Game and Fish Share has proposed updates to the annual wolf hunting regulations

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) has held statewide meetings regarding proposed updates to wolf hunting regulations in northwestern Wyoming. These regulations are updated annually. Earlier this week, state wildlife officials presented at the Teton County Library in Jackson the data and guidelines that inform their regulations aimed at maintaining a healthy gray wolf population.

Scatter plots and trend lines illustrate the various calculations WGFD uses to set mortality limits – the number of wolves that can be legally killed – across 14 different designated hunting limits in northwestern Wyoming.

Mortality limits apply to all human-caused deaths, both legal and illegal. This year the proposed number is 38.

“The mortality limit is usually not reached. That’s why we call it a limit, not an amount. Because if you call it a quota, people think you have to meet it,” said Ken Mills, a wolf biologist with the department.

The limit was set by WGFD based on a collection of data and analysis that included population targets and other causes of wolf death.

Mills said there are about 191 wolves in the management area, but to maintain a healthy wolf population that number should be closer to 160.

“I think wolf management is really fascinating. It is a data-driven process,” he said.

The health of the state’s wolves has come under intense scrutiny since endangered species protections were lifted and state management took over in 2017. Northern Rocky Mountain wolves are the only population removed from the lower 48 species list.

Recently in the Cowboy State, an incident of alleged wolf abuse that resulted in the death of a wolf in Daniel, Wyoming, attracted international attention. The incidentfirst reported by KHOL, led to more investigationnewly formed parliament subcommittee, lawsuits AND activism.

Lisa Robertson, a Teton County resident and president of a local wildlife group, was one of four residents at the meeting. She would like to see the wolf population in the northwestern part of the state exceed 200 individuals.

“I don’t think wolves should be hunted in our area,” Robertson said. “I think they are self-regulating and we should let them do that.”

Mills disagreed. He said more wolves would mean a less stable population due to more conflicts between humans and farm animals, more competition for suitable habitats and more diseases.Public opinion on proposed regulations that is available onlineends on June 12. The WGFD commission will consider them this summer and expects to finalize the regulations with the governor’s signature shortly thereafter.