Idaho's first wolf hunting season comes to a close

Idaho's first wolf hunting season came to a close on Wednesday, with state Fish and Game officials calling it a success.

"The season has succeeded in halting the growth of Idaho's wolf population," said Idaho Fish and Game Director Cal Groen. "It showed that Fish and Game is capable of monitoring and managing a well-regulated wolf hunt."

Fish and Game reported that at the end of 2009, the wolf population in the state was 843 animals -- about the same as at the beginning of 2008.

During the seven-month season, 188 of the statewide quota of 220 animals were reported to department regional offices or conservation officers, with seven of the 12 zones reaching their quota and closing prior to the March 31 season-end date.

Officials are already looking at changes for the 2010-11 wolf hunting season, including expanding quotas, changing zone boundaries and allowing hunters to use electronic predator calls.

However, it remains to be seen if there will be another season this year. Environmental groups have cases pending in court, likely to be ruled on this spring, attempting to return wolves to the endangered species list and stop legal hunting of the animals.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo credit: National Parks Conservation Assn.

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Comments

[Sakshi]

I curse all those who hunt endangered wildlife with eternal unhapiness and hope all of you are born as wolves who are hunted... believe me this will be true ... there is no reason to drive any creation to entinction for some personal pleasure.... if the game populations are low it is due to humans and no one else.....

[T.Midgley]

Odd, I shoot wolves in Idaho and Montana at every opportunity... I never thought there was a "season" on them but then again I shoot mountain lions in California; it is called (SSS) and they are supposed to be illegal. (Four so far this year) I do this because the lions have killed off the deer herds and the enviro's are whacko's without a clue what they are doing. Hell, I just love shooting wolves year round and I will continue to do so as long as they don't have a F&G officer standing next to them.
Oh, I am NOT alone in my hunting habits...lots of us just exchange pictures of our kills and hunting techniques. We will keep doing it as long as it is illegal or until we can hunt liberals legally... in place of the wolf.

[Square Grouper]

Justice, eh? Surely.

I will not deny that reintroduction of wolves has had some positive benefits. Yes, nature needs top predators to keep balance. That doesn't mean that we should all stand there and watch while that predator decimates game species. You may not like it, but a large part of the human population likes elk, moose, deer, etc. and doesn't want wolves eliminating them. Unfortunately, it appears that is exactly what has happened, at least w/the moose. So before you go off and spout your extremist views, remember you share this planet w/many others and your viewpoint might not be shared by the vast majority of people.

[Justice]

Travis,

You are absolutely right, your Moose population was decimated by an unmanaged predator. Unfortunately for your ego, that predator was man.

Wolves and wildlife have lived in harmony and balance for thousands upon thousands of years. The lack of balance is man. This is an undeniable scientific fact, but I'm sure you will try.

[Travis Bullock]

I am an outfitter and I live in rural Idaho. Since the wolf reintroduction, the wolves have become more aggressive. Two weeks ago, one of my guides was walking with my dog about a mile off the highway between Challis and Stanley and a wolf came after him and/or the dog. Fortunatelly, he had a handgun with him and he scared the wolf away. Many pro wolf organizations talk about how the wolves prey on the weak and the old but they prey heavily on the elk calves. We have watched as our elk herds have dwindled and our fish and game is cutting seasons and tags to compensate for the reduced number of elk. Our moose population in Central Idaho is all but extinct. Until the wolf reintroduction in 1995, the Shiras moose population was growing at a slow but steady rate. My fear is that unless this wolf population is brought down to a manageable level ( 200 or 300), our elk in the Central Idaho Wilderness areas will be decimated. I do not believe we will ever have a moose population again in Central Idaho. It is very frustrating to grow up here in our beautiful state and see flourishing wildlife populations only to watch them go away because of an unmanaged predator.

[Frank]

Diane seems a little extreme. Not sure how a regulated hunt equates to extermination practices of old. Congratulations to IDFG for a well managed hunt and exceptional performance relative to management objectives. Those pelts will make some beautiful parka ruffs.

[Diane]

Idaho's state wolf management plan lacks sufficient conservation objectives and management strategies. Unfortunately, state wolf managers are being guided by politics not science. In Idaho and Wyoming, that means a large-scale killing of wolves upon delisting, instead of meaningful conservation measures. Idaho is turning back the clocks to a time of reckless and irresponsible wolf control practices. Shame on the citizens of Idaho for allowing this to happen!

[Miguel de los Lobos]

IDFG ran a well-documented, sensible season. Why do I think no one will thank them for that?

One hopes that at least Wyoming F&G learned a lesson - that management requires more than a "shoot-em-all" mentality. A little science and PR is nice.