Wolf delisting clears way for hunters..

This was discussed on another thread so I though I would post this story for your review:

Wolf Delisting Clears Way For Montana, Idaho Hunts

4/3/2009

Today, April 3, marks the second time that the federal government has removed gray wolves from the endangered species list—clearing the way for the cagey predators to be hunted in Montana and Idaho.

The official delisting plan, set for May 4, will be published in the Federal Record later today.

A group of 12 conservation organizations plan to appeal the decision and file a lawsuit to block the wolf delisting, according to The Great Falls Tribune.

"We're not hostile to the notion of hunting," said Louisa Willcox, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council in Livingston, Montana. "We're concerned about the overall, cumulative kill level."

Wilcox told reporters that wolf population levels should be at 2,000 to 3,000 to guarantee recovery of the species, not 1,600, which is the current population estimate in the Rocky Mountains.

Wolves in Wyoming will remain on the endangered species list. According to the Associated Press, the state currently has plans to sue for removal of the wolf from the list.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

Tnx, Martin ... I don't watch TV "news" or read the papers, so I get my info from my son, or places like this ...

The way I heard the story (a while back) wuz that Wyoming's "plan" wuz to merely kill all the wolves they could, so the Federales told 'em they couldn't/wouldn't get a chance for a "season" until a better plan wuz filed ... apparently they haven't yet come up with one ...

Otherwise, that's good news ... and the "protest" is not unexpected ...

All of life is six-to-five against, just enough to keep you interested. (Damon Runyan)

Gravity makes all the important decisions ... (John R. Powers)

NRA, REMF, PF, NAHC-L, NAFC-L, KC, NPPA

OTU---The Wyoming plan has been to establish the wolf as a game animal in the ecosystem where they were introduced.  That would only allow killing one if they weredestroying livestock in that area or if the population became too large and then licenses to hunt them would be issued by the G&F.  In the rest of the state outside the ecosystem, they would be classified as predators and could be killed on site at any time by anyone without a license.  I see no problem with that and that is whyWyoming is going to sue the Feds.  The states are spending tons of our money on wolf studies, etc., and they still have no say in their control, which isn't right.  As long as the courts are allowed to intervene and decisions are made based on politics, rather than biological data, they will never be hunted in my opinion. 

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

I perty much gnu that, Mike ... but the "story" part wuz a couple of years ago, and I sorta chuckled when I heard the Wyoming told it to the Federales ...

For the record, a friend of mine told me of an event a number of years ago that happened in WY, involving the WY G&F and their persecution and false arrest of a hunter, and threatening him with bodily harm and to destroy his property.

It was tremendously ugly, and based on that, I'm not really too eager to give WY my hunting money ...

Merely sayin' that's my own personal feelings on the subject ...

Anyone here who goes to WY and has a great hunt and a great time, I'm happy for y'all ... but I doubt I'll ever go there for more than the scenery ...

I could add a tale about a name y'all would recognize, and how the US F&W cost him over $1 million in legal defense fees, and eventually drove him to paying a $10,000 fine to get rid of 'em, and he had NOT violated any USofA laws ... SCI wuz involved in that one, and they didn't back him up, either ...

Most of the Federales I know are perty much OK guys (I'm even related to one or two of 'em), but there are some misguided people that have this power trip goin' in their teensy little brains ...

Enuf! I've already said more than I should've.

All of life is six-to-five against, just enough to keep you interested. (Damon Runyan)

Gravity makes all the important decisions ... (John R. Powers)

NRA, REMF, PF, NAHC-L, NAFC-L, KC, NPPA

OTU---If you have some time one of these days and wouldn't mind, I wish you would PM me with a little bit of the details of the two things you just touched on.  You have now really aroused my curiousity since I really like Wyoming and go there at least once a year.

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

Wow!  That is BIG NEWS!
 
There are some outfitters out west that will be extremely happy about this as the wolves have literally decimated elk populations in certain areas.
 
It just goes to show you that any specie left to themselves will overpopulate and cause damage, not only to their own kind but to the environment and overall ecosystem.  That is why regulated hunting is so important!  Those PETA boneheads have no clue.
 
Thanks for the post!
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

I would love to hunt one, make a mighty fine mount.

Old Cowboys never die, they just keep riding the Range.