment. Thirty years later the packs have started coming out of the mountains onto the drainage coulees and river breaks. They are growing in numbers very fast. There is nothing out there to keep their numbers in check. Livestock protection dogs won't help either those dogs don't have a chance to protect themselves little own the livestock they are meant to protect.
Is there a law that says you can't trap said wolves and release them in the governor's mansion?
I have seen a wolf in Arizona. They are already here. I have heard a pack at night, in Breckinridge. They are already here.
They've always been there...........
My question is why introduce them in winter if you don’t want them eating cattle when everything is forced into the valleys at least in summer deer and elk are more dispersed in the environment
good question
Doesn't matter when you introduce them, they will follow whatever species they find easiest to obtain @ whatever time of the year.. If the intent is for them to eat deer and elk, just think about how deer and elk move seasonally. The reality is that Ranchers are a management partner with CPW with regards to elk. It's a delicate partnership that is going to face more tests as wolves push more elk onto ranch lands where they have more safety. Ranchers don't really want more elk on their lands as they can be a real problem without adequate perceived compensation.
( accept maybe during hunting season) It's a utopian fantasy to think that wolves can exist here in some state of balance without creating all the sorts of fall out we are currently seeing.
Doesn't matter when you introduce them, they are going to follow the food. If the intent was for them to feed on elk and deer, well, where are the elk and deer during the winter? An awful lot will locate near lower elevation ranch lands during winter. Wolves will push even more onto ranch lands as they will seek that safety. This will create even more disruption to the relationship CPW has with the ranching community who are critical partners in wildlife management.
Wolves DO NOT maintain ranges in the mountains. ALL wolves make their main range in winter ranges so they can feast when times are hardest to hunt. They rarely follow herds back into the mountains.
Why does CPW think they will hole up in the mountains? Why do they not realize the low valleys are the wolves' natural range, and now they are full of subdivision? RIP wapiti.
Great Report Cliff. Thanks for keeping us all aware of what's going on in CO. Looking forward to more videos from you in 2025.
How many dogs does it take to stop a pack of 20 wolves? One little pooch? Never fear, these are green vegan wolves??
I have a lot I could say, and none of it would be kind.
edit: pretty sure you know where I stand on the issue. I'm just biting my lip. Unfortunately, I don't think your wrong.
Sorry to tell you this but they are releasing 15 wolves that they just caught in British Columbia this month (January’25) in Garfield Creek State Wildlife area south of I-70.
In the upcoming months their plan is to release another 15 in Rifle Creek State Wildlife area.
Can't wait to see one.
The wolves will go wherever they choose to go! Look what's happening in yellow stone park.
Huge mistake, here in Idaho it took about 15-20yrs for Elk/Deer, ranchers to readjust to the new predator and that was when we were allowed to manage them.
I love the fact that they are using money from hunters to pay for this! Completely makes me sick from an elk hunters perspective and these ranchers are not subsidized by the government like farmers! Just another reason to boycott Colorado! Nothing but a drug cartel anyways!
The state should have not only a compensation program for livestock producers. The state should also bear the cost of of wolf re-introduction preventative measures for livestock interests. Furthermore, Parks and Wildlife should also be billed annually for consumptive use and damages to other wildlife by wolves. Sportsmen and Conservationist organizations have given generously to make Colorado's wildlife great and diverse. To not include their efforts is also a failure of the state, and needs to be addressed. It gets more expensive quick. A Camel is a fine Horse put together by a committee. Hoping it gets better before it gets worse.😉👍
You sound soft. Like you've had life too easy for too long. LIke some sort city dweller who can't hack it in nature. Probably get lost if you lost sight of your vehicle in the woods. You're not entitled tothe world being your pasture.
The Irony here is (If Colorado Parks and Wildlife is funded like Idaho's Fish and Game) that it ends up being the hunters that fund everything to do with wolves, not the "Liberal bunny huggers" that voted for the wolves.
In other words, the very people who fought AGAINST the re-introduction of wolves, foot the bill for ALL of it!!
the ones that voted for it (sitting on their couch in suburbia watching National Geographic) don't pay a dime.
We need a way to make those who voted for wolves, foot the entire bill for the wolves, IMHO
@@Vandal-ml3mbthats not how taxes work at all
They are. There is a program also helping ranchers with prevention.
