Wolf hunts in Wyoming could begin by fall 2012, under a proposed Game and Fish management plan.

If so, resident wolf tags will be about $15, said G&F Cody area trophy game supervisor Mark Bruscino.

There would be designated hunt areas - each with a mortality quota - as has long been the case with black bear and mountain lions, Bruscino said.

"The mortality quota system is a proven method for managing large carnivores," he said.

Bruscino was the main speaker before an audience of about 50 people Aug. 25, at a public meeting in Cody regarding the proposed wolf management plan.

The next step will be a public comment period, lasting until Sept. 9.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission will meet to discuss, finalize and vote on the plan Sept. 14.

After that, it will be up for federal review, and nation-wide comment period.

If all goes smoothly, wolves could be delisted in Wyoming by Oct. 1, 2012, Bruscino said.

If that happens, it will be the culmination of efforts to delist wolves that have been going on since 2002.

That's the year the population in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho reached the "biological goals" of the wolf reintroduction program, Bruscino said.

Since then, there have been a couple of false starts, and even some brief wolf hunting seasons, but wolf delisting was held up by litigation in all three states.

Through a federal budget rider, delisting went through earlier this year in Montana and Idaho. It's expected to stick; hunting seasons in both those states begin soon.

In Wyoming, a dual classification for wolves had hobbled negotiations between state and federal officials.

In most of the greater Yellowstone area, wolves would be classified as a trophy game species. In that region, hunting would be limited by seasons, hunt areas, licences and the mortality quota.

In the rest of the state, wolves would be classified as a predatory species, meaning they could be killed at any time, with no bag limit, seasons or other restrictions.

Wyoming claims that's reasonable; the rest of the state isn't suitable habitat for wolves anyway.

Bruscino reiterated that point during his remarks. Outside the proposed trophy game zone, the prey base is too small, and the potential for conflict with humans is too high, he said.

"Packs just don't persist outside of that region (the proposed trophy game zone)," Bruscino said.

He also referenced a PowerPoint slide of a map indicating that of the known established pack territories in Cody Country. It indicates one spills over into the proposed predator zone - and only just barely.

Even so, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, some environmental groups and others argued the predator classification was too heavy-handed. It would, they claimed, essentially isolate Wyoming's wolves, and not allow for genetic exchange with packs from other states.

Possible breakthrough

The resolution might have finally come through a proposal floated earlier this year by Gov. Matt Mead's office, and recently accepted in principle by federal officials.

A "flex zone" in the Jackson-Pinedale area would allow wolves trophy game status during the fall, and then revert to a predator zone the rest of the year. The parties seemed to agree that would allow for the dispersal of younger wolves seeking mates, thereby securing genetic exchange.

Bruscino said the plan would allow for exchange mostly with wolves coming from Idaho.

If the genetic exchange isn't taking place, or Wyoming's wolf population threatens to dip below acceptable levels, the delisting could be reversed, Bruscino said. Wyoming has a vested interest in keeping that from happening, he said.

"If we have to, we could run over to Idaho and get a girlfriend for a Wyoming wolf, if that's what has to happen to ensure that genetic exchange," he said.


Mixed reactions

Under the proposal, Wyoming would be required to maintain a population of 100 wolves, including 10 breeding pairs, outside of Yellowstone Park.

A breeding pair is defined as a male and female that raise at least two pups through to the end of the calendar year in which the pups were born.

"Those numbers are a bare minimum. There would have to be a buffer; we're not sure yet exactly what that would be, "Bruscino said.

The proposal also allows for the killing of wolves caught in the act of attacking livestock or pets.

Regardless of why a wolf is killed, the proposed rules would require notifying the Game and Fish.

It also will be vital for hunters or landowners to provide samples from wolf carcasses for testing, Bruscino said. That will help determine if genetic exchange has been taking place.

Most who attended the meeting seemed to favor the proposal.

Representatives of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife said their organization supports the idea, as did Kevin Hurley, representing the Wild Sheep Foundation.

Lee Livingston of Cody Country Outfitters said that group is on board.

Based on his experiences in Alaska, Livingston said once wolves realize they are being hunted, only the most skilled and tenacious hunters will have a chance at bagging one.

"They become a savvy animal; you just don't see them," Livingston said.

Ecologist Chuck Neal of Cody said he doesn't disagree with the principle of wolves being delisted and hunted, but the plan as proposed isn't ecologically sound.

"We are restricting a keystone species to a postage-stamp sized region of the state," Neal said. "The standard defense is wolves can't live outside predator zone anyway."

Neal said he's skeptical of that claim, and thinks it's driven mostly by the cattle industry.

"The idea is that private livestock should have dominance over wildlife on public land," he said. "G&F seems to accept that as a normal, desirable state of affairs."

Written public comments only will be accepted regarding the plan - comments may not be made via telephone or email. All comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 9.

Best news I've heard in a while.

Thanks

Damn good news!

You figure an adult wolf takes out 23 elk per year, waiting another year could spell disaster for Wyoming's elk herd, not to mention deer, antelope, moose and sheep. Then you have the livestock issue including horse's, goat's and poultry. Another year, more devastation on Wyoming's citizens. Should be no fee for residents, $25 for non residents and a bounty paid on each hide checked in. In reality, selling licenses will put money into the WY G&F but the total amount to dump these alien Yukon Canada Wolves was STOLEN from OUR Pittman-Robertson tax money (sports taxes earmarked for wildlife) and was as much as $70 million, so where will that money go? Plus, they will set quota's. They will never let us rid the west of wolves, so the plague continues. I really have empathy for those who must live with these killers. LDK

L. David Keith



Well said and writin!!

Thanks

Steve