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A point they miss in the article (and it is a super significant point,) is that the "season" and regulations apply ONLY in the so-called Trophy Area. That is the area around Yellowstone Park and Teton park, as well as some of the land within a belt of about 80-90 miles of the park borders. It's not an even border so you would have to consult the regulations for the exact lines.
But it's safe to say that only about 15% to 20% of the State is "trophy area".

In the rest of the state wolves are a big varmint. Shoot on sight policy is legal and welcome. See the map here:
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Wildlife-in-Wyoming/More-Wildlife/Large-Carnivore/Wolves-in-Wyoming

The parts of the state that are not inside the hunting boundary is all "open" and is "shoot on sight" land for hunting wolves every day of the year. And trust me, there are a lot of wolves in the "other land". I have had them nearly kill one of my horses about 150 yards from my house, and I am at least 90 miles away from nearest part of the "Wolf Hunting Area"

The cooperation of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department with the Feds is enough to anger most Wyoming residents. The failure to stand on States Rights (9th and 10th Amendments) and the willingness to cause the problem in the 1st place, so the State Government can generate money by offering the "solution", is the reason most Wyoming hunters and nearly all Wyoming land owners distrust and rightfully hate the government, and the Game and Fish Dept.

They were the ones that caused our wolf problem in the 1st place, and now they want to charge money to fix it.

But if they wanted to truly fix the problem (instead of using the problem as a way to enrich the coffers) it would be very easy. They need to list the wolf as a varmint with a year round season in ALL public lands, and allow them to be shot everywhere on sight, like a big coyote. When the numbers are down to a non-dangerous level, close the season. When those numbers get a bit high again, open the season again. It's simple.

But we don't see that to the level we should with wolves, and not at all with the Grizzlies.

Kudos for the policy on 80% of the land concerning wolves, but it should be 100% of the public lands. Allowing the regulation in the "trophy areas" is just a way to allow the government at both State and Federal levels to have some leverage over the issue, and leave the problem alive, so they can change the rules to benefit themselves when and if they want to. The super high loss of other game and the loss of livestock and dangers to the folks (like me) living on the land is ignored many times if the government can make money from our problems. I do like the fact that on about 80% of the land, the law is now on our side, but leaving that 20% for the Feds and the State to hold onto is enough to make us distrustful.

Seeing the price of the licenses for Grizzlies, and the fact they Game and Fish said they were only going to issue 22 of them made a LOT of Wyoming residents furious. We need to kill off about 300 of them to start with, and the fact they they are a real menace in many areas of Northern and Western Wyoming, killing livestock and causing property damage literally every day, and mauling people several times a year, trying to keep their numbers at a level of only 22 bears less doesn't help. And trying to enrich the coffers of the State on the backs of those who bear the burden of their predations is unforgivable in my (and many others) opinion.

Ok----------- rant over.

Edited by szihn (05/08/18 12:47 PM)