Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Announces Decision to Keep Wolf Hunt Open

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Message from Big Game Forever:

News Alert-Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Announces Decision to Keep Wolf Hunt Open

"Folks,
For the last several weeks, Big Game Forever has been in a lawsuit with the state of Montana over the decision to prematurely close the wolf hunt in several management areas of the hard-hit Northern Yellowstone elk and moose herd.
We are pleased to announce that the wolf hunt will now remain open in these areas for the rest of the season.  Over the weekend Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has announced that they will allow these areas to remain open until the close of the statewide wolf season.  A Commission meeting which was scheduled for tomorrow to reconsider the wolf hunt closures has now been cancelled. 
Here is a copy of the release from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks:http://fwp.mt.gov/news/newsReleases/headlines/nr_4063.html
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    January 25, 2013
Contact: Ron Aasheim: 406-444-4038; raasheim@mt.gov
 
FWP TO KEEP HUNTING AND TRAPPING OPEN NEAR GARDINER
State wildlife officials today canceled a Jan. 29 conference call to reconsider a recent court-challenged decision to close the wolf hunting and trapping seasons in two areas north of Yellowstone National Park.
The areas were closed by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission on Dec. 10, in response to concern about the harvest of wolves with collars that supply scientific information to YNP researchers. The seasons, however, were reopened by the district court in Livingston in response to a lawsuit brought by several sporting groups and a state representative from Park County.
FWP officials said today that the best course of action is to fully follow the judge's Jan. 18 order that prohibits FWP from enforcing the wolf hunting and trapping closure.
"The judge clearly stated that FWP would have to return to the court to apply for an order to dissolve the injunction and have proof that requisite public notice was given. We have simply run out of time,” said Ron Aasheim, FWP’s spokesman in Helena.
Aasheim noted that wolf hunting and trapping season is set to end in 34 days, on Feb. 28, and that obtaining a hearing and court action prior to the end of the wolf hunting season would be unlikely.
End
 
 
Big Game Forever applauds Montana FWP for this decision.  This is a great step on forward for toward elk, moose and deer recovery in these areas.  Big Game Forever is also grateful for our co-plaintiffs Citizens for Balanced Use, Montana Guides and Outfitters, Montana SFW and Alan Redfield for joining this effort.
 
On a related note, a bill which is moving through the Montana legislature, HB 73 will prevent this type of closure in future years.  Not only does HB 73 prevent creating of harvest buffer zones and premature wolf harvest closures, it also includes provisions aimed at increasing wolf harvest to improve recovery of elk, moose and deer in Montana.  Last week, HB 73 passed the Montana House 96-3.
 
Thank you to Big Game Forever supporters from Montana and all over America for sending messages and making phone calls in support of recovery of the Northern Yellowstone Herd.  With your help, Big Game Forever will continue our tireless legislative and political efforts to address some of the most challenging threats to hunting and wildlife in America. 
--
Ryan Benson
http://biggameforever.org/
ryandbenson@msn.com"

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