Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife writes “An ODFW intern encountered a wolf while out in the woods monitoring wolf activity. She breaks down wolf behavior and what to do if you encounter a wolf while hunting or recreating in the woods.
In the unlikely event that you encounter a wolf, here is what to do:
– Make sure the wolf knows you are there.
– Shout or speak loudly so the wolf hears you.
– If seated, stand up and wave arms so the wolf sees you.
Wolves tend to avoid humans when they are alone or in a pack. Once a wolf sees, hears or smells you, it will most likely leave the area quickly.
If the wolf (or some other predator) still approaches or acts aggressively:
– Do not run, stay calm and keep facing the wolf.
– Pick up small children without bending down, put dogs on a leash, and leave the area.
– Shout, make noise, make yourself look larger, and throw any available objects.
– In the unlikely event that you are attacked by a wolf, fight back.
– Use bear spray or mace, it is very effective at discouraging any large predator.
Wolves generally avoid human interactions, unless they have become too accustomed to people. This can happen when people feed wolves or wolves are getting consistent food from campgrounds or dumps.”
Ron S
A few years ago I had a pack move in on me at dusk in some thick small pines as they heard my shot that dropped a small buck on the last day of gun deer season.
I was just about to field dress it after finding the deer and propping it upside down on a gentle slope when the sounds of the oncoming pack drew close. I didn’t even have my knife out yet when the woods erupted to one side of me with many footsteps running and pacing in the dead leaves and scattered clumps of hard snow in those trees.
It was kind of a standoff and I knew it was likely the same pack that killed a bird hunters dog the year prior. Maybe I acted a little dumb but I wasn’t about to abandon that buck let them destroy my venison if I could help it.
Now the next part may seem kinda gross to people that don’t know about hunting but you’ll have to note I had a bottle of my own pee from relieving myself while sitting in the stand all day so I didn’t contaminate the area around my stand with anything human.
The pack was within just a few yards of me and their dinner and my heart was beating loudly in my ears and nearly out of my chest, so I opened the top of the pee jug and just started flinging urine all around me while yelling “GET OUTTA HERE!”😆. I could then hear them move off slowly shortly thereafter. I felt good it didn’t come to me having to lunge for my rifle 10 feet away shoot at them but I was fully prepared to if needed.
I chose not to dress the deer there and it had just started to get dark, so threw a rope on my prize and around my waist and drug it out whole while constantly looking back. I’ve never drug a deer out so fast in my life but I guess I was probably still surging with adrenaline, and the ability to continuously see less in the encroaching darkness prodded me on as well.
So there’s a tip for you against hungry wolves. Be your biggest, baddest and loudest self, find or have something to fight back with and don’t be afraid to sling some wiz or mark your territory when applicable… Sometimes pee really doesn’t even bother the deer anyway (it’s the body odor they are more weary of).
Peace everyone!🌞