The big moon has really lit up the evening sky this week. It is so still that I would imagine a lot of the forest creatures are on the move at night hoping to outwit the hungry wolves. Last night Rachelle and I stood in the doorway listening to a pack of wolves howling. It was not their typical drawn-out moon cry we are used to hearing, but more of a summons that was being answered in the distance.
Wolves have a unique ability to sound like they are far away, even when they are not. At first we could make out two or three individual wolves who were calling out to the pack. Their disorderly cries began to harmonize while the pack gathered.
A few minutes later, the wolves became louder and more aggressive which I could only assume meant the rest of the pack arrived at the kill sight and were competing for dominance. The bickering continued for a moment then—silence! The hairs on the back of my neck stood tall as Rachelle and I listened from our porch motionless. I came from a family of seven children, and the only time it was quiet was when there was food on the table.
We have not been seeing wolves frequent our property as much as they have in the past. It was so common a few years back that even our fearless wiener dog no longer cared that they were loitering in the driveway. This is a dog that still attacks the UPS driver despite seeing him weekly. Maybe she just misses Bill and his treats.
Firearms season for deer and wolf opens this weekend in Minnesota and there has been plenty of target practice up here. People are staking their claims with erected tree stands and sighting in their guns to prepare for this weekend’s kickoff.
I heard on the radio this morning that efforts to cancel this season’s wolf hunt in Minnesota was overturned and subsequently 600 wolf tags sold in less than five minutes. People obviously want to hunt wolves. To be honest with you, I don’t know where I stand on this matter. I think wolves are amazing creatures, yet I also believe that we have too many on the Trail.
If it can be regulated, just like other game that is harvested in Minnesota, then I do not see the problem. Cory Christianson has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail since 2000. If you have any fishing or wildlife reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@hotmail.com or call 218-388-0315. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
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