This guy has the right idea. It was a federal program and is a federal problem that needs to be addressed, forced on states.

Idaho bucks judge’s wolf decision

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — After talks with the
federal government over a public wolf hunt collapsed,
Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter ordered Idaho
wildlife managers Monday to relinquish their
duty to arrest poachers or to even investigate
when wolves are killed illegally.
Otter rejected the wolf management Idaho
has conducted for years as the federal government’s
“designated agent” after a federal judge
in Montana returned wolves to Endangered
Species Act protections earlier this year.
This means Idaho Department of Fish and
Game managers will no longer perform
statewide monitoring for wolves, conduct investigations
into illegal killings, provide law
enforcement when wolves are poached or participate
in a program that responds to livestock
depredations.
With U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy’s
ruling in August, Idaho and Montana have had
to cancel public hunts. That’s especially irked
Otter, who contends the first legal harvest that
started in 2009 and ended earlier this year
demonstrated that states could manage wolves
responsibly.
In an angry letter to U.S. Interior Secretary
Ken Salazar, the Republican governor said
withdrawing from wolf management will keep
Idaho hunters and their money from subsidizing
the federal program. Without the possibility
of a hunt, there’s no incentive for Idaho to
manage wolves now, Otter aides said.
“Frustration, mostly,” Otter told reporters
late Monday, on what led to his decision. “We’re
no longer going to spend any sportsmen’s dollars
in Idaho to enforce the Endangered Species
Act as it relates to the experimental project of
wolves.”
Otter also accused the federal government of
foisting wolves upon Idaho — he calls them
“your wolves” — and promised to quickly submit
plans asking for special permission to kill
dozens of wolves to protect big game herds.
A spokeswoman for Salazar said the Interior
Department would continue to work with
states but the court ruling in August restoring
protections left its options limited.
“We cannot currently authorize the resumption
of sport hunting of wolves,” said Kendra
Barkoff. “Up to this point, we appreciate the
states of Idaho and Montana who have been
working responsibly to manage wolves;
nonetheless, we must follow the court’s ruling.”

It’s unclear just how Idaho
wolves will be managed now.
Between 1995 and 2005, the Nez
Perce Tribe in north-central Idaho
managed the predators, before the
state stepped in. But the tribe said
Otter didn’t approach them before
pulling out.
“We just hope the state will
come back to the table,” said
Brooklyn Baptiste, vice chairman
for the Nez Perce Tribe.
“Ultimatums are really hard to
take back, especially in an atmosphere
of re-election.”
Keith Allred, Otter’s
Democratic rival in the Nov. 2
gubernatorial race, said the governor
was handing over an issue to
the federal government that rightfully
belongs in Idaho’s hands.
“Butch Otter just gave away
more state power to the federal
government,” said Allred. “We need
to be asserting our sovereignty, not
giving it away.”
Montana Fish, Wildlife and
Parks spokesman Ron Aasheim
said his state’s approach has not
changed, despite Idaho’s move.
“We continue to look for ways to
get management responsibilities
returned to the state of Montana,”
Aasheim said.
Idaho has about 850 wolves and
insists the species is recovered in
the northern Rocky Mountains
after its reintroduction to the
region in the mid-1990s.
Molloy in Missoula restored
Endangered Species Act protections
following a lawsuit from
environmentalists who argued
Idaho and Montana wolves could
not be under state control while
Wyoming wolves remained under
federal control.
Douglas Honnold, lead attorney
with Earthjustice who represented
the environmental groups, said
Otter’s decision goes in the wrong
direction.“Instead of throwing up
their hands and walking away
from the wolf issue, Idaho should be getting to work on a wolf management
plan that complies with
the law,” Honnold said from his
offices in Bozeman, Mont.
Otter’s advisers had been negotiating
with Salazar and other federal
officials since September on a
plan for Idaho to continue to manage
wolves within its borders.
Among other things, Otter
wanted to hold a public hunt and
insisted on provisions giving state
managers more power to kill
wolves that prey on elk, moose or
deer in areas where the state says
big game herds are suffering.
“Today I join many Idahoans in
questioning whether there is any
benefit to being a designated agent
without the flexibility of a public
hunt,” Otter said, adding he’s
doubtful continuing as designated
agent would speed up the delisting
process.
Republican U.S. Sens. Jim Risch
and Mike Crapo separately have
introduced a bill that aims to
exempt wolves in Idaho from federal
protections that were restored
by Molloy’s order.

The states of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, all met the goals set forth by the US Fish and Wildlife, yet the program has been thrown back in their faces time and again.

Anyone in Idaho who needs help in protecting live stock, I would love to offer my services. When it comes to the Wolf remember the 3 "s". Shoot, Shovel and Shut up.

