Proposed Hunting Season
Idaho Fish and Game proposes to set wolf hunting seasons throughout most of the state ranging from August 30, 2011 to March 31, 2012, in 13 wolf management zones.
Harvest limits are being proposed in the Salmon, Southern Mountain, Beaverhead, Island Park and Sawtooth Zones, where hunting proved effective in more open country and additional wolf mortality occurs from control actions to resolve ongoing livestock depredations.
In 2009, hunters met harvest limits in these zones except in the Sawtooth Zone, which was 90 percent achieved. Fish and Game proposes higher harvest limits for these zones for the upcoming hunting season to reduce continued conflict with livestock.
Recent research confirms wolves are dispersing throughout the northern Rocky Mountains, and Idaho wolves are breeding with populations in other states and vice versa. Nevertheless, Fish and Game has proposed a closing date of December 31 for the Beaverhead and Island Park Zones, which closes hunting prior to the peak snowmobile season in Island Park and corresponds to the closing dates in Montana. These zones are late winter/spring dispersal areas between Yellowstone Park and other wolf populations in Montana and Wyoming.
Fish and Game is not proposing specific harvest limits in the Panhandle, Lolo, Selway and Middle Fork Zones because of documented impacts to elk and other prey species. Terrain or access is difficult in these areas and hunters did not reach harvest limits in the Panhandle, Lolo, and Selway Zones in 2009. Fish and Game isn't proposing specific harvest limits in the Palouse-Hells Canyon, Dworshak-Elk City, McCall-Weiser, and Southern Idaho Zones because of high conflict potential with livestock and other domestic animals.
Fish and Game uses a similar strategy for black bears and mountain lions, which have long been under state management. In general, both populations are thriving in Idaho.
Hunters will be required to report wolf harvests within 72 hours and bring harvested wolves to Fish and Game to confirm gender, approximate age, kill location and other information. In 2009, less than one-percent of hunters who purchased an Idaho wolf tag were successful. To increase harvest rates in 2011, Fish and Game proposes to allow electronic calls and increase the annual bag limit to two wolves for hunters.
Proposed Trapping Season
Based on hunter success in 2009 and the inability of hunting pressure to manage wolves across most of their range in North America, Fish and Game proposes a trapping season from December 1 through February 15 in all or some of the Panhandle, Lolo, Dworshak-Elk City, Selway and Middle Fork Zones.
These include areas where access is limited, terrain is difficult, but where wolves are having significant impacts on other big game animals or approaching isolated communities such as Elk City. Fish and Game proposed these areas and this timeframe to allow trapping when pelts are prime, and when there is less potential for conflict with other hunting seasons and recreational uses.
Fish and Game reviewed trapping seasons in Alaska and western Canada in developing its proposal. Fish and Game will use this 10-week trapping season to evaluate Idaho trapper participation, catch rates, gear effectiveness, incidental take and potential conflicts with other uses.
With support of the Idaho Trappers Association, state regulations require wolf-specific training before trapping for wolves, reporting requirements, and restrictions on the types of traps used. Fish and Game proposes an annual bag limit of five wolves for trapping.
Goals of Proposed Seasons
The framework for this proposal is consistent with the goals of the 2002 Idaho Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, which was approved by the Idaho Legislature and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In developing this proposal, Fish and Game biologists reviewed the current status of wolves, federal recovery requirements, potential wolf conflicts, wolf impacts on other wildlife populations, Fish and Game's own research and the research of others, and the experience of Idaho and other states and Canadian provinces in hunting, trapping and other wolf management.
A goal of wildlife managers is to reduce wildlife related conflicts with people, domestic animals, and other wildlife. Conflicts can occur where bears, wolves and mountain lions threaten people or domestic animals or suppress other game populations. They can occur where beavers and raccoons cause property damage, or where elk and deer eat too many crops.
We recognize that public views on wolf hunting and trapping range from those who strongly oppose any harvest of wolves to those who strongly oppose any wolves in Idaho. Neither view can be accommodated under federal or state law.
To continue to meet federal recovery goals, there must be at least 150 wolves and 15 breeding pairs of wolves in Idaho. Fish and Game will manage wolves so the population is above these numbers. Given harvest experience in Idaho, Montana, Alaska and Canadian provinces, it is highly unlikely that a single hunting and trapping season could reduce Idaho's wolf numbers to a level that would compromise our ability to meet recovery goals. Idaho currently has more than 1,000 wolves.
Wolf Harvest and Population Monitoring
Though Idaho Fish and Game is not proposing specific harvest limits for several wolf zones, biologists will closely track harvest through mandatory reports and check in. Wolf populations are closely monitored using radio telemetry (70-80 wolves are currently wearing active radio collars) to determine a minimum estimate of packs, breeding pairs and total wolves.
The Fish and Game Commission will review the number and distribution of wolf harvest at its November and January meetings. Biologists may brief the Commission at any time if other sources of wolf mortality significantly increase, or if mid-winter population estimates indicate concerns. Fish and Game will also evaluate and initiate any control actions if needed based on continued conflict potential and low public harvest.
Fish and Game will make up-to-date zone-based harvest information available to the public via the Fish and Game website.
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