Wolf Watch


WOLF WATCH 
188

 

wolves killed during Idaho's wolf hunt
statewide limit: 220
season ended: 3/31/10

Current News:

Wolf Hunt Open 09/13/11

Wolf hunting season is now open in Idaho. The season runs through the end of the year in the Island Park and Beaverhead wolf management zones. The hunt runs runs through June 2012 in the Lolo and Selway zones where elk numbers are down dramatically. Nine other zones are open until the end of March 2012. Hunters may purchase two tags a year. Three hunters have killed wolves so far.

Wolf Hunt 07/19/11

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking public comment on the proposed 2011 wolf hunting season. The hunt could start at the end of August with limits based on wolf numbers in 13 zones. There are an estimated 1,000 wolves in Idaho. The state must maintain a minimum of 150 wolves and 15 breeding pair. Check out the wolf hunt proposal here.

Prepare to Hunt Wolves 05/03/11

Idaho Fish and Game is once again getting ready to assume management of wolves. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will discuss a possible fall hunt at their monthly meeting in July and possibly make a decision in August. There were an estimated minimum of 705 wolves in Idaho at the end of 2010 in about 87 packs, at least 46 of which were documented as breeding pairs.

Wolves Delisted Again 04/15/11

Wolves are off the endangered species list again in Idaho and Montana because the nation's budget bill passed. A rider on the bill removed protection of wolves returning their management back over to the states. This is the first time in the history of the Endangered Species Act that congress has removed an animal from the list.

More stats:

Idaho Fish & Game sold 30,619 resident wolf tags and 781 nonresident tags for the seven-month season that ran from September 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010.

Of the wolves taken, 58 percent were male, and 15 percent were juveniles less than one year old. Resident hunters took about 86 percent of the wolves. Twelve of the wolves checked in wore radio collars. 

Most of the wolves were shot in October and the fewest in January. Two wolves were taken in the Southern Idaho zone, and 49 were taken in the Sawtooth zone.

At the end of 2009, Idaho had a minimum of 843 wolves in 94 packs, and 49 packs are considered breeding pairs. The average pack size was 7.8 wolves. A total of 142 wolves are radio-collared. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission objective is to manage wolves at the 2005 population level when the year ended with 518 wolves.