Three hunters received $24,000 in reimbursements for killing 12 newborn wolf pups in Idaho’s northern Panhandle in late April, according to records reported by Public Domain. The payments—$2,000 per animal—have drawn condemnation from conservationists, who say at least one entire litter may have been killed at or near its den.
By Corp and Tech·November 7, 2026·2 min read·302 reads
The records describe the method as “still stalk,” implying the hunters found and approached the wolves before shooting. Experts cited by Public Domain questioned that account and suggested the pups may instead have been taken from dens. Doug Smith, a biologist who formerly led Yellowstone National Park’s wolf program, told The Guardian that killing a whole litter can fracture or dissolve a pack. “The pack’s life hinges on those pups,” he said.
Brooks Fahy, executive director of Predator Defense, called the payments “a goddamned bounty” and said the state should be ashamed. Idaho’s program, run in partnership with the Foundation for Wildlife Management, reimburses hunters and trappers for costs including fuel, ammunition, vehicle payments and outdoor clothing. It is funded by public money, hunting-license revenue and private contributions.
The program operates under a policy framework expanded in 2021, when Republican lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1211. The law allowed year-round wolf trapping on private property, removed limits on the number of tags an individual could buy, broadened permitted killing methods and authorized private contractors to kill wolves. Idaho’s 2023 management plan called for reducing the population to about 650 during spring, when numbers typically peak. The state’s estimated population remained above 1,100 this year, compared with a peak of about 1,600 in 2019.
The dispute comes as federal protections for gray wolves face renewed scrutiny. In September, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Interior Department to consider removing Endangered Species Act protections across the continental United States. Wolves remain federally protected in most of the Lower 48, while Idaho, Montana and Wyoming manage their own populations. Team Wolf gave those three states a “D” in its state management report card; Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Wisconsin also received D grades for humane treatment of wolves, according to the organization.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first!