Quarry Wolf hunting

1 quarry

1.1 pelts
1.2 ritual , traditional medicine
1.3 meat

quarry

gray wolf skins @ bergen fishmarket, norway

the grey wolf (canis lupus) largest member of canidae. though once abundant on of north america , eurasia, grey wolf inhabits small portion of former range because of widespread destruction of habitat; in regions endangered or threatened. considered whole, however, grey wolf regarded of least concern extinction according international union conservation of nature , natural resources. wolf weight , size can vary worldwide, tending increase proportionally latitude predicted bergmann s rule. wolves hunted in heavy brush , considered challenging hunt, because of elusive nature , sharp senses. grey wolves notoriously shy , difficult kill, having been stated hard stalk cougars, , being far more problematic dispatch poison, traps or hounds. however, wolves not defend cougars or bears. wolves evade capture long periods of time , display great cunning. 1 specimen nicknamed 3 toes of harding county in south dakota eluded pursuers 13 years before being caught. wolf nicknamed rags digger near meeker, colorado deliberately ruin trap lines digging traps without tripping them. in sport hunting, wolves taken in late autumn , winter, when pelts of highest quality , because heavy snow makes easier wolves tracked. adult wolves fast overtaken wolfhounds, not conditioned horses, in thick snow. shot wolf must approached caution, wolves play possum. accounts how wolves react being trapped or cornered vary. john james audubon wrote young wolves typically show little resistance being caught, whereas older, more experienced wolves fight savagely.

pelts

parchment oppian of apamea illustrating wolf being skinned



wolf pelt geographical variations- mackenzie valley wolf, yukon wolf, yugoslavian wolf , european wolf

wolves commonly hunted fur. color of wolf s fur can vary, pure white of largest, alaskan wolves, through range of reddish brown. so-called grey wolves can include pure black pups in litter, although grey common color. wolves have 2 kinds of hairs; outer coat of long, stiff hairs called guard hairs , undercoat of soft fur grows thick in winter , helps insulate bodies cold; fur has advantage of not freezing. 5 inch (127 mm) long guard hairs shed in spring , summer waterproof, keeping wolf s underfur dry , warm. fur of undercoat may 2 , half inches thick , keep wolf warm in temperatures reaching 40 degrees below zero. wolves in warm climates have shorter guard hairs , less dense underfur. in areas of medieval europe, pelts considered practicality of wolves. pelts made cloaks or mittens, though not without hesitation, because of wolf s strong odor. wolf pelts important many native american tribes , considered powerful medicine. sacred articles wrapped in wolf skin , tribes wove wolf , american bison hair in small blankets. native american hunters used wolf pelts disguises allow them stalk close bison herds. bison accustomed having wolves walk among them , did not fear wolves unless vulnerable because of disease, injury, or if guarding young. wolf pelts valuable clothing, objects trade , ruffs or coats. used in ritual dances , worn shamans, or medicine men. tundra-dwelling wolves valued, pelages more luxuriant of forest dwelling wolves, selling twice much. females typically have smoother coats males. ethiopian wolves not exploited fur, though there occasion in wollo in wolf skins used saddle pads. in russia, between years 1600–1725, wolves not actively sought out fur, not considered major commodity, though taken when opportunity presented itself. in former soviet union, between 1976 , 1988, 30,000 wolf pelts produced annually. recent statistics cites indicate 6,000-7,000 wolf skins internationally traded each year, canada, former soviet union, mongolia , china being largest exporters, , united states , great britain being largest importers. today, wolf pelts still valued parka trim, fur coats , rugs. production of wolf pelts still important source of income arctic communities in alaska , canada.

while not in same class high grade furbearers beaver, otter or mink, gray wolf s fur nonetheless thick , durable, , used scarfs , trimmings of women s garments, though used jackets, short capes, coats, mukluks , rugs. aside bodily protection , adornment, gray wolf pelts have been used camouflage in hunting , warfare, insignia among western native americans , form of currency. quality of wolf peltries rests on density , strength of fur fibre, keeps fur upright , gives pelt appealing bushy aspect. these characteristics found in northern wolf populations, gradually lessen further south in warmer climates. north american wolf pelts among valuable, silkier , fluffier eurasian peltries. in medieval europe, pelts considered practical aspect of wolves, though seldom used, because of skin s foul odour. in scandinavian folklore, wolf-skin girdles assisted in transforming wearers werewolves, while several native american tribes used wolf pelts medicinal purposes. plains indians wore wolf pelts disguises close american bison when hunting. pawnee wore wolf skins capes when exploring enemy territories. united states army used wolf skin parkas during later stages of world war ii , korean war protect faces of soldiers frostbite. in soviet union, 30,000 wolf pelts produced annually between 1976 , 1988. statistics cites indicate 6,000–7,000 wolf skins internationally traded each year, canada, former soviet union, mongolia , china being largest exporters, , united states , great britain being largest importers. overall, harvesting of wolves fur has little impact on population, northern varieties (whose numbers stable) of commercial value. wolf trapping fur remains lucrative source of income many native americans.

