Wolf reintroduction in Colorado

[jmg8550]

They were feeding that herd of elk which makes me think the area cannot sustain the numbers anyways.

That may be true, they were probably feeding them to maintain the herd so more hunting tags could be issued, which in turn helps hunters fill tags, and freezers. It also generates a tremendous amount of revenue, of which we need here. There is no state income tax, so we generate funds through other means such as investments, mining, natural resources, business taxes, etc. The fact that wolves are still federally protected as an endangered species, even though their numbers show they could now be managed, has gotten us into this mess. Wolves have their place, but now shouod be legally hunted, and managed like big game.

We now allow 6 bighorn sheep tags to be issued here, wolves can be hunted on a limited basis as well.

Correction. After doing my own research, and not believing the local news, the state issued 192 sheep tags. There were 25 mountain goat tags issued in 2015.

[cstone]

As I've been told by those knowledgeable in the wildlife management/conservation business; the best way to insure the survival and growth of a species is to encourage regulated hunting of said species.

Once a government bureaucracy can find a way to bring in revenue from something, you can almost be certain they will find a way to exploit that resource. If they can license it, they own it.