You wouldn't really know it by looking at Idaho's elk population trends, but that is a pretty accurate statement.
There are now huge elk herds in places that they historically didn't live. The elk are in ag and urban interface areas and cause all sorts of hate and discontent. Areas that historically had great herds have been reduced down to tiny numbers. So the numbers of elk in Idaho are strong, but the areas that where they are has changed dramatically.
I honestly have to agree, the populations have dropped i know they have but may not show it on all reports or it may not seem like it has on all reports. I know in CO whats going to happen is the first batch of wolves is going to migrate (hopefully) because they are literally dropping them right in my back yard. Since this 50 mile buffer and everything it took this release and shut it down to a small area. Now releasing them in December thats going to cut down the amount of access points to drop them, cause im pretty sure they arent gonna fly them in by helicopter and drop them off randomly in the back country, they are gonna need video and pictures and all that stuff for the voters to prove they did it and such a historic event blah blah. So im betting they are going to be near accessible trailheads in the winter but also will want to keep it secret and not say anything til the week after it happens. Which means they are probably going to be dropped near winter habitat, urban areas with ranches, cattle, and wintering herds. Hopefully we dont have another winter like we did last year, nothing like having starving herds being chased down by wolves to keep them healthy. but eventually some of these wolves will migrate, Elk in the NW corner of the state that migrate to utah will probably eventually staying there, i bet wolves will push elk towards the front range, they are going to leave their now historic areas to find safer areas. they are gonna hold up on ranches where the ranchers are constantly having to harass the wolves out, harass the elk/deer out, wolves will move up to the cattle and sheep grazing allotments in the higher country for the summer. but a once thriving area full of elk and deer will most likely be void after a few years. they will have to migrate and move to avoid the wolves and we all know the wolves will follow eventually.
Northwest CO, Gunnison Basin, Roaring Fork Valley, Flat Tops, Vail Area will all be wolf paradise. The Roaring Fork, Crystal River, Fryingpan River, and Eagle River valleys will be the main drop zone for the first 25 wolves (i believe that's the plan for December is 25 this year)
I also agree with what Indian Summer said earlier, If you have the chance do whats right... but i will say all the (i will kill everyone i see, Shovel and shutup folks) you all have no idea how hard it is to actually kill a wolf. That is one of the main reasons Idaho has trapping and hunting of wolves, the success of hunted wolves is so low cause they are smart animals, an outfitter friend of mine in Idaho said they were selling their permit cause of the lack of elk and loss of business, and in his 10 years there he has never even been able to get off his horse and get his gun out to even take a shot at one. Its a huge flex to say that stuff on social media i guess, but it comes from people with no experience in the situation, they are tough animals to actually hunt, and all the pro wolf people thinking they will be able to go to western CO now and see wolves are dreaming. They are elusive animals and unless you are on a ranch in the winter and dealing with them preying on ur cattle you dont hardly ever see them.
