$77,000

[Ridgeratt]

Even though the eastern side of the state is delisted. The wolf management goals have not been reached as to 15 packs in the state. I don't think you will see a hunting season until those are met. This also may include the fact that western washington hasn't reached the goals as well.
The wedge pack was just set back a couple of years in hopes the management goals will be reached.

[Curly]

I'm not sure why some are blaming the WDFW for this. They didn't put the wolves here. I agree, I hate to see money being wasted on this. But what else could they do?

They could have delisted them. 

I think Wyoming's experience would suggest that is easier said than done.

Exactly. And as I said, if wolves were delisted, they'd still be here. Delisting won't change anything.

It would have made us hunters feel better instead of the WDFW basically giving us the middle finger.  They came out with a crappy wolf plan and then they had to go and hire people to shoot the wolves anyway.  It just seems ridiculous.

So yeah, it wouldn't have really changed the amount of wolves in the state because they are just so hard to control, but it would be nice if ranchers could shoot a wolf when they see one. 

Sportsmen are the ones paying for most of the WDFW budget, and we don't want wolves but we end up paying for wolves.  It is frustrating.

[wence5]

Bobcat, you may not agree with me on the subject, but I believe the state could have moved quicker rather than just wait. Maybe I am wrong in my thinking, but I don't think the commission moved on this quick enough. They held meeting after meeting, didn't listen to the ranchers and sportsman to meet this problem head on, leaned to the wolf lovers side, and chose to keep so many packs and to not disturb them for a 5 years (correct me if my numbers are wrong) before doing any population control of the packs. By then the problem will be totally out of hand, and I will just bet you there are already more numbers than the target amount in five years was supposed to be. Hell, there are already wolves in areas of the state officials swear there are no wolves!
It seems to me the state didn't do enough to make sure the problem didn't got out of hand a few years ago. So now we have a problem, and we will be like Wyoming and Idaho in a few years, only I don't see this state moving to have open hunting of the wolves. I know the Feds are at the root of the problem, but it seems to me the state could have been more proactive on the subject and moved quickly to act. At least the tribal leaders are quick to act to protect a valuable resource.

[PlateauNDN]

it would change alot of things around my neck of the woods.  If they are federally de-listed then it opens the doors to my Tribe managing them and right about now there's a confirmed pack running around not far from my favorite spot to hunt and gather food.  Like I said I need a new headdress and i'm not driving more than 4 hours to get one when they can delist and I can drive to the cle elum area with a little help from all the wolf lovers that know where they are.

Why does Federal delisting stand in the way of you harvesting them? I thought reservations were considered sovereign nations? So how does federal law effect tribal harvest? Honest question, not trying to stir the pot in any way.

Sorry for the late info. i've been pretty busy.  We are a Sovereign but we also have to follow federal guidelines as well.  They are a federally protected species just like sea lions, therefore we cannot legally hunt them.  There would have to be a stong case as to why we need to harvest them while they are still federally protected and that's probably not going to happen.  A Tribe from Wyoming has been fighting for years to legally harvest a bald eagle on their lands for a ceremony and that's taken them almost 60 years to finally get approved and now they have to go back to court for other matters related to the special permit.  With federal de-listing this allows us to create our own management plan within our jurisdiction, which is the reservation and all ceded lands.  So, regardless of what the State says if they were fed de-listed and we had our management plan already developed and in place, I'd try to be the first in line to sign up for a chance to draw a tag.

[fair-chase]

Thanks Plat. 

The whole sovereign nation thing confuses the heck out of me. I guess I just get too hung up on the wording. Seems like it's more along the lines of a U.S. Territory or an independent State than an actual Nation. As far as governing bodies and ties to the Federal Government goes.......So confusing.