I live in park county. Once wolf's become prevalent their going to slay these elk calfs that cant get over the fences.
Again, humans have screwed everything up. Wolves definitely have an advantage with the overpopulation of humans. Maybe 2-legged food?
wolf's?
Well, if hunters and ranchers just kill the wolves without caring about what fish and game think…maybe fish and game would stop fucking around with reintroducing wolves
I live in Utah and often hunt the Colorado border. We’ve seen tracks following the elk into our state. Terrible decision. Please tell the wolves they need to stay in Colorado.
Yep. I’ve seen tracks in unit 21.
Burried 😂😂
oh the horror, now maybe you'll have to be fit enough to get more than a few hundred yards from your truck. Maybe even learn how to track. Gosh my heart breaks for you.
Cliff- great video. There are pluses and minuses to wolf reintroduction. First thing is from a purely biological perspective, return to to their natural is a great thing. Natural prey and predator In the eco system is always good to see . The negatives: with a wolf population, deer and elk herds will be broken up as the large herds attract wolves ( just like with the cattle ranches) harder for hunters to find these animals and after a few years there will not be the tourism when more tags are not filled. Additionally, depending on the politics of the state and federal government, the wolves may be protected even when they reach or exceed their carrying capacity so population control would not be possible. Thus causes the wolf range to expand and put more pressure on cattle herds and domestic animals in suburbs. In short- if wolves are allowed on the landscape, they’ve got to be managed just like every other species or it will be catastrophic to other game animals, agriculture, and tourism that attracts so many to Colorado.- sorry for the long winded comment- cheers!
The law in Colorado only allows for wolves to establish west of the continental divide... liberals weaponized biology in this instance, so there is zero positives.
FYI, human and wolves have never peacefully lived alongside each other. 10s of thousands of years of war between species, and we somehow forgot about it in one generation.
Used to horseback above Gardiner,Montana after introduction. They've totally overrun the elk. And they kill for sport.
humans kill for sport.
How about they do the ten jay and do the correct studies for this whole thing. Are the wolves from Canada ever in Colorado no what about the native wolves that was there and still down there wow now you have a endangered species
They had a mandated timeframe to begin the physical introduction and fraudulently bypassed federal protocols by introducing them only on state lands. Which conveniently sidestepped the fact that there are not enough state lands to maintain population objectives of the plan and knowing full well they will primarily occupy federal lands.
I hunted elk in Northern Colorado near Waldon in 2022. Heard wolf howls and saw tracks and scat. They are already in Colorado now. Moved in from Wyoming.
It wasn’t that long ago OR-7 was tracked 100 yards from my home in Anderson. Ca. Today there is a pack clear down by Yosemite.
Oh that’s right the told the wolfs to stay in one area don’t jump any fences stay where we put you😅😅😅😅
70-90% reduction in game animals here in Idaho. That's elk, moose, whitetail and mule deer. Fish and Game and Feds spent millions trying to save the woodland caribou in the panhandle, wolves wiped out what didn't run to Canada.
That's a lie... Look at the stats. Idaho numbers have NOT plummeted otherwise there wouldn't be ANY hunting allowed...... Just look up the number
@@thistledewoutdoors3331 they don't care about facts. In their minds they are the great white hunter, in reality they are too fat to leave their atv.
@@thistledewoutdoors3331 I can tell you for a fact. having seen the impact with my own eyes (where I live).. the wolves crushed the numbers of moose, elk and deer in the first years of introduction. things have balanced out now, but initially it was a bloodbath. And I believe the balance now has more to do with being able to hunt wolves and the state shooting numbers of wolves from helicopter in the winter.
If you think there are any bearers that will stop a wolf pack from moving when and where they want to your crazy. I live in Wyoming eastern Wyo, 10 years from the release of wolves in Yellowstone they have moved across the state of Wyoming. Say good by to your ranchers and your wildlife.
Yellowstone ground zero of wolf introduction still has the most wildlife of anywhere in the lower 48. The wildlife is still everywhere and I know of not one single ranch that went out of business do to wolves. Most lose only a few percent to predators.
Yellowstone is where they should be. It is an intact ecosystem spanning millions of acres and a bridge to other low human population largely intact ecosystems. Colorado is anything but that. Thinking we can reintroduce a species like wolves without adequate planning in place for all the co ingenues that will arise naturally leads…..right where we are.
