Federal officials deny Montana wolf hunt request

HELENA, Mont. — Federal officials on Thursday denied Montana's request to hunt gray wolves in response to increasing attacks on livestock and elk, leaving a settlement with environmentalists as the most immediate hope for the state to regain control over the endangered predators.

State wildlife officials hoped to exploit a loophole in the Endangered Species Act and hold a "conservation hunt" for up to 186 wolves this fall.

In a letter denying the request, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Deputy Director Daniel Ashe wrote that the proposal was unlikely to survive a legal challenge.

"We fully support sport hunting as an important and effective management tool for wolves managed under state law," Ashe wrote. "However ... we have concluded that the likelihood of successfully defending such a (hunt) in light of existing case law is remote."

Idaho also has proposed a public hunt. The state's Republican governor, C.L. "Butch" Otter, met with federal officials in Boise on Thursday, but it was unclear if Idaho's proposal had been rejected. Otter spokesman John Hanion described the meeting as productive but declined to release details.

A federal judge in August restored wolves across the Northern Rockies to the endangered species list following a lawsuit from environmentalists.

The number of wolves has skyrocketed since 66 wolves were brought from Canada to central Idaho and Yellowstone National Park. The population hit the original recovery benchmark of 300 animals a decade ago and at least 1,700 wolves now roam parts of six states.

Montana officials said Thursday that a settlement with the 13 groups involved in the federal lawsuit is possible. That could bring a quicker resolution to the issue than the two alternatives: a pending appeal of the August court ruling or action by Congress.

"I can't see any circumstance now other than an expedited settlement with the plaintiffs that would allow for a hunt," said David Risley with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Agency attorney Bob Lane said he would not release proposals and counterproposals being traded by lawyers in the case because they are confidential. But he said any deal struck would have to be released for public comment before final approval by FWP officials.

Lane said Idaho is watching the negotiations, but so far is not taking part.

The issue has pitted rancher and hunters, who don't like wolves eating livestock and elk, against environmentalists who are championing the case. The lawsuit stopped plans for wolf hunts in Montana and Idaho.