A legislative panel has signed off on a plan that could remove federal protections from gray wolves in Wyoming as early as next year.

Sen. Bruce Burns says the Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Interim Committee approved the plan on Tuesday. Burns says the panel was unanimous in recommending that the Legislature approve Wyoming's wolf-management plan when it convenes in February.

Gov. Matt Mead and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar agreed this summer to classify wolves in most of Wyoming as predators that could be shot on sight. Wolves would be considered protected game animals in a flexible trophy game zone in the northwestern corner of the state around Yellowstone National Park.

The interim committee met Tuesday in Thermopolis.

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