BOISE, Idaho December 27, 2013 (AP)
By JOHN MILLER Associated Press
Associated Press
A federal judge Friday allowed a wolf- and coyote-shooting derby to proceed on public land in Idaho this weekend, ruling its organizers aren’t required to get a special permit from the U.S. Forest Service.
U.S. District Magistrate Judge Candy Wagahoff Dale issued the ruling in Boise hours after a morning hearing.
WildEarth Guardians and other environmental groups had sought to stop the derby, arguing the Forest Service was ignoring its own rules that require permits for competitive events.
The agency, meanwhile, countered no permit was needed, concluding while hunting would take place in the forest on Saturday and Sunday, the competitive portion of the event — where judges determine the $1,000 prize winner for the biggest wolf killed — would take place on private land.
Dale decided derby promoters were encouraging use of the forest for a lawful activity.
“The derby hunt is not like a foot race or ski race, where organizers would require the use of a loop or track for all participants to race upon,” she wrote, of events that might require such permits. “Rather, hunters will be dispersed throughout the forest, hunting at their own pace and in their own preferred territory, and not in a prescribed location within a designated perimeter.”
Steve Alder, an organizer of Idaho’s derby, said dozens of people had already arrived in Salmon to participate. He was elated following the decision.
“We won,” Alder said. “You’ve got a lot of people who have driven from far distances to Salmon, today. A lot of motels have a lot of occupants; a lot of money has been expended for this event. It’s good for Salmon, but I don’t want to send them packing home.”
Every year, predator derbies are staged across the West and much of the rest of the country, where hunters compete to bag the most coyote, fox and other animals.
But wolves — and the notion that hundreds of armed sportsmen might head to the hills to shoot at them for cash — captured the passions of wildlife advocates on a landscape scale after they learned of the Idaho derby.
It’s been just two years since Endangered Species Act protections were lifted, and WildEarth Guardians executive director John Hornung said many people believe the big carnivores still face existential threats that are compounded when they’re hunted for prizes.
“To go from that position a mere two years ago, to contest hunts, is just incredibly dissonant to groups like ours, and I think, a lot of the public. It just doesn’t make sense,” Hornung said from his office in Santa Fe, N.M., adding he believes contest hunts are “all about a scorched earth approach to these native carnivores.”
In Friday’s telephone hearing, WildEarth Guardians’ attorney told Dale that a wolf derby taking place on Forest Service land that surrounds Salmon should be required to get the same kind of special permit as any other competitive gathering, including running races or snowmobile events.
“People are trying to kill as many animals as they can in two days in order to win the prize,” Sarah McMillan told the judge.
Meanwhile, attorneys for the U.S. Forest Service countered that no permit was needed.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Hurwit also said hunters could be in the woods and fields near Salmon this weekend shooting wolves and coyotes — regardless of whether their excursions were associated with a contest.
“There’s nothing to stop people who intended to participate in the derby, from going forward and taking the same action, killing coyotes and wolves, and just not participating in the derby,” Hurwit told Dale. “The derby doesn’t change hunting, hunting will happen throughout the season regardless of this lawsuit. The derby hunters will have to comply with state regulations.”
Wolves became big game animals in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming after federal Endangered Species Act protections were lifted starting in 2011. There are annual hunting and trapping seasons.
After reintroduction in the state in the mid-1990s, Idaho has about 680 wolves, according to 2012 estimates.
Exposing the Big Game 
Simply disgusting decision
Hard to believe they didn’t need a permit
Sean Parker( napster /Facebook fame) was required to pay a $3 million fine to stage his wedding at Big Sur park in calif ..
These folks can have a killing contest of an endangered species ( still not delisted) and no permit required ?
Boycott this miserable place and pray for our precious wildlife, they have taken a beating since Pres Obama sadly seems to cater daily to the hunting ilk and seemingly has no environmental scruples
A terrible end to a bloody 2013 …
We are awash in our crimes against nature
That’s so sad… People are so evil.
I am sick at heart. I will pray to Saint Francis. I don’t know that praying does much good though. What in the world will it take to make this stop? This part of the country has gone totally psycho. I can’t claim to have my finger on the pulse of America, but it seems like the majority of us don’t like this. Can there be some sort of Michael Moore movie made about this insanity?
Where is he when we need him? From “wildlife services” debacle to the Idaho killing contests America is drowning in the blood of our killing mania
A very violent culture. I find it highly disturbing.
Can we talk Mr Moore?
This is truly horrible Jim! It sucks!
That is and does, Claudine!
“‘We won,’ Alder said.”
