Feb 2018 Newsletter

Northern Timber Wolf... Take 2
(Written by Coby Mahan)
How many of us have dreamed of an actual wolf hunt.
This is the one apex predator I have always dreamed
of encountering on a hunt solely for them in wild
Alberta!
It all came together this winter when myself and my
good friend, Bill Davie went on our second hunt for
wolf with my good friend Del Bredeson. Del has been
a trapper and outfitter in Northern Alberta for over
50 years. His vast knowledge of wolves and
trapping is truly remarkable. We had spent
three days last winter hunting over our
bait with Del only to have a power
line cutting crew cut it short
when they showed up in
the area and quickly
made enough noise to chase any chance of a wolf
sighting away for our hunt!
This time was to be our redemption! Our bait was set
on a lake that was very remote. Wolf sign was all over
the northern bush area, and the blind was warm and
comfortable for our long days of waiting.
DAY 1
Del lead the way into the blind early in the dark. After
about a 20 minute sled ride we followed him to the
blind through the bush. It was a cold morning and had
snowed the night before. On the last approach to the
blind Bill had stepped on a grouse buried in the snow.
As it blew up and flew away it scared the hell out of us
all, something we would laugh about most of the day.
We spent the day in the blind watching the ravens as
they hopped around on the bait. We glassed the bush
line on the other side of the lake at 750 yards dreaming
of a wolf stepping out to the bait. As the daylight ended
so did our hopes of a wolf sighting that day.
DAY 2
It was an early start again and as we headed down the trail
with the sled I was thinking to myself this was really Day
5 of sitting if I counted the days from last year. I figured
we deserved a sighting and some good luck today. As
we walked through the thick bush on the way to the lake
another grouse blew out, just as the first day. I figured
this was good luck! How often could this happen?
As Bill and I settled down in the blind it wasn’t long before
daylight started to show us the bait on the lake. At about
9am we had our first look at something other than a bird
at the bait...a coyote slowly made his way to the bait and
he helped himself for about a half hour before a thick fog
5 |
rolled across the lake.
Just shortly before noon the fog started to lift from the
lake exposing the bait pile once again. Bill and I started
to check out our lunch that Evelyn, Del’s wife, had packed
for us. As we were digging through our sandwiches and
treats I just remember looking out the small window of
the blind and in a very high whisper said, “Bill Wolves”!
Five large timber wolves closed the distance very quickly
on a full out run with their tails flagging. They were
kings, not slowed down by anything, jumping and biting
at the ravens as they got to the bait. Now, the problem
with five wolves at your bait is they don’t stand still long
enough for two guys to get settled in for a good shot on