Let's see some follow up videos on the stats. There's 10 reintroduced wolves, I think 1 died, 1 got shot ($75,000 reward) 8 remaining, not sure how many livestock killed...probably less than 100. 15 getting introduced this year, another 10-15 in 2026. I get it, it is tough to eke out a living up there in grand and jackson county.
All of these cattle and supporting farms that grow alfalfa take over %50 of Colorados river water...life is not fair. The ranchers are compensated for killed animals...doesn't account for other costs they bare from the reintroduction. I wish there was somewhere wild enough that people wouldn't notice them. Like the San Juans, where there's been breeding populations for at-least the 15 years that i have personally seen.
There should be a hunt allowed WHEN there is a problem population... fair chase on public lands or excedingly rare times there are problem individual animals that won't leave individual properties running people out of a living. Give the landowner 1 tag they can sell to the highest bidder.... bidding starts at 100 grand. Those mega ranches up by sleepy cat would likely pay millions
Most of RANCHES are not alfalfa. They are Hay for the cattle. North park is nothing Colorado River drainage it is plate River drainage which flows east to the Gulf of Mexico. Gets your facts straight
And the best part of it all is that the hunters buying hunting and fishing licenses are paying for it. lmfao. Talk about stupid.
No wolves for the rich that is bs ranchers have to foot the bill, get those wolves over to the rich, say around there kids bus stop
They would love it.... They rich bring in more $ than a rancher ever could....... I seen it happen all around me with my hunting shack in Buena Vista & my home in the Springs....
It's disgusting that is grown men are crying about the 4 legged wolves - When it's the 2 legged ones that kill everything .....
Even Cliff here would admit that - except he's got financial obligations to his sponsors & whatnot..... ALL are apart of the same machine playing both sides of the fence.
Just wait, be patient,the wolves don't stay where the politicians and feel good people think they will. Eventually they will find the elk in the fairy land area of estates park easy prey, along with a poodle appetizer, then sit back and be amused at how quickly people change their minds.
Pray you are successful in your efforts. The best you can do now is keep providing education and information on effects of wolf predidation.
Wolves are a horrible idea...it's already hard enough to find elk.
Get off the road
I think we do tend to overreact. I'm not in favor of the referendum, but there are wolves in other places and it's not the apocalyptic event we think it will be. I know it effects people, and if I could chose, I would probably say its a bad idea, but I guess my point is we'll figure it out. I know Colorado is more densely populated than other western states, so I do see some issues coming up that maybe we don't hear as much about up north, and I am concerned that the political climate here won't allow for lethal removals when appropriate, so we'll kind of handicap ourselves from managing the situation more effectively. I actually do think we will eventually have some problems, particularly with the pets issues you allude to, that may shift the climate towards more sensible management policies. The wolves will eventually leak out to Boulder, Fort Collins, Aspen, and Vail. Just a matter of time...
saw a post that they are putting them south of i70 at garfield creek state wildlife area.
Cliff, there are already wolves in the Weminuche.
Shoot, shovel, shut-up.
Code of the West.
carcass management; if i was a rancher and the government was trying to deny me my individual rights to protect my herd and run my business, i think i might accidentally woopsie woopsie leave the carcass out and then have my protection device with a decibal reduction device attached and then i’d take a day off from ranching and post up a couple hundred yards away from the carcass and see if attracts anything. could be an excellent idea for herd protection especially with viable subsonic option such as the 8.6 blackout
They will decimate dee and elk herds. It is criminal to introduce them. They were a plains animal when they were here, predating on plains bison and elk. Not alpine deer populations. We have seen nothing good from this in Montana and Idaho.
Totally agree, not to mention there were 60 million bison then, and 10 million elk. These clowns just don’t get it.
This reintroduction needs to be repealed. FFS, people are so ignorant.
They may be only putting them in northern Colorado, but it won't take the long to be in the south. Here in mt the population blew up and there are packs hundreds of miles from where they were introduced in Yellowstone.
Just started to watch. You are still talking about the I70 line. I find that thought and statement laughable at best. They will move into those areas in short order. They will stay if they find prey, period.
