I think that before a hunting season for wolves, deer, elk, whatever game animal is approved there has to be exhaustive studies done to be sure that the population can handle hunting, and in some cases is in need of hunting. I eluded to this on the other wolf thread, but here in PA the elk population was brought to the brink of extinction by overhunting. For that reason, hunting of elk inPA was banned for many years. During that time the population thrived and flourished to a level that would permit hunting. The state has instituted a lottery system whereby you may hunt elk if you apply and are selected. The hunt is very controlled and the number of hunters permitted to hunt is divided into zones and by sex of the animal to ensure the population is not again endangered by the hunting practice. Because of this careful control the elk population in this state has continued to grow and with it the number of hunters allowed to hunt them. This has been a great success story (one of the few) for PA's management of game.

With that said if the same care was taken with these proposed timber wolf hunts in WI the wolf population would never be in danger and in fact should continue to grow as the elk population in PA has.

What you folks from across the pond may or may not understand is that America has not had the benefit of centuries of culture to look back on and realize that change can be and many times is for the better. We are like a skinny boy that had a huge growth spurt and grew into a brawny man. Yes, we are big, but in many cases we are still adapting to the rapid growth we experienced from the 1940's to now. That, coupled with the liberal majority in some states makes it so that you have to be very careful what you vote for, because once it is instituted it is difficult to change. We cling to tradition like a child to its security blanket. So to say an unequivocal "no" to any kind of hunting would be detrimental to our hunting privelege.

A perfect example of that is in NJ, where they have a staggering bear population in the northern part of the state. The population of humans is also very high in that area resulting in many bear/human conflicts. Despite the overpopulation of bears and the lack of available habitat for them, and the trouble and damage that results hunting has not been allowed for bears except for a handful of times because it had been outlawed in the past. Each time a bear season comes along it is subject to cancellation up until midnight of the opener and has been cancelled in the 11th hour on more than one occassion.

So, while it may seem that we are being unreasonable, and in some cases are unreasonable, it is only because we have to defend our hunting privelege at every turn. If we don't, we are one step closer to giving it up forever.