A wolf encounter

This happened just a few miles down the road from me. The statement from the DNR shows the doubt they have about some of the facts. I too wonder why such an experienced hunter/shooter/survivalist had to "chamber" a round when met with a threat. I also wonder how he was able to deflect a 100-120 pound animal, used to attacking 220 pound victims, with just a slight kick. Then there is this statement....."Though shaken, Nellessen, realizing he had not been injured in the ordeal, made a hasty, yet calculated retreat to his truck, he said, "clearing every bush and tree along the way with my .380.”"

I also wonder if his NRA renewal just 4 days ago had anything to do with the NRA story about this........


The local warden tells our Hunter Safety classes that the majority of bear/wolf attack reports in our state are only a cover for folks that just shot the animal because they wanted to kill something or thought they could keep the animal if they killed it under the premise they were attacked. In this instance where a man claims to have defended himself against three grown wolves, firing but one shot and did not have any marks on him from the attack, along with the fact he was on a small piece of public hunting land where wolves are accustomed to folks may be one reason the DNR is so skeptical. That's also pretty far east for wolves in the state. Must be on the eastern most fringe of their range.

"the DNR is so skeptical. That's also pretty far east for wolves in the state. Must be on the eastern most fringe of their range."

Wolves are in Michigan. That is much farther east.

My brother lives in Wisconsin and has had frequent sightings and problems with wolves for many years, mostly from them attacking and killing their cat, bear and coyote hounds. They can't run coyotes anymore because the wolves have killed most of them. They couldn't run them before either for quite a while because the DNR was worried that the would shoot a wolf by mistake.

From what I have seen of Wisconsin's DNR, their main purpose is to harass hunters and levy fines.

I have my doubts about this whole story myself..but I doubt the fish and game people would do anything in regard to this other than try to find a way to discredit the shooter and prosecute him for something.
I sorta think the fish and game guys do very little other than dream up statistics and try to find ways to prosecute someone. If they were more supportive of sportsmen, they would have a lot more respect and cooperation from them.
The fellow in the altercation would definitely benefit from a larger caliber for woods activities.

Patocazador said:

Wolves are in Michigan. That is much farther east.

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I was talking about the range of wolves here in Central Wisconsin. Those wolves in Adams county have previously threatened livestock and thus have had their numbers reduced by the state, so one would think they have had a fear of man instilled into them. Any farther east of Adams county and you just run out of big woods and preferred habitat, unless you stick to the northern part of the state.

Patocazador said:

My brother lives in Wisconsin and has had frequent sightings and problems with wolves for many years, mostly from them attacking and killing their cat, bear and coyote hounds. They can't run coyotes anymore because the wolves have killed most of them. They couldn't run them before either for quite a while because the DNR was worried that the would shoot a wolf by mistake.

From what I have seen of Wisconsin's DNR, their main purpose is to harass hunters and levy fines.

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Wisconsin's DNR like any other state's DNR/F&G is often criticized, especially by those that do not follow rules or do not like the current regs. IMHO, they have done a good job with deer management, especially with CWD within the herd. They are a model for deer management philosophies in many other states. They have also done an excellent job with the reintroduction of wild turkeys in the state. We have a good amount of public land open to everyone and excellent water access.The sport fishery in the state is one of the best in the country. All in all, I find myself harassed more by other hunters/fishermen, than by wardens. Maybe it's just the way I hunt/fish.

As for no coyotes, I don't know where your brother is at, but I hear packs of 'yotes nightly out my back door. I see 'yotes almost every day while turkey hunting in the spring and shot two this year coming into my calls. Last year I shot three while turkey hunting in three different counties. Biggest problem most 'yote hunters have around here is their trespassing. Running dogs on property they do not have permission to hunt. Just too many small parcels of 40 acres or less. A few have ruined the image of coyote hunters and are most likely the ones that feel they are being harassed. While most landowners I know will give permission to hunt coyotes by calling them, most, because of negative experiences in the past with houndsmen, don't allow dogs to run yotes anymore.

MCgunner said:

Well, if it's legit, I AM wondering why he bothered call DNR? Shoot, shovel, shut up.....

Not advocating breaking laws, just that if I had to defend myself in the manor this story spells out, I'd SSS to avoid legal hassles and big time legal fees if I had to defend myself in court.

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Because he shot a protected species on public land and did not find the dead animal. Wisconsin has a history of going the long road to get a conviction of folks that shoot wolves illegally here in Wisconsin. A few years back a young male was found dead from the Suk Cerney Pack in the Necedah Wildlife refuge. The animal was shot on the first day of gun deer season and the DNR offered a $4000 dollar reward for info. I assume if he parked at a parking area, someone else may turn in his truck make/model to the DNR, or just reported seeing him. Better to have a story of being attacked, truthful or not, to explain why you shot a animal without a license and out of season.

