BUMMER!!! I had hoped to get a chance at one this year...looks like Judge Malloy got bought again!!!

HELENA — A federal judge on Thursday reinstated Endangered Species Act protections for wolves in Montana and Idaho, saying the government made a political decision in removing the protections from just two of the three states where Rocky Mountain wolves roam.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy said in his ruling that the entire Rocky Mountain wolf population either must be listed as an endangered species or removed from the list, but the protections for the same population can't be different for each state.

Last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service turned over wolf management to Montana and Idaho wildlife officials but left federal endangered species protections in place for wolves in Wyoming, where state law is considered hostile to the animals' survival.

"Even if the Service's solution is pragmatic, or even practical, it is at its heart a political solution that does not comply with the ESA," Molloy wrote in his ruling.

Defenders of Wildlife, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and other wildlife advocates sued the federal government after the Fish and Wildlife Service decision in April 2009. They argued that the government's decision would have set a precedent allowing the government to arbitrarily choose which animals should be protected and where.

The decision puts a halt to wolf hunts in Montana and Idaho planned for this fall. Montana wildlife regulators last month set the wolf-hunt quota at 186, more than doubling last year's number, with the aim of reducing the state's wolf population.

Gray wolves were listed as endangered in 1974, but following a reintroduction program in the mid-1990s, there are now more than 1,700 in the Northern Rockies.

Doug Honnold, an attorney for EarthJustice representing the plaintiffs, said he was gratified by the ruling, though he is sure there will be another chapter to the story.

"For today, we are celebrating that the approach we thought was flatly illegal has been rejected. The troubling consequences for the Endangered Species Act has been averted and the wolf hunts are blocked," Honnold said.

Wolves Suck!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by don444:
Wolves Suck!!!!

Activist, elitist judges suck more. Making a controversial ruling, against scientific proof, against the votes of millions, seems to be something that many of them want to put on their resume.

More on the subject:

http://missoulian.com/news/loc...6b-001cc4c03286.html

Molloy orders reinstatement of gray wolf protections in Montana, Idaho
By MICHAEL JAMISON of the Missoulian | Posted: Friday, August 6, 2010 6:00 am | (42) Comments

KALISPELL - Wolves are back on the endangered species list, after U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy ruled Thursday that populations in Montana and Idaho cannot be considered separately from Wyoming's wolves.

In a 50-page decision, Molloy said "the rule delisting the gray wolf (in Montana and Idaho) must be set aside because, though it may be a pragmatic solution to a difficult biological issue, it is not a legal one."

With the relisting, this fall's planned wolf hunts in Montana and Idaho are now on hold, at least until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can assure an adequate protection plan in Wyoming.

"The ruling not only strikes down the delisting decision," said Kieran Suckling, executive director at the Center for Biological Diversity, "it invalidates the Bush-era Interior solicitor's memo justifying the concept of listing/delisting species and populations in only a portion of their range."

Officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game declined to comment immediately after the ruling was released, saying they had yet to read the whole decision.

"If we understand the ruling correctly, Judge Molloy is telling the federal government that because Wyoming still doesn't have adequate regulatory mechanisms to manage wolves, you can't delist the wolf in Montana and Idaho." said Joe Maurier, director of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. "We simply can't manage wildlife successfully in that environment. We must have the ability to manage wildlife, to do our job, to seek a balance among predator and prey. As a practical matter, as wildlife managers, we need the authority to respond to the challenges wolves present every day."

***

Historically, wolves were exterminated from the region by the 1930s. In 1974, they were given Endangered Species Act protections.

A decade later, in 1987, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developed a wolf recovery plan, calling for at least 10 breeding pairs and 100 wolves for three consecutive years in each of three recovery areas - northwest Montana, central Idaho and the Greater Yellowstone area.

Then, in 1994, the agency set aside portions of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming for wolf reintroduction, considering those transplants part of a "nonessential experimental population."

That same year, the agency released an environmental review concluding that the initial goal - 10 breeding pairs and 100 wolves in the three recovery areas - was likely a bare minimum. Instead, it now advised true species recovery would require at least 30 breeding pairs and some 300 wolves in a "metapopulation," with genetic exchange between subpopulations.

By 2007, the species had met that threshold for eight consecutive years, and on Feb. 27, 2008, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a rule delisting the wolves.

Conservationists sued to stop that move, however, and the court agreed the agency had not established proof of genetic exchange between wolf populations. In addition, the court ruled that while Montana and Idaho had established suitable wolf management plans, Wyoming had not.

The agency went back to the drawing board, and on April 2, 2009, again acted to remove the species from ESA protections.

New evidence, agency biologists said, now proved the missing genetic exchange. And as for Wyoming's failed management plan, the agency simply carved that state out of the plan - delisting in Montana and Idaho, but not Wyoming.

Idaho and Montana immediately authorized public wolf hunts.

