Sportsmen can make a difference. The Idaho Panhandle was being destroyed by wolves. We were losing both elk and moose at alarming rates, tag numbers have been reduced, and numbers still plummet in all of the remote areas that wolves called home.
Elk hunters started trapping wolves, most of us had never trapped anything before. It was very time consuming, and very expensive, so others contributed in order to help. Many people wanted to help once they saw some success those that could not trap helped in other ways, such as financial help, snowmobile maintenance, calling in track sightings any thing they could do to help.
Every year we have been able to trap more than the last, and every year the Panhandle Region traps more wolves than the entire rest of the State combined.
This small group of Sportsmen is now over 800 members, and is called the Foundation for Wildlife Management f4wm.org .
We use $35 membership fees to reimburse wolf trappers, and hunters who harvest after the general rifle season up to $500. The funds we payout keeps these guys in the woods, some of six of our best have taken over 20 wolves each. any one taking five or more wolves a year has several thousand in expenses, we make it hard for them to quit.
Recently RMEF gave F4WM a $25,000 grant, check out the RMEF website. IDFG Commission has said they consider F4WM a full partner in predator management.
If you are frustrated, Angry, quit arguing with the likes of buzz, Join F4WM, re commit to RMEF, and let them know you approve of them spending money killing/managing wolves as needed.
You want to join an Organization that will spend over $100,000 effectively using sportsmen to manage wolves join the battle, F4WM.ORG .
The numbers say it all here is IDFG wolf harvest data, check out the Panhandle numbers.
Sorry not ready for Montana, and Wyoming yet, but it is being talked about as a near future goal.