Idaho extends wolf hunt 3 more months

Boise, Idaho (AP) – Hunters will have three more months to hunt
wolves in Idaho.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission voted Thursday to stretch the
season to March 31, 2010 in the Panhandle, Palouse-Hells Canyon,
Selway, Middle Fork, Salmon, Southern, and South Idaho zones.
Hunting in those zones had been set to expire Dec. 31.

Hunting could close before the March 31 deadline if hunters
reach quotas set for each zone.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game set a quota of 220 wolves
for this year’s inaugural hunt. So far, hunters have reached half
that total, bagging 110 of the predators as of Thursday.

Montana closed its wolf hunting season on Monday after nearing
its quota of 76 wolves, or about 15 percent of Montana’s total wolf
population.

Idaho officials estimate the state’s population between 800 and
900 wolves.