Cattlemen and hunting groups contend a proposed plan for managing and restoring gray wolves in Washington state allows for too many wolves.
A 17-member citizen advisory group has been meeting for nearly five years about how best to recover wolves in their historic territory while reducing and managing wolf-livestock conflicts.
Jack Field of the Washington Cattlemen Association says the number of wolves overall should be capped.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife released a revised plan last month. It calls for a minimum of 15 breeding pairs to delist the animals from endangered species protections.
Meanwhile, conservation groups disagree with a provision that allows landowners to kill wolves caught in the act of killing domestic dogs.
The state estimates there are about 25 wolves in Washington.
