A gathering of more than 200 people jammed the Beaver High School gymnasium to listen - with great skepticism - as Division of Wildlife Resources staffers laid out a proposal that would take effect if or when the state assumes management of the wolf following its delisting as an endangered species by the federal government.

But the crowd, consisting of many ranchers and sportsmen, are not excited about the prospect of wolves returning to the Beehive State, and they made their feelings known during a meeting that ran late into the night.

“We don't need wolves in Utah,” said Beaver resident Chad Nowers, a horseman and food distributor. “If people want to see wolves, let them go to Yellowstone.”

Tuesday's meeting was the first in a series of Resource Advisory Council meetings in which the wolf management plan will be presented.

Kevin Bunnell, the DWR's mammals program director, says he expected a chilly response to the plan, but hopes people will hear him out as he makes his presentation at the five scheduled meetings. The plan will be unveiled in Green River tonight.

“People made it clear very early where they stood,” said Bunnell. “But that's what this process is all about.”

Making a clear impact at the meeting were Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, which was part of the wolf plan working group until walking out last month when items it wanted in the plan were rejected. The organization opposed the current plan Tuesday through fliers handed out and comments from SFW members.

Kirk Robinson, executive director of the Western Wildlife Conservancy and a member of the Utah Wolf Forum, says a fair, pragmatic wolf management plan is the only realistic solution if the state does want the ability to mange wolves as they make what he calls an “inevitable” migration down to Utah from the greater Yellowstone area. One wolf has already been captured in northern Utah; another was killed just over the border in Wyoming.

“The wolves are coming here on their own; nobody is introducing them,” Robinson said. “Utah has a chance to come up with a sensible plan, or a crappy, punitive plan that will impede the delisting process, meaning they can come here without the state having any control over it.”

The council voted on the plan after deadline.