New regulations in 2021 expanded hunting methods and seasons for wolves, but it appears the wolf population is staying strong.
Following the law’s passage, Idaho wildlife officials also announced the state would make $200,000 available to divide between hunters and trappers who killSchriever gave a breakdown of 389 wolves killed last year by some 50,000 hunters and trappers. He noted that only 72 hunters and trappers killed more than one wolf, accounting for 236 wolves in all that year.
“Those people are very important in the concept of managing the wolf population,” Schriever said, suggesting the reimbursement program could be a key component to target wolves in specific areas of the state. “The reimbursement program may, in fact, be very important in keeping some of these highly skilled people engaged in this for a longer period of time,”Despite the support for hunting wolves, there was concern the new rules could overshoot and deplete the wolf population.