That's why I carry a .45 open, and either the other .45 or the .38 CCW while hunting. While wolves aren't common this far south, and it's a bit populated for them, there are bear, puma, and coyotes a plenty, not to mention the two-legged varmints.

Had to chamber a round?

"As for no coyotes, I don't know where your brother is at, but I hear packs of 'yotes nightly out my back door."

He is in Washburn County. They reintroduced wolves in that area quite awhile ago.


"Wisconsin's DNR like any other state's DNR/F&G is often criticized, especially by those that do not follow rules or do not like the current regs."

So, everyone who is critical of the DNR must be a poacher or skirting the law according to your statement. I have found all of the LEOs whom I encountered in Wisconsin to have an accusatory attitude .. much like yours.
Are you a LEO???

I personally don't believe the story. I read of a couple that went hiking in Wyoming and they were trailed by a wolf. The guy was a big man, 230 and over six feet tall. He didn't have a sidearm but picked up a good size branch. Even with that he said if that wolf had decide to attack them for their dog, that in his mind there would have been nothing he could have done. And here this yahoo kicks one in the face, big BS IMO.

Wolves follow our dogs, and dog teams up this way, just "strange Wolves" to them.

Funny thing, my fatherinlaw pointed out that even in old Eskimo storys that run the gammet from slaughtering children and raping women to starvation storys and such, and not one has a story of a Wolf attacking, except rabid.
Now Wolves attacking the dogs, and dog teams were common. The worst was a feral dog or team. They had no fear of people and knew what the camps were.....dogs would eat the kids, attack from several directions, ect...quite a disaster.
'

Im sure with close human contact theres quite adifference, maybe 'humanized' or hybredized....but no longer leery.

Too bad they couldnt actually confirm it was a Wolf.....

Patocazador said:

"As for no coyotes, I don't know where your brother is at, but I hear packs of 'yotes nightly out my back door."

He is in Washburn County. They reintroduced wolves in that area quite awhile ago.

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Wisconsin did no wolf reintroduction in the state. Wolves repopulated themselves here and everywhere else in the state from neighboring Minnesota and the U.P. There were small localized populations in the state 25-30 years ago, long before the Yellowstone and other reintroduction attempts. We have both wolves and coyotes here locally. Those nights that I don't here 'yotes yipping or howlin', I assume one of the two local packs are close. Does your brother run wolves or bobcats with his hounds also?

Patocazador said:

I have found all of the LEOs whom I encountered in Wisconsin to have an accusatory attitude .. much like yours.
Are you a LEO???

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...nope not a LEO, but have many friends that are along with the local retired warden. Pretty fair folks that are good at what they do. How did you have the opportunity to encounter a LEO in Wisconsin?

caribou said:

Funny thing, my fatherinlaw pointed out that even in old Eskimo storys that run the gammet from slaughtering children and raping women to starvation storys and such, and not one has a story of a Wolf attacking, except rabid.

'

Im sure with close human contact theres quite adifference, maybe 'humanized' or hybredized....but no longer leery.

Too bad they couldnt actually confirm it was a Wolf.....

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A few years back we had a problem with Hybrid wolf/dog cross populations here locally. Seemed there was a breeder that did very well in the heyday of demand for wolf Hybrids. Problem was when demand dropped off, he just let the excess "dogs" go when they got to hard to handle or too expensive to feed. Folks didn't want a full grown unmanageable wolf cross, but a cute little puppy. For the longest time, any problem wolf shot around here was tested and in most of the cases, it was those with domestic dog in the DNA that were the cause. Still most folks thought of them as wolves, so all wolves must be a major threat.

And yes, wolves are a major threat to dogs running loose...like 'yotes they are a natural predator in competition for food and females. Easiest way to deal with it is to kill them, and they are good at it. Still, the DNR reimburses folks for dogs taken by wolves, at the tune of about $2400.

Still, the DNR reimburses folks for dogs taken by wolves, at the tune of about $2400.

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What? I'd be staking little lap dogs all over my yard.

jim in Anchorage said:

What? I'd be staking little lap dogs all over my yard.

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Calves average $1000 a piece.

Horses may bring as much as $5000.

Almost no limit to what the DNR will reimburse folks for.

This is why folks in wolf areas tend to report anything that dies to the DNR as a wolf kill. Generally they wait a week or so until the animal is decomposed thinking it will disguise the real reason for death. Few years back a guy reported that a newly born registered colt had been killed by wolves and demanded the $10,000 he said it was worth. Again, it was left out in the field to rot for a while till he called and turned in the claim. DNR had an autopsy performed and it was determined the Colt died of other reasons and had been dragged out into the field from the owners barn. They may pay well, but they make dam sure they are paying legit claims.

The only thing that could have made it a better story was if the kick he made to the wolf was a roundhouse and he was holding a pair of Uzi's .

'merica

I've hunted feral dogs and on one ocassion they got behind me. That got my attention. I usually carried a .30-30 and a 12 ga w/ # 2 or #4 shot. They are real smart and difficult to get into range.