Wildlife managers say a Columbia Falls hunter has taken in the first wolf from the northern backcounty hunting region.
The wolf was taken in Bob Marshall Wilderness complex in the upper middle fork of the Flathead River Drainage on Friday the 18th. The wolf was a grey colored male.
A second kill wolf kill has also occurred near Gardiner, just north of Yellowstone Park. That wolf was taken by a hunter from Georgia last Thursday.
There are three wolf management units in the state. Northern Montana gets 41 of the quota of 75 wolves statewide. The backcountry hunt started September 15th.
The general riffle season hunt will begin on October 25th.
(from September 18, 2009)
The first wolf kill in Montana has been confirmed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials.
Perry Zumwalt of Roberts (between Billings and Red Lodge) bagged the first wolf in Park County just north of Yellowstone National Park.
Zumwalt shot the wolf on Tuesday in the high back country and then called the FWP reporting station on Wednesday morning to inform officials of the kill.
Montana's wolf hunt started up Tuesday in some remote areas of the state after a U.S. District Court judge in Missoula refused to back efforts by some environmental groups to stop Montana and Idaho's wolf hunts.
FWP officials hopes to use public hunting as a way to help manage the wolf population which is now estimated at around 600 wolves statewide. FWP has issued nearly 9,000 permits and officials predict that they will probably sell as many as 17,000 wolf tags.
Wolf advocates have decided not to appeal a federal judge's decision that let wolf hunting seasons go forward in Idaho and Montana.
Michael Garrity, Executive Director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, says focusing on the main lawsuit might lead to a decision while the hunts are still in progress.
Environmental and conservation groups sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in April over its decision to remove federal protection for wolves in Idaho and Montana, but not Wyoming.
Earthjustice argues that delisting shouldn't occur until Wyoming also has an acceptable wolf management plan.
Montana's gray wolf season began Tuesday in three districts but so far no wolf kills have been reported.
Montana's first wolf hunting season opens on Tuesday, but few hunters are expected to fill their tag.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reports that over 8,600 tags have been sold for the statewide quota of 75 wolves, but only a few high country districts open on Tuesday.
Those hunting in the high country district 316 in South Central Montana around Cooke City can shoot a wolf as well as those in three districts deep in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.
Tuesday's wolf hunt start corresponds to the early back country big game season. More wolves are expected to be taken when the general big game season opens on October 25th.
Hunters have strict reporting requirements when they kill a wolf, including contacting FWP officials within 12 hours.
If certain quotas are not met, the wolf hunting season could be extended in some areas through December 31st.
(from September 14, 2009)
The state Environmental Quality Council met last week to discuss a number of hot button issues facing the state right now and among the topics was the Montana's upcoming wolf hunting season.
The council heard from experts on the removal of the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List, pending litigation and the 75 quota wolf hunt that is set to begin this week.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials say that a preliminary court decision to deny an injunction opposing the season means hunting wolves is likely, but not certain.
"Will we even take 75? We don't know, but we would really like to have a hunt so we can start to learn how that is part of our tools to manage wolves" commented FWP Chief Legal Council Bob Lake.
He added that in order for the season to move forward, a settlement with the environmental groups who requested the injunction may be required. Lake says that after talking with plaintiffs and other states involved in the hunt, a settlement may be likely.
The hunt is currently still set to begin on September 15th in a few back country areas, and on October 25th in larger management areas.
