SUSAN GALLAGHER Associated Press writer | Posted: Friday, June 13, 2008 12:00 am
HELENA, Mont. - Montana's proposed wolf hunt would allow sportsmen a total of 75 animals this fall, under a quota state wildlife commissioners endorsed Thursday.
The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission plans a final decision on the quota in August, after a series of public hearings. The general wolf season would run from Oct. 26 to Nov. 30, with hunting in four backcountry districts beginning Sept. 15.
The planning follows the federal government's recent removal of Northern Rockies gray wolves from protection under the Endangered Species Act, action that is being challenged in federal court. Wolf hunting also is proposed in Idaho and Wyoming.
In Wyoming, game managers are looking at a hunting quota of 25 wolves this fall inside the state's "trophy game" zone for wolves in the northwest corner of the state. Outside that zone, wolves can be shot on sight by anyone at any time.
Montana officials acknowledged opponents of the wolves' change in status may succeed in court, but said preparing for a hunt makes sense nonetheless.
"At any time there's any injunction, we will abide by it," said Carolyn Sime, wolf coordinator for Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Montana's estimated wolf population at the end of 2007 was at least 422 animals, with 39 breeding pairs.
Opponents of a hunt said the Montana population is too sensitive to lose animals to sport.
"There are just not enough wolves in Montana to justify a hunt at this point," said Anne Carlson of Defenders of Wildlife in Bozeman.
State wildlife officials want to maintain at least 15 breeding pairs, five more than specified in a federal plan, and said the hunting quota of 75 is compatible with that goal.
"All of our information indicates that barring some major catastrophic thing, we're not going to see a decline in wolves but actually an increase," said Ken McDonald, wildlife administrator for Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
"I think we're in absolutely zero danger of going below the 15 breeding pairs with this quota," McDonald said.
Officials said plans for the hunt take into account potential mortality from other causes, such as disease or the shooting of wolves that prey on livestock.
A federal project reintroduced wolves to the Northern Rockies in 1995. The population in the three-state region has grown to more than 1,500 animals.