Wolf population have made a great comback overseas, specifically in Spain where huntingfor them is now available. According to Alvaro Villegas of EuroHunts, Iberian gray wolves in northwest Spain have reached a population of 2,500 to 3,000 animals. That's larger than the wolf populations in any other European country, says Villegas. Because of their stable and growing numbers, hunting of wolves recently reopened in that region of Spain. Hunting Report subscriber Tom Peterson reports being among the first to take one of these animals. He hunted this past October with Safari Brokers, for whom Villegas guided until recently. Seems Villegas and Peterson were hunting Cantabrian chamois in the Reserva Nacional Ancares when Villegas spotted the wolf about 600 yards away. The animal was slowly making its way towards them on the same ridgeline where they were glassing for chamois. Peterson says Villegas and the game warden from the reserve told him it was legal to take a wolf in this region of Spain, and he immediately decided he wanted the trophy, shooting it when it reached 200 yards of their location. Villegas says wolf is strictly a target of opportunity, but that the best chances for taking one are definitely while hunting Cantabrian chamois in the Province of Leon.
As for importing a gray wolf from Spain into the US, we checked with US Fish & Wildlife. Turns out a hunter needs only a CITES export permit from Spain and to inform the US Fish & Wildlife office at the US Port of Entry receiving the trophy. It's all on the US Fish & Wildlife under Imports/Exports. Incidentally, Peterson succeeded taking a bronze medal Cantabrian chamois the same day as his wolf and notes that the people of the town where he was staying made a far bigger deal of the predator. Everyone wanted to see this wolf that someone had successfully hunted, says Peterson. They couldn't care less about my chamois. He also took a gold medal ronda ibex later in the south.
Villegas, it should be noted, has left his position with Safari Brokers (see contact details........(continued)
