Wolf (Canis lupus)

Wolves have lived on Estonian lands for at least 10,000 years. A wolf is quite similar to a big wolfhound. There are no specific characteristics distinguishing a wolf from a dog, but there are certain differences in the way the head and the tail are held. A wolf’s footprint is more elongated than a dog’s; a wolf’s track is also straight. Lately, the numbers of wolves have been estimated based on litters. On average, in Estonia, wolves have 20 to 30 litters of cubs.

An average wolf weighs 35 to 45 kg, but there are also significantly heavier individuals. The rut for wolves begins in January / February. Cubs are mostly born in April. Sexual maturity arrives at the age of 2 to 3 years. In a pack, only the so-called alpha couple has cubs. A wolf pack is capable of killing any mammal living in Estonia.

A calling hunt, hunting from hides, a stalking hunt, a driven hunt, and hunting with a bounding flag line and a hunting dog are allowed for wolves from 1 November until the end of the hunting year, except in Hiiu and Saare Counties, where a calling hunt, hunting from hides, a stalking hunt, a driven hunt, and hunting with a bounding flag line and a hunting dog are allowed from 1 October until the end of the hunting year, and hunting from hides and a stalking hunt from 1 March until 31 March.

The hunting quota for wolves is allocated based on management areas. Mostly, hunting is directed to cultural landscapes where wolves kill livestock, primarily sheep. Mainly, they are chased following their tracks, using a bounding flag line, but hunting for wolves as side prey while hunting for other animals is frequent, too. The hunting quota fluctuates significantly from year to year, depending primarily on the allocated hunting quota. The skins and skulls of hunted adult wolves are mostly medal-worthy.