COEUR d'ALENE - A total of 18 wolves have been harvested in the Idaho Panhandle, tops among all the state's hunting regions.

Unit one, the northern most portion of the handle, has produced 9 of 18 wolves taken in the five northern counties.

Phil Cooper, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Panhandle Region spokesman, said it's usually south of unit one, near the St. Joe River, that produces the most wolves harvested when it comes to the northern section.

"That's kind of surprising," he said. "I would have expected more in the St. Joe area."

Yet this year's totals in tag sales and kills are similar to 2009 at this point, the first year for the hunt in Idaho.

"My understanding is we're right on pace this year," Cooper said.

In 2009, hunters actually took 24 wolves legally in the Panhandle, with an additional four killed illegally that counted toward the final tally of 28.

But the season, which began Aug. 30, runs longer this year than in 2009, ending March 31. That could mean more wolves harvested. The state estimates there are 1,100 or so around, and harvest quotas are by region. The Panhandle doesn't have a limit.

So far, 95 have been harvested statewide, according to IDFG statistics.

Dworshak-Elk City region has experienced the second most wolves brought in behind the Panhandle, with 14, followed by McCall-Weiser and Southern Mountains, with 11 each.

In 2009, around 180 wolves were brought in, less than the 220 statewide quota.

One bigger difference this year compared to 2009's inaugural hunt is the number of nonresident tags sold in Idaho.

Total tag sales are nearly identical, with 25,393 tags being sold this year compare to 25,744 in 2009. But nonresidents have snapped up 2,942 tags this year, far ahead of the 684 that went in 2009.

Traps are allowed this year, unlike in 2009, beginning this month. Hunters will be required to register for a course on trapping should they want that permit. They must check the trap every 72 hours, too.

In Montana, hunters have taken 44 wolves out of an overall statewide quota of 220 across 16 hunting districts, according to Daily Inter Lake reports in Kalispell.