Conservation News

Animal Extremists File Suit to Halt Wolf Hunt in Montana

Two animal extremist organizations – WildEarth Guardians and Project Coyote – have filed suit in Montana state court to end wolf hunting and trapping under the framework established by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission. This is the latest in a series of legal actions taken by such groups to thwart wolf management by fish and wildlife officials in several states throughout the country.

“The only option suitable to these extremists is total ‘hands off’ when it comes to wolves, but anyone who knows anything about conservation realizes that effective fish and wildlife management requires just that – management,” said Todd Adkins, vice president of government affairs at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “These groups simply don’t care about the health and abundance of wildlife, it’s all about the wolves.”

Effective wolf management has proven among the most contentious issues facing fish and wildlife officials since wolf populations began to be reintroduced across the United States in the early 1980s. With sustainable populations in many states, anti-hunting and anti-trapping groups regularly attempt to shutter wolf hunts or trapping programs, irrespective of the science, to further their cause.

“In case after case, what we see is the animal-rights industry using wolves to raise money even though wolf populations are exceeding population targets in nearly all cases across their range,” said Adkins. “Filing one frivolous lawsuit after another attacking hunters, trappers, and wildlife managers means big dollars for their radical agenda.”

The Sportsmen’s Alliance is currently reviewing options on how to best assist sportsmen and -women protect their freedom with this latest attack in Montana.  Rest assured, we will continue to monitor the situation and immediately notify our members and supporters of further developments.

About the Sportsmen’s Alliance

Working in all 50 state legislatures, the Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing, trapping and recreational shooting – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public and youth education, legal defense in state and federal court and research to guide the decision-making process of all involved. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance as www.sportsmensalliangce.orgFacebookTwitter and Instagram.

Related Articles

One Comment

  1. I’m an avid backcountry elk and deer hunter in Montana. I’m also a member of WildEarth Guardians and, in fact, I’m proud to work for WildEarth Guardians.

    Literally as we filed this lawsuit I was hauling elk quarters out of the backcountry on my own back in a frame pack. All the hunters I hang out with—every single one of them very successful hunters, filling their freezers annually with elk, deer, and antelope—would never even consider hunting or trapping wolves. We have great reverence for wolves and other native wildlife like grizzly bears. If these native creatures can’t live on public lands, where are they supposed to survive and thrive? But then again, maybe that’s the point. Some of you folks want these native species eradicated from the landscape.

    Right now in Montana it’s legal for one individual to kill 20 wolves in a season through cruel hunting and trapping practices. It’s legal for a trophy hunter to stand 10 feet outside of Yellowstone National Park, toss hamburgers on the ground as bait to lure wolves out of the park, and then shoot them. Even worse, anyone can offer limitless bounties in exchange for dead wolves. And Montana allows night hunting of wolves on private land using night-vision scopes and we now allow snaring. This isn’t science-based “management” of a native species following the North American Wildlife Conservation Model—which you all claim to support. No, this is just bloodlust and a state-sanctioned eradication program.

    As a longtime Montanan and an elk and deer hunter and and avid “sportsmen” (whatever that really means), I’m proud that we filed this lawsuit to end the unscientific slaughter of wolves in Montana. And I hope we will be successful.

Check Also
Close
Back to top button