October 6, 2009: Montana's wolves surprisingly vulnerable during inaugural hunt 

The state's inaugural and highly controversial wolf hunt began Sept. 15 in four small districts in which deer and elk hunts also are in progress. The statewide hunt begins Oct. 25.

In the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, which is along the northern border of Yellowstone National Park, nine wolves have already been killed. The state set a quota of 12 in this area.

Carolyn Sime, wolf program coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks told the Billings Gazette: "We didn't think wolves would be that vulnerable to firearms harvest. The uncertainty is why we went with the low quota."

The agency, which has a separate web page to keep tabs on the number of kills, did not expect the quota to be reached before the statewide season opens, but that's now likely. The statewide quota is 75 wolves.

Montana's wolf population at the end of 2008 was believed to number 500. More than 10,500 wolf hunting licenses have been issued. -Copyright © 2009 Los Angeles Times