Posted: May 6, 2008  10:40

Idaho Fish & Game is currently requesting website comments on its latest plan to manage wolves in our state. I am compelled to write IDF&G on behalf of our saveourelk.com website and approximately 70,000-75,000 concerned citizens and sportsman throughout Idaho who signed our initiative petition calling for the implementation of immediate strict wolf control measures within our state.

In the beginning the majority of Idaho citizens overwhelmingly opposed introduction of this non-native wolf into Idaho. This is evidenced in our Legislature's intent as witnessed in the passage of Joint Memorial 5, which opposed the Canadian gray wolf introduction.

However, in spite of overwhelming public opposition, IDF&G unilaterally proceeded without consensus or agreement and allowed the introduction of the Canadian gray wolf into Idaho.

To address concerns voiced by Idaho citizens and sportsman, IDF&G developed a draft wolf management plan which established the maintenance of a minimum population of 10 breeding pair or 100 wolves, with a threshold targeted population level of 150 wolves. In 2007 and 2008, IDF&G widely circulated this proposed wolf management plan throughout our state, requesting citizen comments and input which were theoretically incorporated into the final draft of the State Wolf Management Plan.

This final Wolf Management plan was approved by the U.S. Dept. of Interior and USF&W Service as a condition in finally announcing wolf delisting. Idaho sportsman took IDF&G at its word and trusted that the department would follow through with its commitments in implementing the approved wolf management plan when wolves were finally delisted.

This latest proposal suggesting management of wolves at a much higher 700 population level is totally unacceptable and inconsistent with the levels included in the final approved State Wolf Management Plan. What credibility does the IDF&G have when you develop, circulate and gain sportsman approval of a management plan identifying a target level of 150 wolves; and when wolves are finally delisted, doing an about-face and proposing a substantially higher targeted wolf population of 700 wolves?

Suffice it to say that if IDF&G would have been forthright with these true intentions in the beginning, the proposal would never have gained acceptance and would have received a massive backlash from concerned sportsman. Most knowledgeable sportsman view this latest proposal as a "bait and switch" tactic that is totally unacceptable.

We further demand that Cal Groin and IDF&G live up to their commitment with the approved Idaho Wolf Management plan and manage the wolves accordingly.