The question of whether Idaho will have another wolf-hunting season next year is up to a federal court, which is weighing challenges to the removal of the gray wolf from the endangered species list - the move that permitted state wolf management including regulated hunts. Thirteen conservation groups sued over the delisting of the wolf in Idaho and Montana, and while a federal judge in September cleared the two states to hold hunting seasons this year - with Idaho's opening first - he strongly suggested the groups could win their overall case, which still is pending.

"The hunts are not our primary concern - it is the federal wolf management plan that we feel is the most significant threat to wolves in the future, because that allows the states to kill off most of their wolves in the future," said Suzanne Asha Stone, Northern Rockies representative for Defenders of Wildlife, one of the 13 groups. "Even though Idaho and Montana started off conservatively, they are allowed to kill most of the wolves in the future."

Idaho Fish and Game said the state had a minimum of 843 wolves at the close of 2009, in 94 packs, including 49 breeding pairs. But Stone said the federal plan could allow that to drop to just 150 wolves in the future. During Idaho's season, 185 wolves were taken compared to a limit of 220, though that could change as the season ran through sunset Wednesday and hunters have 24 hours to report their kills. Montana's wolf season set a limit of 75 wolves. Idaho state sold 31,393 wolf tags, all but 684 to Idaho residents. You can read my full story here at spokesman.com.

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