I think its a great move. With no worry of enforcement, locals can reduce the population to a level that is appropriate.

There was a reason the US government offered bounties for wolves and why they were poisoned to near extinction. There is a monument in Scotland to commemorate the killing of the last wolf. Again, there was a reason that all the wolves were killed.

Just got the email from Toby Bridges.

Finally a State with some Balls...

The only downside to our Governor's actions; no posting pictures anywhere or getting a rug mount made. I can live with that, don't think the wolves can.
This is now a free fire zone for wolves 365 days a year!

The Nez Perce tribal police have no powers off the rez, and they aren't going to spend a dime of their own money on this.

I find it most interesting that the courts show ZERO interest in managing our game herds for us. Just the predators.

It is a good day in Idaho.

Rich

I hope it works but I think it is just political grandstanding by Butch. It is election time in two weeks after all. I am afraid that the feds might take the management further than we want it to go! Also ISS if someone did accidentally shoot a woofie, would it be a federal matter instead of state?

brilliant move!!!
montana and wyoming should JUMP on the bandwagon
its about time we took back our states.
this nightmare has gone on long enough.
MIGHT AS WELL DELIST, WE ALREADY HAVE

quote:

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter ordered Idaho wildlife managers Monday to relinquish their duty to arrest poachers or to even investigate when wolves are killed illegally.

This means Idaho Department of Fish and Game managers will no longer perform statewide monitoring for wolves, conduct investigations into illegal killings, provide law enforcement when wolves are poached or participate in a program that responds to livestock depredations. ...

Douglas Honnold, lead attorney with Earthjustice who represented the environmental groups, said Otter’s decision goes in the wrong direction.“

Absolutely a Classic Response by Gov. Otter to the Feds "Mandate" that they oversee the Wolves and then don't allow them to do it.

And it became real apparent to the Wolf Huggers they had pushed the situation right on over the edge.

Brilliant resolution by Gov. Otter.
-----

I would strongly discourage anyone from mentioning Wolf Kills or even Sightings you or your friends might make. The Feds are never happy nor lenient in situations like this.

Good move by the Governor!! I do wonder if the democrat candidates slant, that the Governor gave up some State sovereignty, will get the Governor beat at election time?

quote:

Absolutely a Classic Response by Gov. Otter to the Feds "Mandate" that they oversee the Wolves and then don't allow them to do it.

And it became real apparent to the Wolf Huggers they had pushed the situation right on over the edge.

Brilliant resolution by Gov. Otter.

+1

Idaho didnt give the Feds any more power than they already have. Idaho is simply refusing to cut its own throat anymore.

What gets me is Alaska has wolf hunting and a ton of wolves. How can they be endangered in Mont ID and Wy but not in Alaska? Seems the Feds pick and choose as to what states can manage their own wolf populations.

It's lucky for Idaho that they have chosen not to enforce federal law. If they had tried to enforce federal law then the president would have had his Attorney General file a lawsuit against them just like he did when Arizona tried to enforce federal law.

if only WA would nip OUR wolf problem in the bud... way to go, butch!

So has anyone gone out and done some legal wolf poaching yet?

I have never heard of anyone out here "Accidentally" killing a wolf.
100% depredation shootings. Ever wolf I have ever seen was:
1. planning on killing something
2. in the process of killing something
3. eating something it had just killed

Guilty as charged.

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
1. planning on killing something
2. in the process of killing something
3. eating something it had just killed

Guilty as charged.

Rich

You just described me.

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
1. planning on killing something
2. in the process of killing something
3. eating something it had just killed

Guilty as charged.

Rich

You just described me.

Nice!!!

I wonder what the response will be from the opposition? I also wonder if after deer, elk and typical predator hunting seasons are over if there is any noticeable reduction in wolf pack populations. Typical hunting and calling predators will be different this year. This situation will be one to watch closely. Or if in Idaho, participate in. I encourage every one to be careful responsible sportsmen in dealing with any opportunity for wolf population control. Just get it done. Don't miss.
DW

This says is a little different. Ron

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/a...view.cfm?NewsID=5643

From the Outdoor Wire:

Calling For Calm With Wolves

Editor's Note: Wolves have become a heated issue across the American West. With their spread, the controversy over managing their growing population - and protecting the wildlife and livestock they've decimated in some regions has grown to a near flash point. Today, seven wildlife organization's leaders are calling for calm.

Calling for Order in Wolf Debate

Many hunters are rightfully angry that a federal judge has put the gray wolf back under federal protection based on legal technicalities. Taking management away from state authorities allows wolves to multiply and spread. Wolves are already so plentiful they are cutting down herds of elk, moose, and deer, and are also killing livestock and pets. Wolves need to be controlled and we must continue toward that goal in an orderly fashion.

