Montana Wolf Hunting: Season Set

The Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks has set a 2008 wolf hunting season for September 15- November 30.
The Federal Government has delisted gray wolves from the endangered species list, opening the door to Montana managing the wolves. Unfortunately, some radical animal rights groups are going to challenge the delisting, along with the hunting of wolves in the courts.

Montana falls within the U.S. 9th District Court in San Francisco, California which is a radical, liberal court, known for trying to legislate from the bench. The 9th District Court is as far from Montana values as one can get. The Federal Government forced the reintroduction of wolves on Montana, Idaho and Wyoming using the Federal property within these states.

Idaho and Wyoming have been much more confrontational throughout the process than Montana. Wyoming told the Bush Administration that wolves would be killed at every opportunity when off of Federal property. I can’t say I blame them. The wolves are another struggle between states rights and federal authority.

Idaho has seen their elk populations decimated in many areas. Sheep ranchers have also suffered great losses. The Idaho Legislature sent President Bush a letter of dismay at the reintroduction. Montana has been less confrontational.

The Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks has a management plan that will maintain a healthy population of wolves while minimizing the controversy within the state. Montana has no plans to allow wolves to return to the endangered species list. For that matter, I don’t believe for a second Idaho or Wyoming do either.

If only these animal rights groups would realize, the greatest threat to the long-term survivability of wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains is not allowing the states to manage the wolves. The Federal Government has little knowledge, resources or motivation to manage wolves. The states where the wolves live have the knowledge, resources and motivation. The longer it is until the states take over management the more the people of these states are going to want wolves exterminated.

Proper management is the wolves best hope for sustainability. Managing them hunting unit by hunting unit will minimize media reports of family pets and livestock being killed. Through proper management, wolves will maintain healthy, sustainable populations in the northern Rocky Mountains. Without proper management (Federal), wolves are doomed to a witch hunt extermination. It is the Defenders of Wildlife’s choice. Who are you really defending?