Montana Wolf Hunting Quota Approved

A quota of 220 wolves was approved for this year’s Montana wolf hunting season by the wildlife commission late last week.

The wildlife commission also added subquota limits for some districts near Yellowstone National Park “after
learning wolves were being drawn to the area due to the park’s
practice of depositing bison, elk and other carcasses near
Mammoth,” according to the Helena Independent Record.

Here are some more details on the upcoming hunt from the Helena Independent Record:

Montana currently is home to at least 556 wolves, and scientific
models show that the quota of 220 would reduce the population by
anywhere from 7 to 25 percent, or 526 to 425 wolves. These
projections include the loss of wolves due to livestock
depredation, accidents and natural causes, as well as births,
immigration and emigration of animals.

Without a wolf hunt this year, the population is predicted to
increase to 632 to 647 wolves, according to Ken McDonald, FWP
wildlife division chief.

The initial wolf hunt in 2009 had a quota of 75 animals, but was
stopped before the season was scheduled to end after 72 wolves were
removed by hunters; the commission didn’t want to exceed the quota.
Last year’s quota was 186 wolves across 13 wolf management units,
but that was blocked by a federal court judge.

Officials expect to revisit the quota number after the season and will likely lower it as the wolf numbers drop.

Licenses can be purchased at a cost of $19 for residents and $350 for
nonresidents. Sales are expected to begin in August.

Idaho is also expected to have a wolf hunting season this year.

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One thought on “Montana Wolf Hunting Quota Approved

  1. This has been a successful wolf recovery program,as the Northern Midwest Recovery Program in Minnesota,Wisconsin,and Michigan has been.The wolves in these programs have been delisted and USFWS has given the state agencies the authority to establish hunting and trapping seasons.As we speak Idaho has set up hunting and trapping seasons for this fall and winter and mandatory wolf trapping classes are being scheduled and quickly filled by resident and non-resident trappers.Montana and Wyoming are soon to follow,as are the Northern Midwestern states,all good news for trappers and hunters.We should all be proactive in the establishment of these seasons by participating in the state sponsored informational meetings that are being held to get feedback from residents of their states.You will not have to go to Alaska to trap wolves anymore,you now can legally trap them in the Lower 48.

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