Idaho Wolf Hunting and Trapping Seasons Continue

Idaho's second wolf harvest season opened statewide on August 30. Wolves were removed from the endangered species list in Idaho and Montana on May 5, 2011, when President Barack Obama signed legislation that reinstated the 2009 federal rule, which turned over wolf management responsibility to Idaho and Montana. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission adopted wolf hunting and trapping seasons and regulations on July 28. Harvest limits were established for five of the 13 wolf management zones. Seasons closed December 31, 2011, in the Island Park and Beaverhead wolf management zones, and are scheduled to close in nine zones on March 31, unless harvest limits are met first. Seasons in the Lolo and Selway zones will close June 30, 2012. Idaho's first wolf trapping season opened November 15. All individuals interested in trapping wolves are required to complete a wolf trapper education class held by Fish and Game before trapping for wolves. Capitalizing on experienced wolf trappers and biologists, Fish and Game developed a course similar to what has been provided to trappers in Alaska. The course focuses on trapping rules and regulations, ethics, wolf management and effective wolf trapping. From September 30 through January 20, Fish and Game conducted 27 classes around the state and certified 577 individuals to trap wolves. Interest has been high, and 10 additional classes have been scheduled for the end of January through mid-February. Fish and Game sold 32,273 wolf hunting tags for the 2011 hunting season, and 7,057 tags for the 2012 hunting season, as of January 30. Fish and Game has sold 416 wolf trapping tags for the 2011-2012 trapping season. As of January 30, 264 wolves had been legally harvested - 204 by hunters and 60 by trappers. For information about wolf hunting and trapping seasons and rules go to: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/.