Conservationists again cried foul, arguing, among other things, that a biological population could not be parsed on state-line or political boundaries.

***

On Thursday, Molloy agreed with that argument.

Specifically, Molloy ruled that the Endangered Species Act does not allow only part of a species to be listed as endangered, nor does it allow a distinct population segment to be subdivided.

By separating Wyoming's wolves from Montana's and Idaho's, he said, the agency had violated the law.

"It is illegal because it is a political determination, not a biological one," Suckling said. "The biological population must be taken as a whole, not broken down into politically determined parts in order to justify delisting."

Suckling called the decision "a victory for all wildlife, not just the wolf, because it forces the federal government to treat species as a whole, not divide them into politically convenient pieces so it can strip them of protection."

While Molloy's decision was based on the parsing of the population, he did not rule on an accompanying complaint that the species is not, in fact, recovered.

Carolyn Sime, wolf program coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said Montana has done everything it's been asked to do in developing a state management program, but now will have to apply federal law and regulations once more.

"This puts a spotlight on Wyoming and seeing what can be done with Wyoming," Sime said.

Molloy's decision means ranchers in northwestern Montana will no longer be able to haze, harass or kill wolves that prey on their livestock, Sime said.

Wolves in southwestern Montana will revert to their "experimental population" status and ranchers there will still be able to kill wolves that attack their animals, she said.

But a big blow is the loss of a hunting season, Sime said.

"That's clearly a management tool that we want to have in the toolbox. We think it's legitimate and appropriate," she said.

Both Idaho and Montana held wolf hunts last year. Montana's kill ended with 73 wolves and Idaho's with 185.

At the end of 2009, there were at least 843 wolves in Idaho, 524 in Montana and 320 in Wyoming, with more in parts of Oregon and Washington state.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Reporter Michael Jamison can be reached at 1-800-366-7186 or at mjamison@missoulian.com.

==================================================================================================

http://online.wsj.com/article/...20100805-725355.html

US Judge Orders Protection For Rocky Mountain Gray Wolf

SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones)--A federal judge on Thursday restored Endangered Species Act protections to gray wolves in Montana and Idaho, reversing a government decision to remove the protections.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy concluded that the government's decision to remove, or "delist" gray wolves in Montana and Idaho from protection violated the ESA because the law requires such decisions to be made about an entire species, not a subset of a species.

In April 2009, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service removed ESA protection for northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves in Montana and Idaho, but not Wyoming.

"The plain language of the ESA does not allow the agency to divide a [species] into a smaller taxonomy," the judge ruled.

The Interior Department's assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Tom Strickland, said the agency would work with the three states as well as tribes, environmental groups, ranchers and other landowners "to manage wolves and ensure the species continues to thrive and coexist with livestock, other wildlife populations, and people.

"Today's ruling means that until Wyoming brings its wolf management program into alignment with those of Idaho and Montana, the wolf will remain under the protection of the Endangered Species Act throughout the northern Rocky Mountains," Strickland said.

The northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf was listed as endangered under the ESA in 1974. In later years the government developed a recovery plan and reintroduced populations of gray wolves into central Idaho and Yellowstone National Park.

In April 2009, the Fish & Wildlife Service concluded that with more than 1,500 wolves, the species was thriving and that state laws in Montana and Idaho were likely to support the wolves' continued success. However, the agency determined that gray wolves in Wyoming remained in danger of extinction because of inadequate regulation.

Defenders of Wildlife, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and other wildlife advocates sued the federal government after the 2009 decision, arguing that the government can't arbitrarily choose which animals should be protected and where.

The decision puts an end to wolf hunts in Montana and Idaho planned for this fall.

if the dummies in Wyoming would get on board it would of been a done deal

the fed's accepted wyomings plan as
population sustaining and biologically sound
until the tree hugers bent their ear.
now its nothing more than political hostage taking.
oh yea and remember the wolf was going to be delisted when 300 animals were present,
and remember the fed's reporting in 2002
the wolf was recovered
and they would NEVER leave YNP
its been nothing more than BULLSHIT
since day 1
you want to talk of states rights and the over bearing role of the federal government?
wyoming has taken its stand
and we aint backing up.
its been said wyoming is holding up the delisting because of the hostile position on wolves.
not true
we are more mad at
lying feds
spineless judges
money grubbing enviro groups
manipulation of the ESA
rules and goals changed every time these are met
don't TELL us how to mind OUR house
any man worth his salt would take the same position,not roll over and show his belly.
MIGHT AS WELL DELIST,WE ALREADY HAVE

This is all being done to eventually put a stop to or at least curtail hunting as we know it. Think about it! The animal rights groups just keep moving the goal line. When is enough.... enough? Just a lot of BS!

The ball is back in the Fed's court. The USF&WS has already stated that the wolf population met their original goal of 150 breeding pairs. In fact the wolf population has exceeded that goal by a factor of at least 5.

