RIPP:

As much as I would like to be a pessimist, I have to say I am not totally sure this a bad step.

From what I have been told, this whole affair has been such a monumental funding and political disaster for USF&W that they are looking for ways to divest themselves of the issue.

I suspect they may be seeking to re-evaluate and then based on population numbers simply remove them from the endangered and threatened lists. I do believe there are ways by which they can get around Molloy's ridiculous injunction without proceeding with an eternal "10j" rule. I wonder.

One fact none of the biologists seemed to anticipate was the incredible speed at which wolf numbers grew. "Wolf recovery" in that respect has been wildly successful. A tragedy for sportsmen and game populations.

Regardless, this experience has been so grievous to the sportsmen of the 3 States and so many hold so strong negative views of their respective State Game Departments for involving themselves in wolf recovery against the wishes of the sportsmen they are pledged to support. At least here in Idaho, I have never met a single hunter who believes Idaho Fish and Game has upheld its pledge to "Preserve, Protect and Perpetuate" GAME for SPORTSMEN. They have lost the first love so-to-speak, and in the process totally lost the respect of the sportsmen they are here to serve. At least here, their disregard for sportsmen is motivating a move toward legislation that the Game Department may not be too pleased to see. Stay tuned!