Ever since putting those game fences in the deer and elk along that corridor are essentially distinct. Sure game fences aren’t going to stop wolves, but it is a short term barrier for them. They aren’t going to follow their prey sources across the highway.
Why from Canada? You are more then welcome to have some of ours in Montana.
Montana, Idaho and Wyoming won’t give them wolves.
Yeah, what about the ones they tracked to Castle Rock?
What was that site for your knife?
Moose will be the losers. Calves will suffer. CO politics.
Are there any non profit organizations that rescue donkeys' or mules? Now would be a good time to find them new homes in Colorado
Sss
Personally as a public land hunter i look forward to the wolves forcing elk to move around the state and off of private land-locked areas. I would also like to believe that reintroducing their main Apex predator we would see far less spread of CWD. Further i was under the impression that since reintroduction began weve only had like 20 or so predations on live stock? (Which the state paid over market price for) so i dont understand where the concern from ranchers are coming from
I believe it will generally be the inverse. More elk will vacate the public land in favor of private land sanctuaries where wolves are less likely as well.
Yea, lotta knee jerk responses in this comment section. Decent scientific research (not like the research for the vid and the jab ssris etc but actually decent science) shows ungulate populations are healthier when they are forced to run more, and that wolves kill the weak, while hunters kill the strong. In the long term, wolves improve deer and elk herds. They make things impossible for fat lazy drunk hunters who get lost if they lose sight of their vehicle to kill lazy complacent ungulates in sight of roads.
You're 100% wrong friend, just about as stupid as the people who voted for this.
I’ve seen 2 wolves up by Oak Creek and another north or Hayden recently
thanks for this info!
Great review.
My family ranches in wolf country in Oregon, losses are almost non existent, we lose more to other predators than wolves.
This in the future is going to create a public safety issue. Project is being nearsighted .
They will find there way to where the food is nomatter what anyone wants...ur screwed!!!
Bad bad nad idea to reintroduce wolves there. Go look at whats gone on in Canada. Those animals are not going to stay north of that line.
Wolves are already there.
I feel like if you dumped them in the east weminuche they might do alright until they come into the san luis valley - in the same way you see those invisible fence shock collars for dogs, i wonder if there’s a way to do that in large vicinity for wolves… it would be neat to see where else they are even remotely considering.
@@samrichardson2641 the goal isn't wolves, it is to hurt rural Colorado culture. They want them all over agriculture and elk for a reason.
this is a great demonstration of the level of intelligence of people with yoru viewpoint if you think electric shock collars could work on a regional level. You should stop and think how much money that would cost.
@ dude i have no horse in this race i could give a literal shit either way buddy - i have no clue how much that would cost and was just playing devils advocate
If people are not involved in the management of wildlife, we will lose it all to special interest groups, and it will no longer be YOUR public land.
They have decimated herds in NM
The way you speak about this is delusional, like youre talking about wherewovles, like releasing wolves in the san juans would lead to wolves stalking the streets of durango immediately. There are no wolves on the streets of bozeman dude. I think the WEF is waging a war on farmers and ranchers, for economic gain as well as political power, but I also have little sympathy for hunters and ranchers whining about how things are so hard for them because they have to compete with natural predator that science has shown to benefit ungulate populations. I'm not some city dwelling liberal but I don't care about ranchers losing cattle. This isn't some age old way of life, its existed for a few generations, and only flourished in the wake of absolutely destructive slaughter of bison, wolves, cats, and grizzly. I've lived on ranches, 'dated' a ranchers daughter, I have tons of sympathy for the challenges food producers face against hedge funds and mega corporations, but not the natural environment. You're not entitled to the world being your garden. I've seen plenty of dead cattle from falling in slot canyons, freezing to death, etc. I don't care too much about a few a year being lost to wolves when you get reimbursed for your loss. Get some range riders. In a larger sense, if you want political power in todays america, you darn well better find a way to make common cause with those who are different than you, and not just preach to the choir so to speak.
Well said Cliff
We in Wyoming don't want them either
Everyone cries about wolves but, it's cool for coyotes, Bobcats, Mountain lions, Bears - To still remain...?????????
Hardened ranching & hunters are Literally crying about the Wilderness - NOT BEING WILD !!!!
Ranchers should keep their herd on their own property. Hunters are bothered by cows and sheep ruining the hunt....
