Look at Alaska.. More wolves are killed by trappers/hunters than aerial shooting by far. Aerial shooting was designed as a supplemental measure in certain areas only. In one unit (19 I believe?) It had no measurable results as it was bears not wolves that were causing high mortallity rates on moose.
Anybody who doesn't think that a high population of wolves in one state isn't going to effect neighboring states doesn't know spit about them. They move with the availibility of food sources. Often times hundreds of miles and in conflict with other packs of wolves.
I would be more concerned about WA wolves moving into Idaho etc., remember it took only 6-7 years for ID,MT and Wyoming to be eligible to delist, WA has had next to zero wolf control for the 16 years, by WDFW own say wolves started "migrating" to WA in 2002.
Interesting point on wolf movements, is until the USFWS moved wolves into the lower 48 there were very few, what cause the change that wolves start moving great distances? Years back a WDFW game warden said that the "lookout pack" came from Minnesota. The USWFS had to build pens in the Yellowstone to keep the wolves from going back to their home territory. I would be more incline to believe that wolves eat their way out, not jump hundreds of miles through an excellent prey base to some designated area they dreamed up.
What makes more since to the reason behind wolves moving great distance is they are trying to get back to their home territory after being hard released.
Talking to people in ID, and Montana some years ago, they said they could actually watch the wolves eat their way out as they expanded. I know the USFWS etc. claim that wolf packs don't share a lot of the same county, that has been proven to be false over time, I believe it was in Wyoming that packs actually joined to form bigger packs.
It's taken several years to debunk the lies of the USFWS and it is still happening today. In Alaska and Alberta it is well noted that trapping and open season hunting will not control wolves. I talk to a guy a few years ago who was trapping wolves in Idaho, he said the first year wolves were pretty dumb to the traps and he did real well, the second year they were starting to smarten up and catching was harder by the third year he said he it was even harder. I highly doubt that trapping in Idaho is going to make any difference to WA. I think you are forgetting that WDFW refuse to confirm wolf packs unless they are forced to, you look at H-W wolf reports and start counting and then look at WDFW's numbers. WA ululates are being decimated before our eyes and it doesn't appear as if there is much of a push to do anything.
