2008 Woodie Awards
Wolf hunting in Idaho
Sarah Kalkwarf
Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: Outdoor
This fall, while students are beginning their new school year, the first hunting season for wolves in Idaho will begin.
The population of wolves is currently being managed in Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. Each state has its own set of management plans, but the population of wolves will be counted together.
Ralph Maughan, Ph.D., who taught in the Political Science Department for 36 years at ISU, and is also the President of the Wolf Recovery foundation, has an interest in wildlife, specifically in the wolves that were reintroduced in 1995.
Maughan says that his opinion of the hunt depends on what regulations each state plans to follow. He says that if the plan is to which increase the hunt on wolves to be like regulations for deer and elk, with a plan to keep a substantial amount of the population, then he can tolerate the wolf hunting.
According to Idaho Fish and Game representative Gregg Losinski, the plan to hunt wolves was part of the original plan that the Federal Government, working with the states created. The plan was created to help build local acceptance of the reintroduction of wolves. The belief is that hunting gives people an active roll in wildlife management.
Losinski estimates the current population of wolves (in Idaho) to be around 700. According to Losinski, the estimated tags the Idaho Fish and Game plan sell in Idaho will be around 105. This estimation is based on a wolf population of 700. This plan would allow hunting of about 15 percent of the population of wolves.
"It will be interesting to see what will happen," said Losinski.
This will be the first time a hunt will be allowed for wolves in this area, and it is difficult to judge how regular hunters will do at hunting wolves. According to Losinski, Idaho Fish and Game plans to set a mandatory 24 hour check-in and they will not initially allow hunters to set traps for the wolves.
Idaho Fish and Game will not require hunters to take the meat. Losinski says that this is because eating the meat of wolves is not a culturally accepted practice. Hunters will be required to take the skull and the pelt will probably be required for tagging. Losinski says that most hunters will be after the pelt of the wolves because it is legal to sell pelts in Idaho. He says that a pelt is worth about 300 dollars.
The population of wolves is currently being managed in Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. Each state has its own set of management plans, but the population of wolves will be counted together.
Ralph Maughan, Ph.D., who taught in the Political Science Department for 36 years at ISU, and is also the President of the Wolf Recovery foundation, has an interest in wildlife, specifically in the wolves that were reintroduced in 1995.
Maughan says that his opinion of the hunt depends on what regulations each state plans to follow. He says that if the plan is to which increase the hunt on wolves to be like regulations for deer and elk, with a plan to keep a substantial amount of the population, then he can tolerate the wolf hunting.
According to Idaho Fish and Game representative Gregg Losinski, the plan to hunt wolves was part of the original plan that the Federal Government, working with the states created. The plan was created to help build local acceptance of the reintroduction of wolves. The belief is that hunting gives people an active roll in wildlife management.
Losinski estimates the current population of wolves (in Idaho) to be around 700. According to Losinski, the estimated tags the Idaho Fish and Game plan sell in Idaho will be around 105. This estimation is based on a wolf population of 700. This plan would allow hunting of about 15 percent of the population of wolves.
"It will be interesting to see what will happen," said Losinski.
This will be the first time a hunt will be allowed for wolves in this area, and it is difficult to judge how regular hunters will do at hunting wolves. According to Losinski, Idaho Fish and Game plans to set a mandatory 24 hour check-in and they will not initially allow hunters to set traps for the wolves.
Idaho Fish and Game will not require hunters to take the meat. Losinski says that this is because eating the meat of wolves is not a culturally accepted practice. Hunters will be required to take the skull and the pelt will probably be required for tagging. Losinski says that most hunters will be after the pelt of the wolves because it is legal to sell pelts in Idaho. He says that a pelt is worth about 300 dollars.
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