Fourth Wolf Hunt Closed in a North Idaho Zone

The wolf season has closed as of Friday, December 18, in the Palouse-Hells Canyon zone in north Idaho where the limit of five wolves has been reached. The closure affects big game management units 8, 8a, 11, 11A, 13 and 18. Three other zones already have closed. The wolf season closed November 17 in the Dworshak-Elk City zone, on November 9 in the McCall-Weiser zone in west central Idaho, and on November 2 in the Upper Snake zone in eastern Idaho. Elsewhere in the state wolf seasons remain open. But two additional zones are nearing the harvest limits. In the Southern Mountains zone, with a limit of 10, nine have been taken, leaving one; in the Middle Fork zone, with a limit of 17, hunters have taken 15, leaving two wolves before the season closes. Wolf hunters are reminded to check the harvest limit in the wolf hunting zones they intend to hunt. Idaho Department of Fish and Game set wolf harvest limits by 12 zones. The season closes in each zone when the limit for that zone is reached, or when the statewide limit of 220 wolves is reached, or on March 31, whichever comes first. Harvest information is updated as soon as it is reported. As of Monday, December 21, the statewide hunter harvest was 131 wolves. To find out whether a zone is open, call 877-872-3190. The Fish and Game wolf harvest Webpage is updated less frequently, but provides a zone map and other useful information: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/hunt/wolf/quota.cfm. Wolf hunters are required by state law to report within 24 hours of harvesting a wolf and then must present the hide and skull to a Fish and Game conservation officer or regional office within five days. To report a wolf kill, call 877-872-3190 toll free.