I’m an non-resident but have first hand seen the devastation from wolves. In Northern MN, our Whitetails population is extremely low, moose numbers have crashed, our furbearers (Pine Martin, Fisher) have been crushed, there is not much that hasn’t been effected by wolves. Trapping seasons have been shortened to days when they used to be weeks. Furbearer limits are down to combined limits usually no more than two. I quit trapping as the wolves would run my line and eat the fur out of the trap. It is out of control.
The few brave souls that raised cattle have quit, so our small population of vocal farmer/ranchers is about gone. Yet, MN can’t help but try to be the California of the Midwest, claiming climate change is the cause of this downfall in game. The DNR started moose studies and each year they show collared calves and adults animals being preyed on by wolves. We are once a again trying to take a run at getting state control. Not a hunt, or season just management control back to the state. The population has been well above targeted goals from the original endangered species plan, but the goal posts keep moving. Every time a plan comes forward to give the state control, some judge blocks it.
I’m still able to harvest a deer but the number of hours to find one has increased dramatically. The size has gone down and I don’t see many animals (deer or other animals) over the course of the seasons, archery and firearms compared to even 8 years ago. It’s not impossible to hunt, but tough even with changing where and how I hunt. A lot hunters especially older or physically challenged hunters have quit. Out of the wolf habitat area is better, but their range is ever expanding.
Don’t do it Colorado! I can’t imagine what these animals will do in CO. The Kifarucast podcast on reintroduction is spot on. I will do everything a non-res can do to help stop this. I occasionally get the privilege to hunt elk in Colorado and always enjoy seeing the abundance of wildlife. IMO, We have lost that in MN. Once this happens, there really is no way out.