Montana/Idaho in right direction
General Topic
HELENA (AP) — Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill Friday allowing the use of private funds to reimburse wolf hunters or trappers for their expenses — reminiscent of bounties that widely exterminated the species in the last century. Hunting and livestock groups, and their Republican allies in the legislature, contend not enough of the 1,200 wolves in Montana are being killed by hunters to limit their impact on big game outfitters or cattle and sheep producers.
The bill was sponsored by GOP state Sen. Bob Brown, who said there are too many wolves in his mountainous district in northwestern Montana.
The reimbursement program is similar to one in Idaho, where a private group pays its members up to $1,000 for costs incurred while scouting, hunting or trapping wolves.
Opponents argued there are tourists who come to Montana to see wolves and if too many are killed, they will return to protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Last week, Gianforte signed bills to allow the snaring of wolves, in addition to trapping; and another one to extend the wolf hunting season.
Lawmakers have also forwarded to the governor a bill to allow individuals to kill an unlimited number of wolves, hunt at night with artificial lights and night vision scopes and use bait to lure wolves into traps.
In Idaho, a bill that would allow the state to hire private contractors to reduce the wolf population from about 1,500 to 150 is quickly moving through the legislature. It allows the use of night-vision equipment to kill wolves as well as hunting from snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles, among other changes.
Backers cite cattle and sheep deaths that cost ranchers hundreds of thousands of dollars, while opponents say the legislation threatens a 2002 wolf management plan involving the federal government.
Good! And time us hunters sued as our opponents on the matter if they return to the endangered species list
Good! And time us hunters sued as our opponents on the matter if they return to the endangered species list
Yep. Idaho passed that bill and they are now going to PAY to have 90% of the wolf population killed. Good on them. Too bad it's coming at this kind of cost. It's inevitable all states with wolves will come to this or something similar if they desire to have any form of big game hunting.
Colorado should pay attention!!! I know its too late but apparently history is no teacher when dealing with fools.
I'm betting wolves are relisted by the end of the summer, lawsuits or not. They have a friend heading the DOI now.
A Colorado Legislative Bill was just passed that the cost of wolf introduction will come from the General Fund and not from Sportsman's Hunting and Fishing license funding. The Bill is asking for $5,000,000 for the next 5 years. Yep, FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.
Lou, I bet you are correct.
If there is any significant impact on populations they will be relisted. Pretty sure that is a given.
Sounds like a wolf hunt in MT needs to be in my near future!
You bet Novembermadman! Come on out and kill a couple PLEASE!
I have the thermal scope SBH. Use it a lot for the coyotes in WI. If you are having problems I'd be more then happy to roadtrip out to MT. (Preferably when their pelts are prime).
