Wolf Hunting Seasons Open Next Week

The wolf hunting season opens Tuesday, August 30, in Idaho. Wolf seasons run from August 30 through December 31 in Island Park and Beaverhead wolf management zones, from August 30 through June 30 in the Lolo and Selway zones, and from August 30 through March 31 in the remaining nine of the state's13 wolf management zones. Licensed hunters may buy two tags per calendar year. Wolf tags cost $11.50 for resident hunters, and $31.75 for nonresidents. The reduced nonresident tag price is retroactive - hunters who already have bought tags at the higher previous price are eligible for a refund. Details of the refund policy are forthcoming. Harvest limits are set in five zones - 40 in the Salmon, 60 in the Sawtooth, 25 in the Southern Mountains, 10 in the Beaverhead and 30 in the Island Park zones - to preserve connectivity with populations in other states. Fish and Game will monitor the hunt daily. The seasons will close when the harvest limit for that zone is reached or the season closing date, whichever comes first. To find out whether a wolf hunt zone is closed, call 1-855-648-5558, starting August 30. A wolf trapping season opens November 15 and runs through March 31 in the Panhandle zone, except for units 2 and 3; in the Lolo zone; in the Dworshak-Elk City zone, except Unit 10A; in the Selway zone; and the Middle Fork zone. All other zones are closed to trapping with the option of opening a trapping season in other zones upon commission review in January. Details of wolf hunting and trapping seasons and rules are available on the Fish and Game website under big game seasons and rules at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/hunt/rules/?getPage=63, and they are 1 in a brochure available at license vendors and Fish and Game offices.