An open house will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. tonight at Jorgenson's Inn, 1714 11th Ave., in Helena to hear testimony on proposed revisions to the federal management plan for gray wolves in the Northern Rockies.

This is the only public hearing in Montana on the issue. Oral testimony will be accepted from 7 to 9 p.m., and will be limited in length to accommodate all who wish to comment.

Federal officials are considering allowing people to shoot wolves on public lands in southern Montana and Idaho if they're "in the act of attacking" dogs or stock animals like horses, mules, donkeys or llamas. In addition, the government may allow those states to shoot wolves if they're killing big game animals in a population that's smaller than what the state deems acceptable. That action would have to be part of a plan approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Wyoming would operate under the same revisions if the state can come up with a plan acceptable to the federal USFWS for managing wolves after they're taken off the endangered species list.

Plans in Montana and Idaho already have been approved by the USFWS, and they carry the same provisions as those being proposed by the federal government. The changes are being requested, however, since the states have to follow the federal rules for wolf management until they're delisted.

Gray wolves are supposed to be removed from protection under the Endangered Species Act by mid-February 2008. Since the earliest these proposed revisions can be instituted is this fall, the revisions would only be in effect for a few months n unless lawsuits are filed opposing the delisting of the wolves, which is anticipated.

Opponents to the changes say this is an attempt by the Bush administration to undercut endangered wolf recovery effort in the northern Rockies, by broadening the circumstances under which wolves can be killed.

Supporters say that with 1,200 wolves roaming the Rockies, including 89 breeding pairs, the wolves have surpassed the recovery goal of 300 wolves and 30 breeding pairs.

The revisions only take place in the "nonessential experimental populations," which generally includes an area in eastern Montana south of the Missouri River, then follows Interstate 15 south to Interstate 90, across Montana to Idaho.

Written comments can be submitted at the hearing, or should be sent by Aug. 6 to U.S. Fish and Wildlife service, Western Gray Wolf Recovery Coordinator, 585 Shepard Way, Helena, MT 59601. They also can be e-mailed to:

WolfRuleChange@fws.gov, with the subject line identifying RIF number 1018-AV39.