While a federal judge ponders whether to issue an injunction stopping wolf hunts in Idaho and Montana, Idaho Fish and Game officials are hurriedly preparing signs to warn away hunters in case an adverse ruling comes down before the start of Tuesday morning's scheduled hunt. More than 10,000 Idaho hunters already have bought tags for the state's first-ever wolf hunt, and in two zones, the Lolo and the Sawtooth, the shooting is scheduled to start a half-hour before sunrise tomorrow. Both those zones are remote enough that some hunters already may have headed out into the woods, and may not be able to get final word by phone or radio on the court decision.

Game wardens are standing by if needed to print out the signs and get them posted, saying, in big, bold letters, "Wolf hunt closed by federal court action," according to Idaho Fish & Game. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy heard three hours of arguments on both sides this morning, but didn't issue a ruling from the bench. Instead, he said he'd rule "as quickly as I can." You can read my full story here at spokesman.com.

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