Boise, Idaho News, Weather and Traffic - KTRV Fox 12 - Idaho may phase in wolf hunt quotas
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Associated Press - August 6, 2009 8:04 AM ET
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Idaho Department of Fish and Game commissioners may phase in state hunting quotas for wolves as part of efforts to reduce their numbers to 518, about half the estimated 1,000 predators now roaming the state.
Jim Unsworth, the agency's deputy director, said Wednesday the population goal set a year ago remains "biologically and socially" responsible.
But he says reaching that level may take more than a single year. Wolf hunt quotas are due to be set at the Fish and Game Commission meeting Aug. 17 in Idaho Falls.
Last month, wildlife officials in neighboring Montana voted to let hunters there shoot 75 wolves starting in mid-September.
Lawyers for environmental groups who have sued over the federal government's May decision to delist wolves oppose such hunts, but are waiting to see how many wolves Idaho will allow to be shot before deciding whether to ask a U.S. District Court judge to halt them.
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