A Grant County hunter turned himself in to wildlife officials after shooting and killing an endangered gray wolf earlier this month while hunting coyotes.

Oregon State Police on Monday detailed the October 6 incident, which took place near Prairie City.

After shooting the male wolf known as OR-22, a radio collared member of the Umatilla River pack that had dispersed into new territory, the man contacted Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials to report the incident. Wildlife officials and state police officers located the wolf's body on private property.

It's illegal to shoot wolves in Oregon except in defense of human life, with limited exceptions for livestock producers under special circumstances.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is in the process of considering whether to remove wolves from the state's endangered species list. That process has sparked heated debate among wolf advocates and enemies.

It's unclear whether the man, who investigators have declined to name, could face charges. Under Oregon law, illegally killing a wolf in Eastern Oregon can bring a year in jail and a fine of up to $6,250.

State police turned the case over to the Grant County District Attorney's Office. An office manager there said the case is being handed off to the Harney County District Attorney Tim Colahan. Colahan has yet to receive the case, and no decision has been made regarding whether the man will face charges.

This is the second recent state police investigation involving wolf death. Officers in August looked into the suspicious deaths of two adult wolves whose bodies were found 50 yards apart. They were unable to determine how the wolves died.

-- Kelly House

khouse@oregonian.com

503-221-8178

@Kelly_M_House