Striker@home's Link
The State of Wyoming anticipates filing a motion to stay this decision this week.
“There are many positives in Judge Jackson’s decision. However, she held that Wyoming’s plan was not sufficiently formalized to support the Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2012 rule allowing limited take of gray wolves. We believe an emergency rule can remedy this, and I have instructed the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Attorney General to proceed accordingly,” Governor Matt Mead said.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has suspended all sales of gray wolf licenses and will establish a system to refund hunters who have already purchased a 2014 gray wolf license. Hunting in the trophy game area in northwest Wyoming scheduled to begin in October is suspended pending the outcome of the motion for stay. The judge’s decision also impacts year-round hunting in the predator area and landowners protecting livestock and pets.
“The Game and Fish Department believes in our sound management of wolves over the last two years. Today, we want all wolf hunters and landowners to know that the take of wolves in Wyoming – hunting and lethal take provisions in Wyoming statute – are suspended because of the federal court ruling,” said Scott Talbott, WGFD director.
If changes to the status of gray wolf hunting and other lethal take arise, they will be immediately announced by the State of Wyoming.
(Contact: WGFD (307) 777-4600)
-WGFD-
In fact, the court upheld Wyomings "predator designation" zone, and also upheld that there was no concern with genetic connnectivity because of the predator zone.
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for states rights and sticking to the Constitution. However, you also have to pick your batttles and enter each one with both eyes open. You don't fight battles you cannot win.
Sun Tzu anyone?
Actually, MT and ID could still be subject to challenge if there were any significant changes to their management plans, or if wolf numbers all of a sudden dropped precipitously.
The delisting decision itself is immune to challenge and cannot be linked to Wyoming's mess.
I'm sure the SFW/BGF fundraiser emails are flying out by the bajillions as we type.
The simple crux of this whole issue is the fact that Wyoming does not have an articulated plan in place to manage at or above 10 breeding pairs/100 wolves, as well as a response to a situation if numbers were to fall below that.
The other side simply doesn't like the "predator" status in the rest of the State where they can be taken year round without a specific tag and of course many oppose any management through hunting.
I think an unbiased reader would have a hard time looking at their plan and finding issue with it. Its one of the rare times something from a government agency is straight forward and based in common sense.
