Two More Wolf Zones near Harvest Limits

Two north Idaho wolf hunt zones are nearing the harvest limits. As of Monday morning, hunters had taken 16 wolves in the Dworshak-Elk City zone with a limit of 18, leaving two; and they had taken three wolves in the Palouse-Hells Canyon zone, where the limit is five, leaving two there as well. Two other zones already have closed. The wolf season closed November 9 in the McCall-Weiser zone in west central Idaho, and the Upper Snake zone in eastern Idaho closed November 2. Elsewhere in the state wolf seasons remain open. 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. As of Monday, November 16, the statewide hunter harvest was at 104 wolves. Harvest information is updated as soon as it is reported. Hunters are required to report within 24 hours of harvesting a wolf and then must present the hide and skull of the animal to a Fish and Game office within five days. 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 reminded that it's not enough to buy a wolf tag. State law requires they report taking a wolf within 24 hours and that they check in the hide and skull with a Fish and Game conservation officer or regional office within five days. To report a wolf kill, call 877-872-3190 toll free. The information on the report is essential to Idaho wolf management. To date, Fish and Game has sold 25,212 resident wolf tags, and 666 nonresident wolf tags.