Wolf hunt is tricky business

The extended wolf season came to an end Wednesday with 166 wolves killed across Montana, well shy of the statewide quota of 220 animals, a telling result that needs to be acknowledged when setting future season regulations.

Many hunters wanted the quota to be higher, but it appears a higher quota could only be reached with a season even longer than the one that was extended through Feb. 15. That is almost certainly impractical because of potential conflicts between hunting and other outdoor activities.

In addition, packs that get shot at are likely to become more elusive in the future, which will probably make it even more difficult to reach quotas similar to this year’s in the future.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission has been wise in showing restraint in setting wolf quotas and regulations and it should continue to do so.

Hunting will at least work to keep down the wolf population, but even opponents of wolves need to remember that the current hunt was OK’d by the federal government only because the wolf is considered to be recovered from endangered status.

A heavily impacted wolf population could qualify the species for federal protection once again, something that should be avoided, considering that it took more than a decade for the state to gain the management authority it now has over wolves.

A DIFFERENT KIND of wolf howled last week — on the wrestling mats in Billings.

The Glacier Wolfpack pinned down its first-ever Class AA wrestling title in dramatic fashion.

Although the Wolfpack led after the first day and entering the championship round, it took an opening-match victory by Shane St. Onge and a loss by a Great Falls wrestler in another match to ensure that Glacier would win the team title.

The Class AA trophy is a welcome reward for the grapplers who sweated their way through a season in what is arguably the toughest high school sport.

Glacier’s triumph upholds a powerful wrestling tradition in Kalispell.

The Wolfpack’s title marks the seventh time in the past nine years that a Kalispell school has won it all on the Class AA mats.

The rest of those No. 1 trophies were won by the Flathead High School dynasty, including the Braves’ amazing five straight state titles from 2006 through 2010.