We sportsmen want to bring wolves under state management because this will sustain wolves, control the problems that wolves cause, and protect wolves from poachers. To do so, we look forward to working with other affected citizens, government, and other allies to clear up the legal technicalities and finalize the transfer to state management. This way wolves will be managed the same way as other wildlife based on the best available science with protections against illegal killing.

State management of wolves is best for the wolves and people, and wolf populations are so large now that the time is past due.

State management will be the best deal wolves have ever had. Wolves have never been managed sustainably in the lower 48 states. State and federal governments purposefully eradicated wolves, and then restored them under complete federal protection. This full protection has restored wolf numbers far beyond recovery goals: all 6 states with gray wolves in the lower 48 have at least doubled the number of wolves beyond their recovery goals. Idaho is at least 8 times over its goal. There are about 3,000 wolves in Minnesota, 600 each in Wisconsin and Michigan, at least 800 wolves in Idaho, 500 in Montana, and 300 in Wyoming.

Switching to state management will not be easy: federal and state managers have tried it 3 times in the last 7 years, having each effort struck down either because the law was fuzzy on how it could happen or too strict about why it cannot. These interpretations in federal district court are the latest examples of judges second-guessing government experts - an error for which the next highest appeals court has admonished its judges.

To achieve state management, hunters need to turn their anger into passion, speak up, and ask for hard but fair commitments from state and federal government. We need passion the way Theodore Roosevelt had passion in creating American conservation, which is our legacy and heritage to perpetuate. We need to stay in the arena of debate and decision and stay out of the bogs of blame and bad-mouthing. It is self-defeating to blame or antagonize federal and state officials. They agree with us on what needs to happen and we need their help. We need hard commitments from them to try new approaches within current law and, ideally, to change law and policy to close loopholes.

This complex task is already underway through a cooperative partnership between the state and federal governments. The Obama Administration has already filed an appeal of the recent federal court ruling. States have petitioned for greater management authority. Legislators from Montana, Wyoming and Idaho have begun meeting to devise a solution and have invited the federal government's participation. We appreciate these straight-up attempts that demonstrate the resolve of our government. We acknowledge the sovereign authority of each state to manage its own laws and budgets.

Finally, as we seek hard commitments from government, we also need to draw a hard line for ourselves: we are sportsmen, not wolf-haters. Statements on the Internet about poaching wolves are an affront to the American conservation ethic. Illegal killing is wrong, self-defeating, and exactly opposite of how sportsmen created conservation and the privilege of ethical hunting in the first place. Hunters in America fought poachers and pushed for laws to regulate hunting. Later, sportsmen paid fees and taxes on our own licenses and equipment to fund wildlife restoration that brought wildlife back to abundance, including the game we hunt. Ours is a history of self-restraint and respect for wildlife.

Today we are asking for wolves to be brought under modern state management. We will pursue this goal with the diligence we take to hunting itself, working professionally with the agencies, seeking allies, and pushing forward the policies that will prevent this tragedy from happening again with other wildlife.

Boone and Crockett Club
Lowell E. Baier, President

Mule Deer Foundation
Miles O. Moretti, President/CEO

Pope and Young Club
Roger Atwood, President

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
M. David Allen, President/CEO

Safari Club International and Safari Club International Foundation
Dr. Larry Rudolph, President

Wild Sheep Foundation
Gray N. Thornton, President/CEO

Wildlife Management Institute
Steven A. Williams, President

Very well said. I also believe the states should manage as they see fit. Wyoming has been both criticised and praised for their position. I for one feel they are correct. Wolves will never be eliminated from Wyoming as long as Yellowstone is a national park. DW

Just like the big cats here in cattle country, the state took away hunting them with hounds which switched everything to the unofficial policy of SSS/365.

SSS-Shoot, shovel and shut up.

We also relinquished our only democrat member of the US Congress about 8pm tonight if the TV anchors here are correct.

Rich

A guy that I know killed a wolf in Wyoming. He signed up for the draw the first year that the state offered tags to residents. He drew one of the few tags that were offered, and got his wolf all aspects of the hunt were completly legal. Somehow his name and news of the hunt ended up in the media, needless to say it created quite a mess for him. He recived death threats and hate mail from all over the country, he finally changed all his phone numbers and even contemplated changing address as well. All the guys I know out there are locals who were born and raised in the state and they feel that the wolves have had a very negative impact on elk and deer populations there, they all are avid hunters. This has all been a few years ago, but it shows how big of an issue it is to everyone on both sides of the topic. Personaly I think it's sad that states can't control animal populations as they see fit.

gabem:
We get this kinda crap all the time up here when we try & control our wolves. Special interest groups come out of the poop pile like flies.
Bear in Fairbanks