————–
The guy is obviously too misguided, ignorant and short-sighted to realize that in the long haul, this will be a pyrrhic victory at best.
As if it’s all some kind of game…
I think there needs to be another update as to how many wolves are left in these places. $1000.00? Really is that all? I would think for a game animal it would be of greater value but it goes to show that money really isn’t why these folks are hunting for these animals. It sounds more of an excuse to kill, to me. Wow! President Obarma in on the killing, now there’s a surprise…NOT! Most congressmen are in for the kill. They aren’t in leadership to look good. I thought over one million voices would be heard & taken seriously but how can we be taken seriously with these powerful people behind the doors. It will never be fair game, not to us that fight for wolves or other endangered species and certainly not to the animals. I’ve been doing a lot of research on how the human race operates & my findings have been somewhat shocking! Not only have we resorted to claiming every bit of buffalo, elk, deer and other sources of food for human consumption, taking these important food resources off these predators, but, we have denied the rights of all predators such as the wolf, bear, crocodile, etc, which is their born right to hunt these to eat being their main sources of food. When you take away something that mean a life & death situation of a pack or a loner such as the bear, you are taking away their rights of survival. Here’s another fact: Did you know that these animals can sometimes take years to raise their young? Just like us humans! So when they lose a family member don’t you think they mourn over those that are killed? I know we do. I believe that these animals do the same & yes they have feelings, share emotions, they show affection to those in their packs & the cubs they raise. You are dumb to think humans are they only species that share such characteristics. What happens when they have killed off all these species that are for game? What are they going to start killing off next? Stop the slaughter before its too late!
well i for one wont be taking a long planned american holiday this coming year……or any year in the future. that my financial contribution to the american economy that they wont be getting…..
this is terrible, terrible news.
It is alternative universe, bat sh– crazy, redneck thinking to make a contest out of killing these predators, and these contest are spreading. It show just what a sick mindset these hunters have, and a callousness toward wildlife and toward wolves and coyotes in particular. The good news, I hope, is that it is not likely they kill many if any. It does show loud and clear why wolf management should not be in the hands of the state and basically managed by hunters and ranchers and mostly right wing hicks and the forest service and wildlife agencies have ears almost totally for just them.
well said, roger
Don’t forget the sneaky politics of wolf delisting in Montana and Idaho: Senator Jon Tester (Farmer, Dixiecrat, Pork Barrel politician) and Representative Mike Simpson of Idaho attached a rider to a defense appropriations bill in April of 2011 delisting the wolf in those two states, completely undermining the ESA, opening up a Pandora’s Box of potential political management of species, which is what is going on in ID, MT, WY, WI.
It is alternative universe, bat sh– crazy, redneck thinking to make a contest out of killing these predators, and these contest are spreading. It shows just what a sick mindset these hunters have, and callousness toward wildlife and toward wolves and coyotes in particular. The good news, I hope, is that the Idaho killing contest is not likely to kill many if any. It does show loud and clear why wolf management should not be in the hands of the state and basically managed by hunters and ranchers and mostly right wing hicks and their ilk in the state wildlife agencies. Don’t forget the sneaky politics of wolf delisting in Montana and Idaho: Senator Jon Tester (Farmer, Dixiecrat (states rights over federal), Pork Barrel politician)) and Representative Mike Simpson (R) of Idaho attached a rider to a defense appropriations bill in April of 2011 delisting the wolf in those two states, completely undermining the ESA, opening up a Pandora’s Box of potential political management of species, which is what is going on in ID, MT, WY, WI. This kind of behavior brutalizes us as a society. That our society allows and even condones such behavior shows how civilized we are not. It is a problem of society at large, not just the barbaric perpetrators. It shows a lack of understanding of ecology with wolves having a trophic positive cascading effect on wilderness with man being mostly destructive and farming game animals and minimizing or marginalizing predators.
Well said, Roger. And on another sad note, A&E has decided to resume filming Duck Dynasty with the entire family. I was in WalMart yesterday (I don’t shop there, but my father does), and the place was loaded with Duck Dynasty stuff (even cookies). Ick.
Not that these people would listen but perhaps this might attract good attention to the issue — I think everyone should write Pope Francis and ask him to speak for the wolves. You can also friend Pope Francis and post on his Facebook page. I believe he picked his name for a reason. Saint Francis is a friend of the wolves.
Great idea!…St Francis friended a wolf named ‘Gubbio’ … Maybe people will listen to the pope…We are all Gubbio! Please stop killing us !
You were expecting a different decision from a judge called “Candy” sitting in a state like Idaho at a time when American culture and values are reverting to undisguised barbarism? Dream on.
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