Do wolves ever hunt for sport or fun in certain situations? Wolf Preservation wants to hear your opinion on this controversial issue so please PROVIDE FEEDBACK and thank you!
Below are some comments from different sides of the issue:
“Wolves traditionally hunt for “SPORT”, often times attacking an animal or group of animals and then walk off and leave most of the meat. The wolf “hunt for sport” pattern has reduced the overall population of elk and deer in Idaho.”(Idaho Deadwood Outfitters)
“I have seen wolves playing with an animal by biting it enough to wound and slow it down, then chase it, knock it down, let it up and repeat over and over. But, most of the time they are hunting for food.”(Randy, retired Police Officer and avid hunter)
“Wolves, like all wild carnivores, do not kill for sport. They kill to sustain themselves. Though it is uncommon, “surplus killing” (killing more prey animals than can be immediately consumed) has been observed in many predator species. If given the opportunity to secure future meals, many animals will sometimes do so. It is a survival mechanism. It is this survival tactic that has led to the misplaced notion of “sport killing” arises. It has nothing to do with sport. Only people kill for sport.” (Living With Wolves, Not for profit corporation)
“Unlike humans, wolves do not kill for sport from a safe distance. However, like humans, wolves do often harvest more food than they can eat in one sitting.”(Oregon Wild)
“They have never seen the trail of death a pack of wolves leaves behind as it kills to teach its pups how to hunt, or just for fun, eating little of the animals whose lives they have just ended.”(Peterson’s Hunting)
The Wolf Preservation Blog 
Wolves hunt for food. Humans hunt for sport. Humans are the worst predators in the world.
Animals hunt for food. Only humans hang antlers and heads of dead animals over the fireplace.
All parts of animal’s kill are used. Birds, rodents and other creatures feed on the kill. Predators don’t wast food. Humans do..humans kill for skin, antlers and many times discard the meat.
Wolves kill to provide food for themselves, their families and their packs. The remains feed many other animals in the food chain, and this is evidenced by the large land expanses over which they are found. One need only look at the species to ascertain that this animal works hard for the food it claims. I have not many seen pictures of obese wolves nor watched a video of such a wolf toying with prey. That is not to say that it never happens. It is man who kills for fun and celebrates his brutal victory by fire power. I believe the souls and spirits of wolves are far more pure and dear than those of any hunter or trapper on Earth.
A wolf takes just what it needs. If it killed for pleasure the food source would dwindle and where would that leave them. To teach the young, they learn from watching the pack hunt, thus leaving food for next time. humans kill for sport, then leave what they don;t want to waste, this is sad and sick. So those of you who blame the wolf should look to those who poach animals for sport and take only the prime parts they want. To many times I have seen piles of elk or deer (up to 5) and only the tender meat is taken. Shameful waste!
…. The amount of ignorance/hate/intolerance/stupidy expressed by “sick/insane/mediocre/cruel/indulgent/grotesque/murder & very very destructive society which we have an obligation to share this Planet towards our Wolves and all creatures on Earth is indeed UNBELIEVABLE !!! … Wolves hunt for FOOD , ONLY … However , we still have here hunters a “sub-product of human specie or an hominid with inferior or no brain who belongs their murder creator , vulgarly named of god” …. Ashamed to be a “human” this lifetime …..
I am not an expert on wolves but learn from what I read and see and as far as I know, wolves do not kill for sport. It’s funny how ignorant people who are against wolves will say that they do kill for sport, just so they can justify killing wolves themselves. It’s utterly, utterly sad that those people will say anything to justify their actions while conservationists and other scientific reports are quite clear on the matter: wolves kill for food and not because they want to ‘play’…
Please people, base your wild west ideas on science instead of killing for ‘sport’ yourselves. Killing for sport is just as bad as killing a human just because you felt like it. Get a grip on reality, sit down and read scientific reports before you take your guns, traps, poisons and whatnot.
And just an afterthought… if you dislike wolves so much, just shoot your dogs also. After all, wolves are the forefathers of our beloved dogs. Not so much fun anymore now eh?
I agree ! Well said.
To suggest that wolves hunt for sport is ludicrous. It is a validation of the ignorance some people have about this species. How can a so-called intelligent human being harbor so much hate for another living thing? It is common for animals to kill more than they can eat. It is a survival mechanism period. I’ve seen lions, do it, I’ve seen leopards do it and humans do it all the time. And as others have pointed out, the meat never goes to waste. There are many other smaller animals that benefit from the wolves’ kill. This is nature’s way of providing for everyone. These people need to grow up and stop blaming wolves for everything. Humans are the ONLY sport killers. If a hunter is too lazy to walk more than ten feet to shoot an elk then they should find a new “sport.” Maybe a sedentary hobby such as knitting might be more suitable to their energy levels.
humankind will face “tons of sufferings ahead for each Animal killed” … I’ll be a happy citizen/individual if all the Animals on Earth decided to save/protect Their offsprings …. Oh , Yes , i’ll be waiting patiently for this great moment in my life as a member from a sub-specie/race called homo sapiens … Animals comes first/second/third/fourth/fiffth/always & forever…. Again , ASHAMED to born like a “human” this existence …..
Please watch your language. No reason for foul language.
Thank you Jane! No doubt we all have intense feelings/emotions about the way wolves are treated and frustrated by many wolf hater comments but we shouldn’t stoop to their level. I accept all viewpoints, as long as threats and foul language are left out.
Hi Renato Wolf,
I agree with your frustrations, tremendous support and passion for wolves but please refrain from the foul language. Otherwise, we are no better than many wolf extremists. I have edited most of your last post but feel free to re-post. Thanks for your cooperation!
I don’t believe that wolves hunt for the fun of it. They hunt to survive. They are opportunists that may take advantage of prey that presents itself. They hunt to eat.
Wolves don’t hunt for sport, they provide food for their whole pack. Screw who ever came up with this LIE. I Don’t care who you are, YOUR a Coward jus like everyone who hunts for sport!!!!
Hi, I posted a comment in response to this article yesterday. Why was it not posted? There was nothing inappropriate in my comment and certainly nothing as vulgar as the above post by Renato Wolf.
Hi Donna,
sorry about that! I screen many comments and didn’t get a chance the other day to approve your post. Speaking of your previous post, I couldn’t agree more. The animal usually never goes to waste, as coyotes, ravens, bears, and eagles benefit.
Thanks Michael! I thought my comment was declined for some reason and couldn’t figure out why! By the way, I completely understand Renato’s frustration. I am not a violent person but some of the photos I’ve seen of dead wolves displayed like some sick ritual make me angry enough to want to take justice into my own hands. But I know that would not help the wolves and have learned from many of my fellow wolf advocates that when you provoke the hunters they take it out on the wolves and torture them in your name. It’s sickening.