WYNONTYPICAL and huntin100,
First of all, who I work for is of ZERO concern on the subject at hand. I am not representing anyone or any group or any agency, I'm representing myself only.
So, I'm now officially done with that subject. The only thing that is relevant regarding my past and present choices of employment is that I spend a ton of time in the woods in a lot of states. That affords me the luxury of seeing whats happening and reporting the facts of what I see.
Do I see wolf sign in ID, MT, and WY...that would be affirmitive. Do I see wolf kills in ID, MT, and WY...that would be an affirmitive.
Do I agree with hunting wolves in MT and ID...YES, as I've already pointed out a dozen times. I'm also in favor of allowing trapping to help meet the quotas. I'm also in favor of government hunters, both state and federal, controlling wolves. I'm also in favor of ranchers killing them if they're harrassing their livestock.
That is not a pro-wolf stance, thats a pro-management stance which is what I'm in favor of and what I've always been in favor of.
To understand this issue, you dont need a degree, you need common sense and 2 firing brain cells.
The facts are as follows:
1. The wolves that were reintroduced are the same exact wolves that had already established viable populations in Montana in the Flathead and Ninemile drainages. Wolves in the Rocky Mountains were put on the ESL in 1976. Wolf reintroduction was legal, with 750,000 information documents distributed, well over 100 scoping meetings, during at least 3 open comment periods. There were over 200,000 written comments received on the issue, the most ever in the history of NEPA on a single issue. An over-whelming majority of all comments received were in favor of reintroduction, including a majority of the comments received from residents of WY, ID, and MT.
2. Wolves are now a permanent part of the landscape, they will not be hunted down to ZERO. Its not going to happen. So, calling for removal of all wolves is not only a pipe dream, but also not even worth talking about as it simply will not happen.
3. Wyoming is the reason that delisting of wolves was delayed for at least 4 years longer. They didnt have an acceptable plan, and the courts agreed.
4. The states of MT and ID held their first legal seasons, and through a combination of hunting and government control, wolf numbers were held to a growth rate of only 4%, the lowest since reintruduction.
5. Hunters kill 28,000+ elk per year in Montana, wolves kill the equivelant of 9,000 elk a year, but they dont prey exclusively on elk.
6. The EMP in MT is the biggest limiting factor on elk populations in the State, no question. With 136,000 elk, MT is wayyyy over objective. Montana is now issuing 2 elk per tags per hunter, one of which is an antlerless tag. Montana is still allowing late hunts to happen. Idaho and Wyoming also allow hunters to kill 2 elk per year. Montana sells more elk tags than there are elk in the state. Montana has an 11 week season on elk no less than 6 weeks of it open to any elk other than a spike. Some areas are open all 11 weeks to eithersex elk.
So, that leads me to the following conclusion. Since wolves are not going to EVER be eliminated, we have to learn how to manage for acceptable numbers. I will not waste my time with the anti-wolf groups who are calling for all-out removal. Mainly because they are asking for the impossible and its a waste of my time, money, and effort. Further if MT can increase the objective level of elk by changing the Elk Management Plan, just about all the areas in Montana will see increases in elk. Reducing the number of additional elk B tags for elk in Montana will also increase elk numbers. Removing or greatly reducing eithersex hunting seasons will also allow elk numbers to grow. It will also help to increase lion quotas that have been reduced by up to 90% in most of Western Montana. Extending bear seasons into mid-June will also help reduce the well documented impacts they have on calves.
Combine changing those items, along with keeping wolves at levels of NO more than current levels, and preferably closer to 750-1000 total in all three states...we're there.
Under that scenerio, elk populations will increase, and IMO and IME, Montana could easily support 200,000-250,000 elk.
On top of great elk numbers, we'd also have some nice wolf seasons and another huntable/trapable species to pursue.
Win-win.
Thats what I see happening, and I have no reason to believe it wont with the exception of Wyoming monkey-wrenching the whole thing with their idiotic stance.
