by Jacob Jones Tue, Dec 24, 2013
Regional environmental groups filed for a restraining order in federal court Monday to block a controversial coyote- and wolf-hunting derby in Central Idaho this weekend, calling it a “Killing Contest” that should require additional permits under U.S. Forest Service guidelines.
The upcoming derby, organized by the sportsman group Idaho for Wildlife, offers $2,000 in cash and other prizes for the largest wolf killed and the most coyotes taken by two-person teams from Dec. 28-29. Organizers expected as many as 300 hunters to participate.
Conservation groups, led by WildEarth Guardians in Missoula, filed a complaint in U.S. District Court in Idaho, seeking an injunction to halt the scheduled two-day derby, arguing wildlife officials had disregarded their own restrictions on special events and that the competitive derby could endanger people recreating in Idaho over the holidays.
“USFS did not even consider what the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the Killing Contest might be to the human and natural environment on public lands,” the group’s complaint argues.
Wolf hunting has been an extremely contentious issue in Idaho with outspoken environmentalists calling for extended protections while hunters resent the impact of wolves on big game populations. Wildlife officials have been caught in the middle of the bitter debate, struggling to balance protections with population management.
Officials expected few wolves to be killed in any potential derby because the animals have proven notoriously difficult to track and kill.
WildEarth Guardians and the other plaintiffs argue in their complaint that the Forest Service had not followed their rules on requiring special event permits for the upcoming derby. They cite a rule mandating a permit for any commercial activity where an “entry or participation fee” is charged. The derby is $20 per person.
“Although the sponsors estimate the contest will draw 300 participants to federal public lands to shoot as many coyotes and wolves as possible over the course of two days, in contravention of the plain language of its own regulations and without following its special use procedures, USFS decided no special use authorization was required,” the complaint states.
Conservationists also expressed serious safety concerns about pitting dozens of hunters against each other in a relatively concentrated area at a time of year when families may be looking to enjoy the outdoors. They argued the derby would result in more gunfire in a smaller area where families, children and pets could be at risk.
“This Killing Contest occurs in the middle of the holidays on the weekend between Christmas and New Years,” the complaint states. “During this time, many families have time away from work, can and plan to recreate on public lands, and head out to test out new skis, snowshoes, sleds, snowsuits, snowmobiles and other recreation equipment.”
Exposing the Big Game 
How many times does this need to be said: Wolf impact on elk numbers, per hunters, is myth and lies and folklore. Elk numbers are up in every state wherein there are wolves. Since wolves, Montana elk numbers are up 39% (89,000 in 1989 to 141,000) now. Wyoming has had 10 years in a row of record elk takes. Man kills 4-5 times more elk than wolves. Another myth-lie-folklore is regarding cattle depredation. In Montana wolves killed 65 last year per Montana Stock Loss Board, 65 out of 5.6 million cattle= 0.002% for which the rancher is reimbursed. Why do hunters and ranchers keep getting away with these lies and myths. There are facts out there and sources for reliable information: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) reports elk numbers in several western states. MT FWP and and other state wildlife agencies have records of elk taken and other species.State stockmen boards have statistics, some of which are reliable. USDA is not a valid source of information as it is compiled by self-reports. I fill out a USDA report every year because I have stock (horses). Hunters will claim elk depredation in local pockets only to find out that the elk are just moving and were to be found. The wildlife agencies are not really trying to strike a balance. The wildlife agencies are either as ignorant and biased as the sportsmen and ranchers or too timid to educate sportsmen and ranchers and newspapers. This myth of driving down wolf and other predator numbers is one that has existed since hunter and wildlife agency liaisons in a hunting culture; and ranchers have always ruled the agencies.
Excellent comment
Thank you for your expertise !
We could use some in the great outdoors … Science and facts are an inconvenient truth for hunters and ranchers
Roger, would you please forward this information to all the sponsors of this event. Adopt A Wolf has thier names and phone numbers in Salmon, Idaho.
Reblogged this on Sherlockian's Blog.
Actually, I’m not sympathetic with the “wildlife agencies” caught in the middle. Their mission is to manipulate populations to make sure there are plentiful animals for hunters and trappers to kill. And “wildlife agency” personnel are out there killing for fun, both on and off the job. Take a look from this 3/1/13 excerpt from the Idaho Fish & Game “Ask Fish & Game” pages: “Idaho Department of Fish and Game has an official policy regarding hunting and fishing activities. All Department personnel are encouraged to participate in hunting and fishing activities and become familiar with the fish and wildlife resources and the areas of the State that support these activities so they might be better able to discuss hunting and fishing intelligently with the license-buying public. Occasional hunting and fishing activity, with a primary emphasis on familiarizing employees with specific areas or training activities, is permitted during duty hours.”
Many people are under the impression that “wildlife agencies” are concerned with the welfare of animals. Not so. They are welfare-oriented only to the extent that they take measures to ensure certain species’ survival and to ensure certain species’ persecution in order to please the hunters and trappers they serve. I seriously doubt whether the slaughter derby is ruffling any agency feathers, other than that they’d prefer to avoid scrutiny. They function better in the dark with an uninformed public, you know.
That’s exactly right.
Oh my goodness. Safety of adults, children, and pets? C’mon, when has there ever been a hunting accident where someone got shot, or even wounded? Who ever heard of a child in the woods being killed by family-friendly fire? You guys make it sound like some jerk in camouflage is going to jump out on the road and start blasting away at the family dog, even if the dog has a collar and the owner is right there. Next time a wolf is gnawing off your leg, try calling a spotted owl or snail darter for protection.
Roger, I am in agreement with your analysis. The ‘confirmed’ numbers of FWS depredations (http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolf/annualrpt12/tables/Final_Table5b-5c_Dep-State_2012.pdf) are relativley low compared to the NASS Death Loss. Using either set of numbers still leads to ridiculously low cattle harvest percentages by wolves and other carnivores when compared to ‘natural’ causes. Of course, a valid question is how many of the harvested cattle were weak and sick, and bound to die of natural causes? After all, the evolutionary imperative of wolves is to try to order dinner without being kicked or gored by the main course.
I put “sarcasm font” tags around my first paragraph above. Tags apparently are not allowed by the blog-engine.
The injunction failed.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/foes-forest-service-battle-over-idaho-wolf-derby