ritual , traditional medicine

in ancient greece , ancient rome, wolf flesh main ingredient in unguents used ward off evil. when applied in form of powder, wolf unguent used cure epilepsy, plague , gout. powdered wolf bones used cure chest , pains, broken bones , strained tendons. wolf teeth, particularly canines, perforated , used talismans against evil spirits. practice thought fall paleolithic, shown prehistoric grave sites showing numerous wolf tooth charms. continues in areas of rural france, thought wearing wolf tooth offers protection wolf attacks. tongue, when cooked flour , honey, traditionally used remedy epilepsy , guarantee of luck. eyes of wolf traditionally thought give courage children , render user partially invisible. liver particularly prized medicinal , ritualistic purposes. when cooked or desiccated powder , mixed ingredients (flour, wine, water, blood, urine etc.), wolf liver said cure epilepsy, edema, tachycardia, syphilis, gangrene, vertigo, migraines, verucas , dysentery. wolf penis supposedly cured impotence. wolf blood used gout, period pains , deafness. paws , fat of wolf used ward off evil, or facilitate transformation of werewolf. wolf dung used against colics. milk of she-wolf made drinker invulnerable, while eating heart of wolf gave consumer courage in battle. wolf s tail, while used warding off evil, used love charm. head of wolf, if hung outside house, deter wolves, robbers , evil spirits. when reduced powder, wolf s head used against toothache , joint pains. in cultures of native american tribes, wolf body parts considered important additions rituals. pawnee warriors, known wolf people, dressed in wolf skin cloaks when scouting or hunting. nez perce warriors wore wolf teeth pushed through septums of noses. cheyenne medicine men wrapped wolf fur on sacred arrows used motion prey traps. arikara men wove wolf fur bison fur in order make small sacred blankets. nuxálk mothers painted wolf gall bladders on young male children s backs, grow perform religious ceremonies without making mistakes hunters. hidatsan women experiencing difficult births call upon familial power of wolves rubbing wolf-skin caps on bellies. in mongolian folk medicine, eating intestines of wolf said alleviate chronic indigestion, while sprinkling food powdered wolf rectum said cure haemorroids. there not many traditional uses ethiopian wolves, though livers may used medicinal reasons in northern ethiopia.

meat

it rare wolves hunted food, though historically, people have resorted consuming wolf flesh in times of scarcity, or medicinal reasons.

most native american tribes, naskapis, viewed wolf flesh edible inadequate nutrition, not herbivore , did not possess same healing qualities thought distinct in plant eaters. mountain people of japan once ate wolf meat in order boost courage, though commented meat tough. mountain dwelling wolves known yomainu considered poisonous. derboun of arabian mountains , southern syria small black wolf apparently considered arabs more closely related dogs, freely ate flesh other game, unlike regular wolves had unpleasant odour. during european colonization of western america, wolf meat considered not eatable , though fair game hungry man. however, martin schmitt argued references consumption of wolf meat @ time may have been on coyotes. during vilhjalmur stefansson s arctic expedition in 1913, george h. wilkins sampled cooked wolf meat , commented fine eating , noted resemblance chicken. according maneka gandhi, wolf meat major source of trichinellosis. wolf meat considered haram under islamic dietary laws (sahih muslim, no: 1934)

in 1868 issue of sant paul s magazine, anthony trollope gave account on palatability of wolf flesh, , how used subject of practical jokes among french hunters.

flesh of wolf may taken rankest carrion in creation, not excepting of common vulture , turkey-buzzard. yet in reality less fact imagination. m. charles gauthey, well-known sportsman in cote-d or, relates landlord of country inn, himself sportsman, , wishing play brethren confraternal trick—or called in french, leur jouer un tour de chasseur, —had piece of wolf s flesh cut small square morsels, , stewed veal , mutton cut pieces of different shape. landlord helped ragout himself, , being careful serve each guest 1 of square morsels, enabled inform them after dinner had been eating wolf. 2 of guests thereupon seized horror, , 1 such degree compelled retire table precipitation. others took joke in part, , 1 , declared had detected nothing in dish excite suspicion in least degree.

wolf meat eaten several times during vilhjalmur stefansson s 1913 arctic expedition, particularly during summer, when wolves fat. natives in transbaikalia reportedly ate wolf meat when other food plentiful. consumption of wolf flesh , organs plays important role in asian folk medicine: in mongolia, eating meat , lungs of wolf said alleviate colds, , sprinkling food powdered wolf rectum said cure haemorroids. japanese mountain people ate wolf meat give them courage. accounts on how wolf meat tastes vary greatly, descriptions ranging tough , gristly , distasteful , smelly , [resembling] chicken , , superior lean venison .