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Email: timberwolfinfonetwork@gmail.com
Email: timberwolfinfonetwork@gmail.com

MT: FWP seeks comment on wolf hunting season extension

By Independent Record

Montana’s Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission is seeking comments on proposals that would extend the wolf hunting season and also allow hunters to participate in wolf depredation removals.

If the season extension is approved, the current wolf hunting season would run through Jan. 31, 2012, or until the specific wolf management unit quotas totaling 220 wolves are met, whichever is first. The wolf hunting season is currently set to end Dec. 31.

As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, 79 wolves had been taken by hunters, mainly in northwest Montana.

If approved at the commission’s Dec. 8 meeting in Helena, an additional proposal to allow hunters to participate in wolf depredation removals would go into effect in 2012 and 2013.

Officials say the use of hunters could shorten depredation response times and that livestock producers would have the ability to identify the hunters authorized to participate. Typically, the federal Wildlife Services agency responds to predator calls, but budget cuts have limited its abilities in recent months.

Livestock producers would be expected to allow a reasonable amount of public wolf hunting access during the wolf hunting season. All lethal removals by livestock producers, Wildlife Services or hunters would be consistent with FWP rules and regulations.

Comments can be submitted through 5 p.m. Nov. 28.

For more information, or to comment on online, visit fwp.mt.gov. Click “Hunting.” Submit comments by mail to: FWP–Wildlife Bureau, Attn: Public Comment, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-070

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