Birdie, they did that. And that is how they lost the wolves the first time. Pretty much a proven point now.
Maybe.
I would argue traps and poison tipped the balance rather than shooting, same as how 1080 {??) explosive poison traps temporarily eradicated even coyotes from some places.
Still is legal to shoot mt. lions as vermin across Texas, tho I would agree they are a special case, being as elusive as they habitually are. We have 'em within the city limits at times.
How about shoot wolves on sight on private lands?
Certainly any wolf seen around livestock is a threat, at least equal to a stray dog. Leastways I would think so if it was my money on the hoof at risk.
And just to correct an earlier point: ALL predators kill for the joy of killing even when not hungry. Pretty much an established principle of animal behavior that the various components of predatory behavior are rewarding in of themselves to the animal, independent of actual feeding.
Birdwatcher