They were delivered today, and moved to the release areas already.
what they don't want more trained killer Oregon wolves
Same shit in Michigan
It’s cool since it’s a political move they are dying them blu and red too so all know their political stance before calling CPW
Cliff, I appreciate your perspective. Now, I'm probably gonna ruffle some feathers, but in my opinion, if you (I mean the collective "you" here) believe in conservation, then you can't pick and choose which animals you want to include in your ecosystem. We're not talking about Jurassic Park. We eradicated one of the most intelligent and awe-inspiring species at the behest of ranchers (with the support of the gov't), and we did it in very recent history because they were an inconvenience. We did the same to the buffalo, the natives, grizzlies, etc., during an era when little respect or forethought was given to the natural world. And here we are, a century later, and the backbone of the conservation movement (hunters and fishermen) are once again claiming that these creatures have no right to exist here. Sure, it was a good thing to rescue deer, elk, bald eagles, bison, etc. But wolves and grizzlies? They can get fucked.
Here's a question. With all we know about biology, ecology, and conservation, if you were alive in the early 20th century, would you have supported the intentional extermination of wolves? I'd like to think that many of you who now oppose their reintroduction would have, conversely, also spoken out against their extinction and opted for a management program that takes all parties' needs into account, not just the ranchers.
Look, it's complicated. Are wolves going to kill livestock? Yes. Are they going to kill elk, deer, antelope, etc.? Of course. And when they hit the target number of wolves, should we open up a wolf hunting season? Damn straight. And if the people block that hunting season from happening, I will be just as outspoken about the need to hunt them as I am about their right to exist in this state.
I'm as big of a hunter as anyone on here. But I'm also an animal lover, and sometimes you gotta take the good with the bad. I'm happy to pitch in some extra pennies in my taxes to offset the losses for ranchers, and I'll gladly accept the fact that my elk hunts might be less successful going forward. That's my two cents. Let the angry comments roll in.
I completely understand your perspective.
I personally think if we could go back, we’d never populate the mountains of the west the way we have. It’s an ecosystem that has the natural carrying capacity of almost zero humans. But that is gone and in CO it is gone way more than many of the other states. The touch of man when it comes to managing elk, deer and other wildlife in CO is way deeper than most people perceive. Do wolves deserve a spot in that world? Sure, maybe. BUT it’s unfair and unjust for a group who bares ZERO of the cost to hoist 100% of that burden on groups that don’t want that change.
Ranchers won’t be compensated for the hassle it creates for them and hunters will lose opportunity they invested in building. There will never be a hunted wolf in Colorado. Recent history with wolf advocates has proved this to be the case.
@@CliffGray I hear ya. And sadly, you may be right about wolves never being hunted here. But we did defeat a completely backward lion hunting ban that I thought was sure to pass, so maybe there's hope.
To your point about the burden falling on the ranchers who don't want it, that's kinda the way democracy goes, isn't it? I say that with sympathy. Rural America has a vastly disproportionate amount of political power in the legislative branch, which means that many city folks deal with laws, tax codes, and politicians that they don't want either. Is it fair that ranchers are being asked to pay for change they didn't vote for? No. And I'll gladly vote to change that. Is it also fair that our tax dollars subsidize their operational costs while they deny us access to public land, put gates across public roads, and, at least once each archery season, scare the crap out of me when I think one of their black cows is a black bear standing in the trail on public land? Debatable, but I think not.
My question still stands. Would you vote to exterminate wolves from their natural habitat if they were thriving there today? If not, then why should we let politics, which will always be messy, stand in the way of righting a wrong? And I'm pretty sure farmers and ranchers in every state where wolves have been reintroduced took issue with it. Should we have listened to them and let wolves go extinct? There isn't a law out there that doesn't inconvenience somebody.
@@prez803the problem I have with your statement is about us being a democracy. We aren't. Direct democracy was never intended for this nation which is what this vote is. The state legislators want to be like California where they don't actually have to work and introduce law and put their names on it. Not a single politician has to say that they voted for wolves when an angry rancher comes to their office...
There was also 60 million bison, and 10 million elk before any Europeans arrived. I don’t hear you crying about getting those numbers back on par, because that was the natural ecosystem.
