A hunter who took a shot at a gray wolf after being virtually surrounded by a pack in northeastern Washington on Oct. 30 has been cleared of any wrongdoing by Washington Fish and Wildlife police who investigated the incident.
Wolves are protected under state endangered species rules, but exceptions are allowed for force when people or domestic animals are directly threatened. The hunter called officers and reported his chilling story, which is summarized in the agency's Dangerous Wildlife Incident Reports. The story was confirmed by Steve Crown, department enforcement chief. The name of the hunter is being withheld, he said. The man was hunting with several people when he saw a wolf skirting along the brush headed in the same direction he was going. According to the police report, he yelled and shot into the air and the wolf left. The hunter said he saw three additional wolves about 25 yards ahead
of him, and they ran in the same direction as the first wolf. The man then heard a noise in the brush, yelled to see if it was his
hunting partner and got no response. A black wolf appeared within 15-20
yards of and approached him. The man shot at the wolf. He told officers
he believed he hit it, but the wolf ran off.
Investigating officers said they found hair held by a small patch of
hide indicating a flesh would likely be more educational than lethal to
the wolf...more
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