They are ignorant, and only want to see cows and herds of unchecked elk. Using them as an example just entirely undermined your argument.
Did you know, that since the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone fish populations increased dramatically? The rivers have become deeper, less sediment laden (turbid, or muddy in layman speak), and are wandering less. Also, did you know, that for the first time in 50 years new Aspen stands are growing in Yellowstone? Why? Wolves.
The behaviour of ungulates changed with the eradication of wolves, and they started feeding on lush streambanks immediately, where in the past they had to avoid them. Streams are a favourite hunting ground for wolves, given they naturally attract prey due to water, and the stream course gives wolves long sight lines up and down the river to spot prey on the banks or crossing the river. The elk and deer ate all the bank supporting vegetation, and turned soil into mud with their hooves. The rivers soon widened, shallowed, and became more turbid, fish stocks declined. With the reintroduction of the wolf, the effects on streams are already being seen, they have cleared, deepened, and fish stocks have rebounded due not only to greater water depth and cleaner water, but they have bank cover once again from overhanging vegetation. In the flat, open streams they were "fish in a barrel" for the birds of prey.
The pure, simple fact is consequences go so much farther than what we think. I couldn't give two s**ts what a farmer in Montana thinks; he's wrong. The farmers there think the natural world that supports their livestock will run just fine without the whole gamut of species that represents a healthy ecosystem. They are woefully ignorant, and I'm hoping you as a hunter can see more clearly. The last people we want making conservation decisions are ranchers and back country bob. Thank goodness wolves are doing well, and I say this as a hunter and as a farmer, as farming is our family business (beef, and poultry). We lose calves to predation, and if we start losing full grown head, that's the cost of doing business in the natural world and so be it. Please don't pretend to speak on behalf of ranchers, unless you are one and I'm mistaken, feel free to correct me. The real world runs a lot deeper than you know.
As for sustainable predator harvest for pelts? Yessir, sounds good. I took this hybrid last year on our property, killed several of our goats. Such is life.
