From Wolfwatcher.org:
NWC Official Statement: Montana Wolf Hunt Proposal, 2013-14
May 13th, 2013
Montana officials estimated that at least 625 wolves, in 147 verified packs, and 37 breeding pairs inhabited the state at the end of 2012. During Montana’s 2012/2013 wolf season, hunters and trappers killed 128 wolves and trappers took 97 wolves for a total of 225. The actual numbers of wolves killed in the state, however, estimates more than 300 when factoring in wolves that were killed by depredation control (USDA’s Wildlife Services killed 108 wolves), vehicular accidents, disease and other natural causes.
Montana FWP Commission proposed its 2013-14 wolf hunting and trapping season. Comment period begins on Mon., May 13th and ends on June 24th at 5PM. Final decision will be made at a Commission meeting on July 10th in Helena.
•Submit via online submission – or – email: fwpcomm@mt.gov
•Submit via USPS mail at FWP – Wildlife Bureau, Attn: Public Comment, P.O. Box200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701
PROBLEMS:
1.Archery-only hunting would run from Sept. 7 through Sept. 14.
2.The hunting season is extended – the general hunting season (Sept. 15 and ending March 31, 2014); trapping season (Dec. 15 through Feb. 28, 2014)
3.The overall bag limit is 5 wolves per person in any combination of wolves taken by hunting or trapping, – an increase from 1 per person last year.
4.Wolf quotas would be maintained in areas near Montana’s two national parks, with a quota of 7 wolves in an expanded Wolf Management Unit 316 near Yellowstone National Park and a quota of 2 wolves in WMU 110 near Glacier National Park.
5.A new regulation would allow hunters to take a wolf over bait placed for trapping
BACKGROUND:
• As of Jan. 2013, Montana has 2.6 million head of cattle and 225,000 sheep. FWP Director Jeff Hagener said in a press release, “Confirmed livestock depredations due to wolves included 67 cattle, 37 sheep, one dog, two horses and one llama in 2012. Cattle losses in 2012 were the lowest recorded in the past six years.”
•In April 2012, MtFWP’s former Commissioner Ream stated, “The arrival of wolves in the West Fork added to the predatory pressure on the elk herds, but does not come close to the impact that mountain lions have. Statistics show that the elk population statewide is doing well with numbers at an all-time high of 112,000. He said the state management objective calls for 90,000 which means the state is about 22,000 elk over objective.” Ream suggests, considering a number of factors, that it was “a perfect storm“ that led to elk population reductions in Hunting district 250. Those factors include hunting, predation and weather and have all have tipped the balance in that area against the elk. He said the drop in the calf/cow ratio had hit a critical low, but did show some sign of recent recovery.
•In a May 1st article in the Independent Record, FWP Recommends Expanded Wolf Hunt Season and Bad Limit , George Pauley, FWP Wildlife Management Chief, said the reasons for the proposed changes in Montana’s 2013-14 wolf hunting season are twofold. “We’re just looking for opportunities to hunt wolves … and it’s an attempt to reduce the population,” Pauley said. “We’ve always had a philosophy of incrementally increasing harvest rates and opportunities.”
The National Wolfwatcher Coalition submitted its
NWC Official Public Comment re: Montana’s wolf hunting proposal for 2013-14.
We have already reached out to the Commission so that we can ensure the voices of all stakeholders are represented in its policy objectives. You are invited to review our statement and use it as a resource to guide the drafting of your own public comment via the directions above.
Questions or Comments? Contact us via email at : info@wolfwatcher.org
Exposing the Big Game 
Man needs to reduce ‘livestock’ they are the damaging force. The men who murder wolves are just hateful. The wolves were there first and need to be left alone. I have seen enough of the types who go after the wolves. Threatening to humans as well as to our fellow creatures. 2013 is the time for compassion , not irrational hatred and killing of a species so very wild and wonderful as the wolf. Long Live the Wolves.
“We’re just looking for opportunities to hunt wolves … and it’s an attempt to reduce the population,” Pauley said. “We’ve always had a philosophy of incrementally increasing harvest rates and opportunities.”
Science-based management? Sure doesn’t sound like it.
Nope, more like agenda-driven.
“Livestock” (cows in this case) are not the damaging force…it is CATTLE RANCHERS, THEIR CUSTOMERS(!!!), AND “HUNTERS” that are the damaging force; the cows are innocent victims in all this and are absolutely lovely and peaceful animals, as are the wolves who only hunt and kill to survive and keep the natural balance. It is PEOPLE that need to be stopped from “needing” and breeding more cows and other “livestock.” Question is, how do you change 6 billion+ meat eating people? In other words, we need divine/super-powerful intervention. May it get here like NOW. I will email the NWC, thank you Jim.
Sorry, I meant I will email Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, not the NWC.
Thank you for contacting them Laura.
George Pauley’s comment is the absolute most foolish thing I have heard yet! Has anyone checked the qualifications to get a job like his? I could guess but I would probably say something nasty.
These government humps obviously wouldn’t know science if it bit them in the ass, from what I have seen, it wouldn’t be a bad wake up call! They want their cake and to eat it too. Well, tourism should be strictly boycotted as well as making any purchases in states with wolf hunts.
Wolves draw tourists. Being shot at is not what tourists want for themselves or the animals they came to see! So if Montana wants to allow killing of innocent, healthy wolves, then I say come vacation in Maine. We have mountains, ocean, lakes, huge rivers and lots of wildlife. Wolves are protected and there are Wolf Sanctuaries here where you can see wolves in the morning and go whale watching in the afternoon and have a great meal and listen to live music at night. So, Montana, look out for you tourist dollars, people have many other options! Guides, take a photography course. Take your customers out to shoot animals with a camera, not a gun.
Evolve, it not just a good idea, it’s survival.
Hey there! I live in Boston and had no idea that this even existed in Maine. I’ve been to Bar Harbor and Ogunquit. Where is the wolf sanctuary located?
Wow, great! You can see wolves only two hours from Boston! Runs With Wolves is in Limington, ME rwws.org. There are some wolfdogs in a sanctuary near Bangor, and a place with over 100 wolves not far from North Conway NH but on the Maine side of the border. I’m having a senior moment on the name of the large facility but Brenda will know at rwws.com. She does photo tours. She doesn’t have many wolves but she really knows her stuff! I have some rescued wolf dogs plus I care for dogs of veterans who are in the VA hospital. Believe it or not, no one was doing that! If you want to see full wolves you’d have to go to rwws or the place near N. Conway. If you want to see an ambassador wolf dog, you could take the downeaster from north station and I could meet you at the Wells station. Then you can spend a day at the beach. The trolly stops at the train station. It goes all up and down the place locally along rt.1 and back to the train station. I think it’s free? All that stuff is online along with Amtrak Downeaster schedules. I only live 25 miles from the station. And I can tie it in with doing errands in Sanford, like getting dog food. I just can’t be gone too long. My ambassador wolf dog loves to ride in the van. Her name is Zoey and she is mostly Mackenzie River Wolf. I am not set up for visitors because my husband likes privacy. I have a white Arctic Wolf named Ziggy but he doesn’t like the van because he thinks he’s going to see the vet! 🙂
Wow! Thank you so much for this info. I’m going to check it out now…
🙂
Cool, I remembered the name of the big wolf sanctuary, it is Loki Clan. Glad I could help you! I hope Montana Tourism is reading this…if not, send the the text! 🙂
Reblogged this on Carinas space.