The Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association (RCFWA), one of the oldest conservation groups in the state, has decided to try and help the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks fulfill its wolf management goals by offering wolf hunters in the upper Bitterroot a little extra incentive. The organization is offering a special raffle open only to successful wolf hunters in Hunting Districts 250 and 270 covering the East and West Forks of the Bitterroot. Winner of the raffle will have the choice between receiving a CZ M1 American .223 rifle or having their wolf’s hide made into a rug by Game Trails Taxidermy in Florence.
RCFWA President Tony Jones said that so far only three wolves have been killed by hunters in the West Fork where the quota has been set at 18. He attributed the low wolf harvest to a low number of elk and deer hunters in the district this season.
“There are not a lot of hunters out,” said Jones, “so our organization decided to create a little incentive if we could. We know that wolves are here to stay, but they need to be managed. We need to reach the designated quota, no more and no less.”
Successful wolf hunters in the two hunting districts can register for the raffle by calling Tony Jones at 381-0587 or Linda Habeck at 961-1435, or by e-mailing from the organization’s web site at www.rcfwa.org. Jones said that registering for the raffle was completely voluntary and names of the registrants will be kept confidential. The raffle is open from December 1 until the close of the season, or until the quota is reached.