On Monday, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission (IDFG) announced a proposal to extend the season for wolf hunting and trapping across the state on public and private land. The IDFG offered a total of seven hunting proposals and two trapping proposals.

In general, the proposals aim to extend all hunting and trapping opportunities, including to:

• Extend the wolf hunting season across much of the state from 7 months to an 11-month season
• In southwest and south-central Idaho, allow year-round wolf hunting on public and private land
• Allow use of snares in some hunting units
• Create 173 days of new wolf trapping opportunities on public land

Since federal protections for Idaho wolves were lifted in 2011, the state has made clear its intentions to “manage” wolves with a heavy hand. Not only does the Gem State sanction robust trophy wolf hunting/trapping seasons, it also established a state “Wolf Depredation Control Board” on which Idaho budgets $400,000 annually to exterminate wolves, often by aerial gunning, and even in wilderness areas.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission is accepting public comment on the proposals through February 10, 2019.