From The New West Blog
Montana Wolf Hunt: Quota of 75 Proposed
By Matthew Frank, 6-13-08
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| Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | |
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Hunters in Montana could kill up to 75 wolves this fall under a tentative quota unanimously approved Thursday by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission, the Helena IR reports.
The public has until July 18 to comment on the quota, as well as the commission’s decision to reclassify wolves as a species in need of management, instead of an endangered species. A final quota adoption is set for August 5.
But, 11 environmental groups are seeking an injunction to halt the wolf delisting—and thus the hunt—in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, and U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy is expected to rule on the lawsuit within the next week or so. As Fish, Wildlife and Parks wolf coordinator Carolyn Sime told the AP, “At any time there’s any injunction, we will abide by it.”
More details from the IR:
Ken McDonald, FWP wildlife administrator, said the 75 wolves under the tentative quota that could be shot represent 18 percent of Montana’s 422 wolves. He said models show that without the hunt, wolf numbers would grow to 497 by the end of 2008, including 52 breeding pairs in 98 packs. Currently, Montana has 39 breeding pairs in eight packs. The minimum population for Montana to retain management of wolves and keep them off of the list of endangered species is 100 wolves with 15 breeding pairs.
Wolf advocates are wary, but could hunting actually help protect the contentious canine?
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Comments
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Wolves kill sheep near Dillon
Posted: June 12, 2008 07:08 PM PDT
State wildlife officials report wolves killed 12 domestic sheep on private land south of Dillon.
The attacks took place on the same property in the East Fork of the Blacktail where wolves killed at least 21 sheep, and injured more than a dozen, in two attacks in May.
State game wardens believe the Freezeout Pack was involved in all the attacks, and authorized killing remaining pack members.
Wolves came off the federal Endangered Species list in late March.
The state wildlife agency says wolves also killed a guard dog on private land north of Helena.
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Given the order to exterminate, eating sheep will leave a b-a-a-a-a-a-a taste in their mouths.
No sense wasting time with hunting seasons.
We need to make Montana safe for sheep again...
Horst: I encourage you to keep typing. You make your "side" look ridiculous. You are simply validating the sad truth that many (though fortunately not all) in the livestock industry would just as soon kill everything with pointy teeth.
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...Jim Anderson of Deer Lodge argued that a compromise was reached with ranchers, who didn’t want any wolves here, when the animals were reintroduced to the Rocky Mountains back in the mid 1990s, and that included the ability to manage their numbers. He called Thursday a “day of celebration” for the recovery of wolves in Montana.
“We owe it to the ranchers of Montana to make sure to honor that contract and agreement they came to at that time, and I’m wondering if we’re doing that today,” Anderson said. “Wolves are at the point where we’re near the capacity of wolves with the range in Montana, and we need to begin to manage wolves.”
Public hunting of wolves has been long been a part of Montana’s wolf conservation and management plan; the state took over management of the wolves from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service after the animals’ delisting in February.
Earlier this year, the FWP Commission set the hunting season to run from Oct. 26 to Dec. 31, in three hunting management units. The season will be similar to that of mountain lions, in which the season ends when the quota is reached in each management unit.
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Eradication is just a question of time unless the feds become interested again sooner rather than later.
I have often expressed an opinion that a measure-off might be less costly than hunting seasons.
You fellers can explain what a measure-off is to those members of the fairer sex among us who have never attended to the braggadocio so common in beerhalls around the planet.
Every one of them which stops breathing as a result of your manly efforts lengthens your member--at least according to the culture of machismo...
Keep on blazing away if it makes you feel more adequate...
Wolf reintroduction was forced on rural populations by people who had no real stake in it...beyond the crap I read here. What is done is done. It is time to find the balance we can live with. I only wish the fools that are fighting this in federal court could lose the maximum amount of money and still lose. Unfortunately it appears they will lose sooner than later.
I will put in for a tag...not that I really care to shoot a wolf, but I do support the North American Model and ya, having trapped for a living in the past, I do see the value in the hide. Those who don't agree with me are free to do so...and kiss my ass.
There should be something similar to the registration required for sex-crimes for such folks.
I'd like to see something like that for people who enjoy horse racing, rodeos, bullfights, dogfights, cockfights--or any other sport which by tormenting, or otherwise mistreating or killing sentient creatures, provide entertainment for people who lack the self-esteem they must then gain by participating in such pastimes...
If you think these comments are crap then stop blogging. The world would be a better place if your worthless propaganda wasn't being spewed all over the place. I am here to debate, but while we are on the topic of crud and "crap" comments please don't exclude me "Twister". Twister huh that reminds me of a tornado. You know whats so great about tornadoes is that when they hit you, it saves people time and money on a funeral for your worthless ass; and because I'm allergic to diseased pieces of shit such as yourself please have someone else kiss your ass.
I love wolf groupies...so easy to bait.
Exactly what propaganda did I spew? Honey.
....Those who don't agree with me are free to do so...and kiss my ass."
At least there is a zero chance of missing the target.
I'm defending whats right so sorry if you think thats "bad". What "groupie" I'm I part of exactly. Oh and here is your propaganda "Wolf reintroduction was forced on rural populations" and "I will put in for a tag...not that I really care to shoot a wolf, but I do support the North American Model and ya, having trapped for a living in the past, I do see the value in the hide". With your first ignorant comment A study was done right after reintroduction and in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming the pro-wolf side out-numbered the anti-wolf "forced on us poor rural folk". As to your second comment so if it benefits you then its all right. You are such a redneck with no regard for morales or whats right. By the way I'm not gay so don't call me honey.