| Since the reintroduction of gray wolves (Canis lupus) to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), thespecies has been a source of conflict in the region. Wolf populations have remained steady since their delisting in 2012, but poaching and public calls for the species’ removal are still prevalent. Recent research shows that while ranchers may have been the most adamant opponents to wolf presence in the GYE early in the reintroduction process, hunters are now the most outspoken anti-wolf stakeholder group. Using a life history approach and qualitative data from face-to-face interviews, this project seeksto identify the major sociocultural factors that influence hunter attitudes about wolves in Idaho and Montana. Results indicate a local truth that the reintroduced wolf population is significantly different from the original resident subspecies, and this belief is a primarydriver of wolf opposition among hunters.Key Words: wolves, hunters, reintroduction, local truth, attitudes |