So far, hunters have reached half of the total 220-wolf limit set by Fish and Game earlier this year. Hunting could still close before the March 31 deadline if hunters reach quotas set for each zone.

Montana closed its wolf hunting season 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.

Environmentalist criticized the decision, saying it has much deeper implications for the health of the region's wolf population. They said the season is now extended into breeding and denning season, when wolves are at their den sites and therefore particularly vulnerable.

via Idaho extends wolf hunting season, environmentalists say it’s a bad move | KLEW CBS 3 – News, Weather and Sports – Lewiston, ID – Lewiston, Idaho | Local & Regional.

But when the wolves came back “there was an unforeseen bonus: Not only did the elk population go down, but there have been ‘major ecological effects,’ [William Ripple, a professor of forest ecosystems and society at Oregon State University in Corvallis,] says. The elk now steer clear of areas where they perceive risk from wolves, leading to the regrowth of aspens, willows, cottonwood trees, and berry-producing shrubs. That in turn has supported the resurgence of beaver and bird populations.”

via Reintroducing Wolves to Scotland Could Bring Back the Forests of Old : TreeHugger.

BILLINGS, Montana – Montana and Idaho are moving to host the first open gray wolf hunts in the lower 48 states after the animal’s removal from the endangered list across much of the Northern Rockies.

via Two states ready for first open wolf hunts – Environment- msnbc.com.