@@progradepainting3755too late! No place for buffalos, neighter wolves in CO. Ppl are too many. What if dinosaurs where available? Would we need them back?
I'm a big hunting fan. But i also support the wolves. It was ok to wipe them out?? People can be very selfish. So they'll be less elk and deer. OMG. The wolf is an important part of the ecosystem. The greater Yellowstone basin has flourished. It took some time, but there's less erosion along many creeks and rivers now. Why because they are not being over browsed by too many ungulates. This intern has also helped the beaver population. Now, there's no hunting in Yellowstone. So more animals are available to predators like the wolf. But after almost 30 years populations are fairly stable.
Placing wolves in ag areas seems silly, especially when the state dose have vast and remote wilderness ares. Its a very sore subject. I just spent 7 days hunting in northern Idaho, near St. Joe's national forrest. Didn't realize that there were wolves in idaho. I don't know the game numbers , but i can tell you we sawr signs of a lot of game. Loaded with deer and elk especially. Sawr moose and even some mule deer. Never sawr a wolf , only their tracks. And you can hunt em in idaho.
So, you are telling us you are not well informed, and yet lecturing us about how great wolves are.😂
The Yellowstone study is completely fabricated. All of those ungulates where encouraged to congregate there for tourist reasons, and no management or hunting was allowed on the park, so naturally there were higher levels of browsing and erosion when you make it a petting zoo for the bison, elk, and antelope. Not to mention, there were 10 million elk, and 60 million bison roaming in every field, meadow and basin from Nevada to Appalachia before any management. That was the natural ecosystem.
@jimrice4699 I'm not lecturing anyone. Just my opinion, from what I've seen and read. The Yellowstone study is out there. Why don't you look it up. I believe all native species should be allowed to survive. Just like us
S.S.S.
Nothing makes me sleep better at night than to listen to Colorado guys cry about wolves or management! Atleast you got the chance to vote on it up north no one was even asked and it’s been 30 years of hell ever since so congratulations!
Thanks for great info. I voted for the wolves. I think they're really cool animals and I don't see why we can't maintain a limited population same as we do with mountain lions. If indeed their foisting these wolves right into the most intensive agricultural areas, that seems totally crazy to me. I hadn't heard they were doing that. I don't see why we can't limit the packs to more recreational areas (national parks etc). Millionaires should keep their pets on a leash anyway.
I hear ya. Unfortunately, I'd say that yes the wolves are being unloaded into the most ag dependent areas in the state. That does tend to correlate with ungulate population also.
Well, to keep the wolf population in check, there needs to be hunting seasons for them like there is for mountain lions.
They are really cool animals. It's a shame that you didn't think beyond that to the actual world they would be introduced into before voting. You got swindled into turning wolves into political pawns A Couple reasons why they wouldn't be able to do as you ask : Hunting them is not and will not be allowed. Hunting is somewhat limited tool for this purpose to begin with. Please reference the expansion of the Mountain lion population despite hunting seasons. Colorado is not a zoo with walls and bars. Wolves are a nomadic and free ranging species that require vast areas of land to propagate and maintain genetic viability. Their population dynamics involve a certain number of juveniles departing from their origin packs and seeking other territories and individuals to create new packs. Limiting them to only certain areas is not a viable way to reintroduce a species because you can't control where they roam. The current long term population goals are counter to this argument as well. No way to maintain that many wolves on such limited landscape. The reality with the current plan is that as more are introduced, and as they propagate outward, they will inevitably start to encroach south of I70, into the Delta/Montrose corridor and Gunnison Basin, Southern Colorado, eventually New Mexico and probably Utah. The deceptive plan to avoid Federal oversite by only introducing them on state lands was a complete fraud. They will most likely primarily occupy federal lands. There are other reasons as well related to the particular climate and geography of Colorado that tends to concentrate them into the worst possible places for them to thrive.
Wolves like to hunt in packs just for fun. They'll tear apart anything they come across just for a good time, won't even eat the meat.
The people promoting wolf introduction want cattle all killed because they thrive on chaos and destruction, with a loyalty to predatory animals over the lives of humans.
These are demented people that belong in asylums, not anywhere near the seats of government.
@@jasonworrall3018 how do you limit packs to national park acreage when they travel the distance of an entire wilderness area/ national forest in just 1 day?? And have a home range territory range that's massive