A “Wyoming Wolf Impact Rally,” designed to weigh the canine's impact on agriculture and outfitting, will take place on Saturday, May 22, at City Park in Cody.“We do support the (Wyoming) wolf management plan that was heard in Judge Johnson's court,” said rally organizer Tim Hockhalter, of Timber Creek Outfitters of Crandall.

In January, attorneys representing the federal government, Wyoming and Park County stood before U.S. District Judge Alan B. Johnson's court.

The Wyoming lawyers argued that the state should have management of wolves since the federal government granted wolf management to Idaho and Montana.

Under Wyoming's plan, wolves would have been a trophy game animal in northwest Wyoming and a predator in the rest of the state.

Just prior to the wolf's reintroduction in the mid 1990s, the Northern Yellowstone elk herd numbered around 21,000 head, but it is down to around 4,000 head now, Hockhalter said.

A a wolf-management decision must be reached, he said.

Speakers will address the audience from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. They include gubernatorial candidates Ron Micheli, Colin Simpson and Matt Mead. Rep. Pat Childers, R-Cody, and a representative with the office of U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., also will attend.

Also included are Neil Thagard of the Wild Sheep Foundation, Bryce Reese of the Wyoming Wool Growers Association and Jake Clark, Ralston outfitter. Hockhalter will speak as well. He said he wants Wyoming in charge of its wolves.

The event is hosted by Cody Country Outfitters and Guides Association.