I am not sure how Washington is comparable to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming in anything? Why do we need as many packs or breeding pairs as those states? Also it appears that they are hoping that Wolves somehow show up in the Olympics. Is that a good idea really? They didn't talk much on wolf diseases that are being transmitting through other wolves or ungulates? I am guessing the overall public opinion is that wolves are good, but I am not convinced they are good for Washington. If you thought hunting was tough before, it's only going to get worse.
When the wolves do get set up in the Olympics, I would guess that there will be a short term of pretty good elk hunting (maybe three years worth
). I think they'll drive the big herds out of the national park and into areas where hunting is allowed. After a few seasons, the bulls 3 pt + will be taken by the state and tribal hunters in big numbers, then the wolves will have caused a large loss in calves that overall the herd will go way down. I'd guess that when the elk go to the pastures they like in winter, they won't want to leave in summer. By then it would probably go permit only.
