The issue is a bit of a moot point, since the wolves are dispersing on their own into Washington. A regional approach is really what is needed, such as we have with elk (e.g., "Any elk" units in agricultural areas). Core wolf populations could be left in some wilderness areas (and would legally already be so managed in National Parks), with progressively greater wolf harvest pressure away from these areas to meet objectives for huntable game populations and sustainable livestock operations. I suppose I would encourage everyone to ponder the incredible flexibility of the North American Wildlife Management Model: it is flexible enough to allow us MANAGED wolf populations amidst the incredible diversity of other Washington wildlife. I too would be happy to bag a wolf in a legal manner, but only in a way that contributed to sustaining all other large mammals in our state... and reasonable populations of the wolf itself. (And I do feel that the "Shoot, Shovel, Shut Up" mentality does our community a disservice). My two copper cents... Happy New Year all!
