BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Most of the management of Idaho's thriving wolf population will be transferred from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the state within months, and even before the animal is pulled from the Endangered Species List, a federal wolf expert said Wednesday.

"The state will do everything we do now. Essentially, Fish and Wildlife disappears," said Ed Bangs, wolf recovery team leader. "It's good news for wolves and for wolf recovery."

Oversight could be shifted by next spring.

The state of Montana will take the same approach.

Idaho and Montana have approved plans to manage the packs. Wyoming's plan was rejected by federal officials and is mired in lawsuits. Until that is resolved, the wolf remains on the federal list in the Northern Rockies.

Fifteen wolves were released in Idaho in 1995. There now are more than 400 animals in more than 40 packs, said Steve Nadeau, Idaho Fish and Game large-carnivore coordinator. By last winter, there were 761 across the three states and that has likely grown to about 850, Bangs said.

"Idaho is the only place where they're still growing because of that huge core of wilderness in the center of the state," Bangs said. "There are about as many wolves as we'll ever have. We did our job under the Endangered Species Act.

"Delisting is still our goal. This is the second best thing," he said.

The new rule would let ranchers shoot wolves they see chasing livestock on private land. People with grazing permits on federal land would also get more leeway.

The state Department of Fish and Game gains more flexibility to step in if it is shown wolves are preventing a population of elk or deer from reaching objectives, Nadeau said.

Currently, under federal standards, "the burden of proof is very high," he said.

The Nez Perce Tribe will continue the role it has had since 1995 in monitoring the wolf numbers.

Recreational hunting and trapping of wolves would not be allowed until they are delisted.

Nadeau said one high point about the state gaining oversight is that instead of just Nadeau and two wolf biologists to run the program in the West, there are about 300 or so Idaho Fish and Game officers available.

Once the wolves are delisted, the state is required to maintain a minimum of 15 packs in perpetuity. They may ultimately be managed through controlled hunts or open hunts like bears and cougars.