The Idaho wolf hunting season ended March 31, but four backcountry outfitters in the Panhandle have the opportunity to harvest five more wolves each.  The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) announced Friday that the wolf control hunt will last until the end of June.

The move comes as IDFG cites concerns that elk herds in the area aren’t recovering as well as hoped, and wolf predation is believed to be a factor.  Black bears and mountain lions are other predators active in the Lolo zone; those outfitters selected by IDFG to receive the wolf tags are already actively participating in the spring bear season, which runs through June 30.