Wolves have grown in number to about 55 since first crossing into the country from Italy in 1992, according to official figures.
But farmers in southern France have complained that the wolves are killing their sheep. The government estimates that wolves killed 2,808 sheep in 2002 compared with 192 in 1994.
The government, which initially unveiled plans to allow the killing of up to seven wolves by the end of this year, announced it would allow a maximum of four to be killed in southeastern France.
The Association For The Protection of Wild Animals said the government move was illegal and the decision to kill up to four wolves was arbitrary and impossible to defend scientifically.