There’s a story in the Dec. 15 issue of USA Today saying that the gray wolf population in Yellowstone National Park has dropped to 116 animals, down 33 percent from an all-time high of 174 in 2003.

That decline is due largely to the fact that wolves have killed a heck of a lot of elk in Yellowstone—the park’s elk herd has dropped from 17,000 to 6,800 since wolves were reintroduced—and are now having a more difficult time finding food. According to Doug Smith, leader of the Yellowstone Wolf Project that studies and manages the animals, wolves are killing one another more frequently in the park as they compete for elk, their primary food source.

The story also points to other potential causes of wolf mortality, such as parvovirus, mange, and humans. Wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains were removed from the Endangered Species List earlier this year, and hunting seasons for the animals commenced in Montana and Idaho this fall.

But one line in the story, referring to state management plans for wolves, is troubling. The writer states that the group Defenders of Wildlife “faults the states' management plans to reduce wolves from 1,650 to 450.”

That is utterly false.

Montana’s wolf quota was 75, and hunters only killed 72 wolves—out an estimated statewide population of 500—in a hunt that ended in mid-November. Idaho’s quota is 220 wolves out of a population of 850 in that state. To date, approximately 120 wolves have been killed in Idaho in a season that is scheduled to run until March.

So, even if Idaho reaches its quota, hunters will have killed less than 300 wolves, which is nowhere near Defenders of Wildlife’s claim that the states will reduce the total wolf population from 1,650 to 450. (Wyoming has approximately 300 wolves, which are still protected by the Endangered Species Act and cannot be hunted.) Even when you factor in “problem” wolves, such as the ones that harass livestock, that have been or will be killed by state agents, you still don’t come close to the numbers offered up by the anti-hunters.

And when you consider that wolf populations grow by about 20 percent each year through reproduction, next spring’s pups will offset the wolves killed by hunters this year, resulting in population stability, not decline.

Approximately 25,000 hunters and shooters threw their name into the hat for a chance to win a Henry Lever Action Youth Model .22 during our November Gift Giveaway.

Accompanying the avalanche of entries we received were many heartfelt promises to give the gun to a daughter or grandson, which is exactly what Henry Repeating Arms hoped for when they donated the rifle—and 49 others—to NRA Youth Programs back in September.

It’s encouraging to see so many people who want to get kids involved in hunting and shooting, and I wanted to share just a small sampling of the touching e-mails we received from NRA members who wanted to win the gun so they could pass it on to a youngster.

“I would love to have this rifle for my son. He is 8 years old and has Asperger’s Syndrome (high-functioning Autism and ADHD). Every doctor says being outside, active, and with animals is good therapy. He loves to go to the gun range with me, carve wood with me, work on cars with me, do yard work with me—and now is wanting to go hunting with me.”

“I’d love to win this Henry rifle as a Christmas gift for my 13-year-old grandson. I taught his dad to shoot and respect the rules; his dad is teaching him the same thing. His dad (my son) is also an NRA member of several years standing, and the gift of a rifle for my grandson would be a good way to begin his own NRA membership.”

“Dear NRA: Thanks for the opportunity in possibly winning the Henry Lever Action Youth Model .22 rifle. I was planning on buying my son one when, like most unfortunate Americans, I got laid off from my job. My son still talks about it, but he understands and is good about it. If he wins this it would be an awesome Christmas gift. Thanks again for the opportunity.”

“This is the perfect starter gun for my eldest granddaughter. She is the daughter of a Marine (my eldest son) who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and was honorably discharged at the end of his tour. She and her dad would be thrilled to start out her shooting experience with an American legend.”

The winner of the rifle, Bob Jerdon of Northampton, Pa., has plans to give it to his 9-year-old son for his 10th birthday. Fittingly, Mr. Jerdon was in a tree stand on the opening day of Pennsylvania’s firearms deer season when we notified him he had won the rifle.

In response to the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received from last month’s giveaway, we are offering a SECOND Henry Youth Model .22 as our gift for the month of December. To get your name into the drawing, send an e-mail to huntersrights@nrahq.org and put “Gift Giveaway” in the subject line. We’ll draw the winner at random at the end of the month.

Even if your name isn’t drawn, please take the time to visit www.henryrifles.com, where you can get a free copy of Henry’s color catalog and see the full line of high-quality, American-made guns the company offers for kids and adults alike.