Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

I think I saw this in the Telegraph a couple of days ago.  My memory tells
me that the Wolf was shot last year, and that it took a lot (6 months?) of
scientific study to in fact determine that it was a Wolf.  I believe that
final determination relied on DNA tests - certainly something that the
average hunter does not have at his disposal in the field.  Wolves were 
not thought to exist in Maine, and are probably not even mentioned in 
the Maine hunting regs.  The hunter, from PA I think, may be charged 
under federal endangered species act laws.

    
    If they can't tell it's a wolf without DNA study, what the heck do they
    expect a coyote hunter to do?  
    
    Gary

    
    There was an article in the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune within the last week
    covering the possibilities of Wolves & Cougars in the New England area.
    The article went on to say though there have been MANY sightings and
    plaster moulds made of tracks they do not have any carcasses to prove
    the exsistance without a shadow of doubt. One thing that was mentioned
    though was an interview with the Maine F&G and they said someone HAD
    shot an animal and they were doing tests to see if they could factually
    concluded it was a Wolf. On the average it seems each state has in the
    area of 30 calls per year on sightings, and one of the latest sightings
    was a logger working in a northern area of Maine who sighted 3 Cougars.
      
    
                                                            Guy

    I would have to agree with reply .2, I think it is a crock of sh!t to
    be charged if it took the Fish and Wildlife 6 months to tell.
    
    
    Wess

    That does stink.  They should just wash out the charges.  But, probably
    due to all the publicity, this unfortunate hunter is going to be a 
    scapegoat.  Government has no brains or kahunas!
    
    bob
    

    It was a wolf convirmed by DNA. It was shot for a coyote over bait
    while bear hunting. They also now have a picture of a cougar in 
    Caratunk. A guide running 2 dogs got pictures of the cat and dogs...
    Last summer a driver of a log truck watched a cougar in a clear cut
    about 10 mile up the road from my place. 
    
    					gary c 

    I have family who works for the Department of Enviroment or whatever
    they call themselves who work with the biologist on the case. The
    hunter turned himself in. He went to the warden station and reported
    that he was sorry but he thinks he shot a wolf. I guess that they
    laughed at the guy until they saw it in the back of his pick up.
    
    They ran tests in Maine but could not come up with anything decisive so
    they cut off its head and sent it out to a place in Oregon. I haven't
    talked with them lately but I guess, from what you guys are saying,
    that the test came back conclusive.
    
    I'm not sure what the state will do to the guy. He did turn himself in
    but that doesn't usually matter. I once saw a guy get a $1000.00 fine
    at the Winnipesaukee Ice Fishing Derby for attempting to weigh in his
    Golden Trout. This Golden Trout was actually a large landlocked salmon
    which are illegal to pull through the ice in New Hampshire. They sited
    the perverbial "Ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the law". I felt
    bad for the guy because he honestly believed in what he had. Expensive
    lessons to learn
    
    Bob M�

 Speaking of wolves, do you guys remember the photograph on the front page of 
the Union Leader last year that was purportedly of a wolf? (The photograph
was taken in NH.) Well, apparently the NH F&G has stopped claiming it is
not a wolf. I saw the original photos, in large format. It so happens that
I know the lady who took them. It sure looks like a young wolf to me. The
snout and coloration just don't match coyotes. (The pics were beautiful, BTW.)

 And apparently another one has been spotted, in the same area.

 It sounds to me like these predators are quietly reestablishing themselves.

    	I heard a rumer last year that someone had hit a wolf with their
    	car on Industial Drive in Merrimack NH.  If this is the case then
    	there could be Wolves on Digital property.  They said that they
    	first though it was a cayote but later said it was a wolf.  Since 
    	this is a congested area the report was squashed.  This could be 
    	just someones active imagination.  I though I mention it though.
    
    				Dave