I can't make up my mind about the wolf and talk out of both sides of my mouth about them--because it was pretty cool seeing him yesterday. (This drives DH nuts, BTW) He was following deer scent I'm sure. But I also agree with all of you. I was living out west when they first reintroduced a pair of Canadian Timbers into Yellowstone and the first thing those buggers did was range out of the park and get shot stalking a Rancher's calves. It raised a hulla-balloo at the time. When the wolves mingle with us it is not healthy for them either. Fear of humans is a good thing for them. Where they have a chance in a park for instance or big woods such as the NE part of the state or border country...yep that's okay. When they mingle into ag then there needs to be allowances. We eat venison in our house--it's pretty much our red meat and DH sits right with you EJB, Rhetts, Cyrus, and Ralphie when it comes to that. The fall before the hunts started we got one deer out of 4 tags. Not a good deal. Coming home from the school bus stop a wolf sitting a 100 yards from my driveway walked across the road, I stopped and it just circled my car waiting for me to leave. The next fall was the hunt and I haven't seen them since--in two years--until yesterday. That fear is VERY good for them.
When I make my mind up about the wolf will probably be when he/she's in my yard stalking chickens or my labrador. And I know what side of the mind will be in action.
That's such a vivid story Rhetts on why there needs to be allowances on some tags for them. Not good. I think our State DNR is filing for special allowances arent they with the feds. I thought there was some motion that way.