The Feds have done their thing. They brought the wolf back, the wolves have made a huge comeback. Now it's time for the Feds to back out and let the states manage their wildlife.

Accept Wyoming's plan, and delist the entire population of wolves. And then just keep the hell out of it!

It appears that the judge did what a judge is supposed to do and that is base his decision on the law. Obviously, he agreed with the USF&WS position that Wyoming's management plan does not meet the requirements of the ESA. Wyoming needs to be convinced to develop a plan that meets USF&WS requirements and then continue their court battle with them separately. That way all three states can get back to managing wolf populations to meet state management goals. Wyoming's stance is now impacting other states as well as their own.

465H&H

the fed's accepted wyoming's plan in 2006!
and then moved the goal line!!
wyoming is NOT the problem.
and don't hold your breath waiting for wyoming to knuckle under when it comes to managing wildlife in OUR state.
F%#K the fed's, we are managing the wolves
with or without their permission.
MIGHT AS WELL DELIST, WE ALREADY HAVE

quote:

Originally posted by ravenr:
the fed's accepted wyoming's plan in 2006!
and then moved the goal line!!
wyoming is NOT the problem.
and don't hold your breath waiting for wyoming to knuckle under when it comes to managing wildlife in OUR state.
F%#K the fed's, we are managing the wolves
with or without their permission.
MIGHT AS WELL DELIST, WE ALREADY HAVE

With all due respect that attitude simply plays into the hands of the anti-wolf hunting advocates by showing the judge why Wyoming is not qualified to manage their wolf populations. Consider how your line in the sand position is affecting Montana and Idaho elk hunters.

465H&H

partner,my line in the sand attitude comes from
having smoke blown up my ass for 15 yrs.
with the largest population of griz in the lower 48,i'd venture a guess that our wildlife managers know how to protect endangered species.
if they are recovered,let the state manage them.
if they fall below recovery limits THEN the state's qualifications can be brought into question.
don't judge this states ability to manage
based on mismanagement by the feds,
moving the goals and manipulating science,
enviros lining their pockets,and tree huging
federal judges.
wyoming is not the problem,and has no responsibility to montana or idaho elk hunters.
would i like to see the wolf delisted?
without a doubt! they are slaughtering wyomings
elk and moose herds also.
but to deny that this hasn't been a train wreck by the feds since day 1,and that they have stuck to their own guidelines concerning the delisting is bullshit.
nothing personal 465H&H but i won't accept
wyoming as the scapegoat on this. no way!

Sounds to me like it is time to commence the three S plan.........Shoot, Shovel, and Shut-up!

Back to SS SU

Yes, the SSS rule is back in full effect. Just to appease the antis, though, be sure and use lead-free bullets...

I don't know what this judge is thinking because last year the anti's tried to stop the wolf hunt in Idaho and Montana but, he let it continue. And nothing has real change and he has stopped all wolf hunting in the west.

Here in Wyoming just shoot and shut up, don't waste you're valuable time by shoveling when you could be shooting another

Steve

I sure can understand some of the frustration that many of you feel over this issue, but and it is a big BUT, violating the law with SSS only gives more ammunition to the anti wolf hunting clan. They use it to show how hunters can't be trusted to scientificaly manage wolf populations, therefore they need to stay on the ESL. I can see a bunch of Mexicans sitting in a cantina across the border talking about our immigration laws. I suspect their position is similar to the one expoused above.

465H&H

465H&H

You make some very excellent points however, the anti's can't use that SSS in court since not many people have actually been busted for SSS to my knowledge. I do know of one investigation on going because someone dump out some poision and actually poisioned some dogs here in Wyoming.

The states need to tell the Federal Goverment to F%#k off and well manage the wolves how we see fit. I know Wyoming dosen't need their federal Fundings anyway.

ravenr: nailed it on the head when he stated the state of Wyoming did a outstanding job on the grizzlies.

Steve

quote:

the fed's accepted wyomings plan as
population sustaining and biologically sound
until the tree hugers bent their ear.
now its nothing more than political hostage taking.
oh yea and remember the wolf was going to be delisted when 300 animals were present,
and remember the fed's reporting in 2002
the wolf was recovered
and they would NEVER leave YNP
its been nothing more than BULLSHIT
since day 1
you want to talk of states rights and the over bearing role of the federal government?
wyoming has taken its stand
and we aint backing up.
its been said wyoming is holding up the delisting because of the hostile position on wolves.
not true
we are more mad at
lying feds
spineless judges
money grubbing enviro groups
manipulation of the ESA
rules and goals changed every time these are met
don't TELL us how to mind OUR house
any man worth his salt would take the same position,not roll over and show his belly.
MIGHT AS WELL DELIST,WE ALREADY HAVE

I'm watching this from afar in a state that doesn't have wolves and probably never will, but having read all this and given it some thought, I've become convinced that ravenr's approach is the correct attitude for dealing with what we in guns and the consumptive use of the outdoors are now up against.

