Montana wolf harvest decision sets 300-animal statewide limit

Helena, Mont. — Montana hunters and trappers got new details on wolf management after the Fish and Wildlife Commission moved ahead with a proposal for the upcoming hunting and trapping season.

NonStop Local sat in on the commission meeting as members debated the plan and heard public comment on Wednesday.

The commission set a statewide wolf harvest quota at 300. That was down from 452 last year, when less than 250 wolves were harvested.

FWP staff had first proposed a quota of 250. Commissioner Ian Wargo then amended the plan and raised that number by shifting wolf management to a regional approach instead of a statewide one.

Wargo said the change aims to help trap and collar more wolves so managers could get a better read on the population.

“It makes it really difficult to manage what you can’t measure and that’s kind of the position I feel like we're going in with these big variations,” said Ian Wargo.

FWP staff used an original model and an updated model to estimate Montana’s wolf population. Their data showed the population remains healthy and above the 450-wolf benchmark needed to maintain at least 15 breeding pairs and state management authority.

The agency also faced criticism during public comment from people who questioned how accurately wolves are being counted across Montana.

Director Christy Clark said wildlife counts are difficult and the agency planned to keep refining its model.

“We’re going to continue to improve that model to the best of our ability. So, we let them decide based on both models, where do you think? You decide. This is all the information that we have. It’s not in our best interest to withhold that information,” said Christy Clark.

Some people who spoke at the meeting pushed for a higher harvest quota.

“Our wolf density population is higher than Yellowstone National Park. So, when you’re talking about regions one, two and three you have to consider that public lands are supporting more wolves than Yellowstone National Park is supporting,” said Bob Rowland, an Ovando rancher.

Others said a 300-wolf quota could reduce the population too quickly when added to other removals.

“If the quota is 300, plus the wildlife service removals and SB 200, you can be in a scenario where the population is declining faster than you would like it to,” said Peter Dudley, a Montana Audubon representative.