SHERIDAN - Wyoming's Game and Fish Commission approved a final gray wolf management plan Tuesday that includes the controversial dual classification of the wolf as both a predator and a trophy game animal.

The Wyoming Gray Wolf Management Plan will be forwarded to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials for approval as part of the delisting process for the wolf, officials said.

The final plan commits the state to maintaining at least 15 wolf packs statewide, including at least seven packs outside of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway and the National Elk Refuge. Currently, about 23 packs roam Wyoming, including eight packs outside the parks.

The plan also provides provisions for extra protections that will be available to commissioners if the number of packs falls below seven outside the park and below 15 statewide. The expanded classification, if necessary, would be reviewed by the commission every 90 days, the plan says.

In addition to approving the plan, the commission also directed the Game and Fish Department to seek confirmation from the USFWS that the feds will manage for at least eight packs in the parks. That will be a crucial element, commissioners said, for maintaining at least 15 packs in Wyoming.

The commission also wants the agency to prepare to submit a petition to delist the wolf immediately upon the approval of the Montana wolf plan by the USFWS.

And the commission directed the Game and Fish to prepare a budget - for commission review and approval at a later date - regarding the funding that will be needed for the transition of management authority to Wyoming once delisting occurs.

Wyoming, Montana and Idaho must have final, federally approved wolf plans in place before a delisting petition can be submitted. Idaho and Wyoming's plans are complete and Montana released a draft plan for public review earlier this summer.

Game and Fish Department officials said the state's plan is adequate to ensure a viable wolf population in Wyoming after delisting.

Agency officials said the plan should meet federal recovery requirements, should allow for a recovered population and could lead to the speedy removal of the animal's federal protections under the Endangered Species Act.

"It's virtually impossible to come up with a plan to meet all the expectations and desires of all parties … but we believe we have come up with a plan that will meet the important tests associated with wolf recovery," Game and Fish Assistant Wildlife Division Chief John Emmerich told commissioners.

"We feel the plan … provides flexibility for the (Game and Fish) department to adequately address conflicts with livestock and allows us to maintain a reasonable population of wolves in northwest Wyoming," he said. "We have to take this first step … if we (want to) return management to Wyoming."

State lawmakers and representatives of Gov. Dave Freudenthal both said they believe the wolf plan meets the legislative requirements of House Bill 229 that was passed last past session. The bill put into law the dual classification and population objectives of the plan.

Rep. Mike Baker, R-Thermopolis, who drafted and sponsored the bill, said he thinks the plan is in "compliance" with the new legislation.

"I generally believe the plan does coincide with the legislation … it's workable, it provides the regulatory mechanism the commission needs … to control wolf populations," Baker said. "And the USFWS has said this is workable."

Freudenthal spokesman Mike O'Donnell told commissioners the governor thinks it's "critical" for wolf delisting to move forward because wolf populations are growing annually. The more wolves in the state, the harder - and more expensive - it will be to manage the animal, he said.

"Idaho had 22 packs of wolves at this time last year … now they have 41 packs," he said. "If the commission does not act now to begin this delisting process, we'll be standing here next summer with over 40 packs in Wyoming with a far greater range than they have now."

Many of the 60 or so people attending the meeting spoke against the wolf plan during public comments both before and during commission discussions.

Some speakers pushed for a statewide trophy game designation for the wolf. Others suggested the plan was not based on "sound science," that it does not provide enough protections for the animal, and that it will lead to the relisting of the wolf once Wyoming takes over management.

The commission rejected suggestions that the seven-member board delay adoption of the plan until September in order to hold a working session to review the numerous public comments submitted orally and in writing to the agency.

"I see us very quickly going into a partisan, political session" with further review of the public comments by the commission, Game and Fish Director Brent Manning told the board. "We have a short window of opportunity to initiate delisting efforts. We've had a lot of public comment up to this point in time."

Emmerich said the plan will require "intensive monitoring" by the agency, particularly in regard to wolf kills in areas of the state where the animal is classified as a predator.

The plan calls for all pelts and skulls of wolves that are taken by the public - regardless of their classification - be presented to a Game and Fish employee within 10 days so the agency can determine the age, sex and other kill information.

The commission also rejected a motion by Commissioner Doyle Dorner not to spend any more state money on wolf management until delisting occurs.

Emmerich said the department will require some funding for the training and preparation by agency employees prior to the state assuming management duties. "If we wait for delisting to occur to do that, we won't be prepared to take over management," he said.

O'Donnell agreed. "The motion to not spend money until delisting has tremendous appeal," he said. "But if the department is not in a position to hit the ground running when delisting occurs … the (USFWS) may not sign off on the plan."