Montana officials urge judge to lift limit on wolf kills

By AMY BETH HANSON
Associated Press

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana officials are asking a judge to lift a restraining order that restricted wolf hunting and trapping in the state. Monday’s hearing before District Judge Chris Abbott in Helena comes as Montana and other Republican-led states have moved in recent years to make it easier to kill the predators. Montana’s loosened wolf-hunting rules drew sharp criticism after 23 wolves from Yellowstone National Park were killed last winter, including 19 by hunters and trappers in Montana. Environmentalists in October sued the state over its regulations.