Wolf hunting deal faces first test before judge

By MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - A proposal to allow public hunting of wolves in parts of the Northern Rockies faces its first legal test Thursday before a federal judge in Montana who has twice rebuffed attempts to lift protections for the predators.

The hearing before U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula follows a settlement agreement last week between the Obama administration and 10 conservation groups.

Facing pressure from Western lawmakers in Congress, the groups agreed to give up their fight to keep wolves on the endangered list in Idaho and Montana. Protections would remain in place at least temporarily in Wyoming, Oregon, Washington and Utah.

Molloy has rejected past decisions on wolves that he said were politically motivated. Several wildlife advocacy groups are asking him to do so again.