Why Did F&G Support the 10J Rule and Then Refuse to Use It While Wolves Destroyed Game?

Reprinted with permission from the author.

By George Dovel

In 1995 when I asked one of the Idaho Fish and Game Commissioners why he supported wolf introduction he denied it. But when I then asked him why he allowed the IDFG Position Statement supporting wolf introduction to be published unchallenged before the wolves were released in Idaho, he said, “We were going to get wolves anyway and the 10J Nonessential Experimental introduction gave us more freedom to manage wolves that would impact our big game herds.”

The 10J Rule written in 1994 and in effect until amended slightly in 2003, provided that when a State or Tribe determined wolves were adversely impacting a game herd, all they had to do was ask the feds to capture and relocate those wolves. Yet neither Idaho nor Montana ever made such a request. Read more

Idaho F&G Director Warns F&G Commission Not to Show Controversial Wolf Documents to Public

Black Bear Blog Editor’s Comments: This article was republished with permission from the author, George Dovel of The Outdoorsman. What this editor finds disturbing about the information contained in this article is the brazen attempt to deliberately deceive the public by withholding information known to be fact within the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. If the information compiled in this report is accurate, actions by some could be perceived as criminal at worst. Citizens and sportsmen of Idaho need be concerned that if their fish and game department leaders operate this way, what else have they been restricted from knowing about wolf introduction?
However, author George Dovel in his final comments in this article, asks only that Idaho wildlife officials once and for all admit the facts about wolf introduction and move on in efforts to restore the “billion dollar wildlife resource”.

Update: The below article references and makes quotes taken from the February, 2010 Idaho Department of Fish and Game Commission meeting. The following is the audio recording of that meeting.

[AUDIO:http://www.mainehuntingtoday.com/idfgcommission.MP3]

By George Dovel

Despite Existing Proof, F&G Continues to Hide: 1) Its Role in Wolf Introduction and 2) Its Failure to Legally Remove Wolves Decimating Elk and Deer Populations Read more