And what are we up against? I'll tell you what...a stacked deck, that's what.

Revenr, I also admire your way with words.

me too! Too bad the judges do not listen to folks who live where the problems are.

Its time to write/call both idaho and montana governors and head of fish and game to tell them its time to bring this case to 9th courts of appeal and let a group of 3 judges make a decision, not a judge that thinks the world rotates around him. I wrote mine....Its time to stand up and let them knows this is not ok.!!!!!!!

Seems like based on this precedent all that "political" boundary stuff is out the window. I'm wondering which national park or wildlife refuge I should pick for hunting season.

Imagine what would have happened 100 years ago if a Judge had banned the shooting of wolves. At best he would have been run out of the country, or at least to california.

I was in the wall creek drainage (south of Ennis Mont) last week where a pack of 7 wolves had just killed 6 (300 lb calves) for fun, as they did not eat any of them. Fed's dropped in with there bell jet ranger to confirm the last kill right in front of us. They killed 2 of the wolves the night before and were looking for the alpha female as she had a tracking collar with a weak signal. They were planning on darting her, changing the collar to a better one then waiting till the other wolve's met back up with her to take out the remaining 5. The rancher's range riders were still looking for more dead calves. Fed's are spending a lot of money chasing wolve's with that expensive chopper. It was quite interesting being in the midddle of that mess.

So I guess whats next is a bulk of the Elk get killed by wolves so they ban elk hunting.. Why don't they all go chase around the Japanese whalers and leave us alone

Libtards!

I bought 4 wolf tags for my Alaska moose hunt next week.

Go to the Big Game Forever web site. Sign the petition to have congress confirm states rights to manage their own wildlife as they see fit and override Judge Molloys decision. There are several Senators on board including those from states not involved in the debate.

My dad just got back from Idaho and said the elk
are so thin in numbers in the Selway river area around
the white cap that they rode horses over 150
miles scouting and glassing with a grand total
of 9 elk seen, but saw over 25 wolves with one pack containing 8 wolves all fat and healthy on
Idaho elk calves and mule deer and moose. No the antis dont want you killing game for Meat or sport but love it when the wolves doit for fun with little or no oversight.

I can't wait for hunting season. I always pack a shovel with me.

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by JasonW:
So I guess whats next is a bulk of the Elk get killed by wolves so they ban elk hunting.. Why don't they all go chase around the Japanese whalers and leave us alone

Yep, you're getting the idea

quote:

Originally posted by 2kuduhunter:
I was in the wall creek drainage (south of Ennis Mont) last week where a pack of 7 wolves had just killed 6 (300 lb calves) for fun, as they did not eat any of them. Fed's dropped in with there bell jet ranger to confirm the last kill right in front of us. They killed 2 of the wolves the night before and were looking for the alpha female as she had a tracking collar with a weak signal. They were planning on darting her, changing the collar to a better one then waiting till the other wolve's met back up with her to take out the remaining 5. The rancher's range riders were still looking for more dead calves. Fed's are spending a lot of money chasing wolve's with that expensive chopper. It was quite interesting being in the midddle of that mess.

That would be our tax dollars at work, working against us. This is why every one needs to do as much bitching to their legislators as they do on these boards, call, write, e-mail, repeat, repeat, repeat. We, as the hunting community need to get together, get organized, and keep our opinions heard. That is how the antis do it!

quote:

Originally posted by ravenr:
the fed's accepted wyomings plan as
population sustaining and biologically sound
until the tree hugers bent their ear.
now its nothing more than political hostage taking.
oh yea and remember the wolf was going to be delisted when 300 animals were present,
and remember the fed's reporting in 2002
the wolf was recovered
and they would NEVER leave YNP
its been nothing more than BULLSHIT
since day 1
you want to talk of states rights and the over bearing role of the federal government?
wyoming has taken its stand
and we aint backing up.
its been said wyoming is holding up the delisting because of the hostile position on wolves.
not true
we are more mad at
lying feds
spineless judges
money grubbing enviro groups
manipulation of the ESA
rules and goals changed every time these are met
don't TELL us how to mind OUR house
any man worth his salt would take the same position,not roll over and show his belly.
MIGHT AS WELL DELIST,WE ALREADY HAVE

Great post raven,
It's because of people like you that I'm moving to Wyoming this year.

quote:

Originally posted by Bobby Tomek:
Yes, the SSS rule is back in full effect. Just to appease the antis, though, be sure and use lead-free bullets...

A M E N !!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
I can't wait for hunting season. I always pack a shovel with me.

Rich

Rich,

Hope you don't mind but I just sent a copy of your post to IDF&G.

465H&H