Montana lawmakers are trying to increase wolf hunting. Sen. Bob Brown and Rep. Paul Fielder, from Thompson Falls, have drafted bills that would increase wolf hunting in the state. The bills include some of the following proposals. Increasing wolf hunting by including wolf licenses in big game combination licenses. Reclassifying wolves as predators so they can be managed similar to coyotes. Likewise, the bills as to expanding trapping seasons and trapping practices. Another bill is proposing a private reimbursement for those who successfully harvest a wolf. These bills were proposed by the two lawmakers because they feel the wolf population in Montana has reached a level that requires more aggressive management practices.
“Basically every drainage you go into you find wolves and the packs just keep expanding. With elk and deer numbers, you’re not seeing them up in the hills. You might still see quite a few but they’re pushed down out of the hills and onto private land.” – Sen. Bob Brown
Wolf Management in Montana
In February of 2020, the Montana Wildlife Commission rejected a proposal to increase wolf hunting. The failed proposal included extending the general hunting season and increasing the bag limit for wolves. The Commission rejected the proposal despite hearing comments from concerned residents about the number of wolves in the area. Stating that the plan was “pandering” and chose to keep the current management plan in place.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks estimate that there are 850 wolves in the state. The northwest part of the state holds the highest wolf densities. Wolf supporters worry that if the above bills are passed, the population will fall below a healthy number. Likewise, opponents of the bill say it is nothing more than a bounty system against wolves. Opponents of the bill also state that reclassifying the wolves into predators would lead to the year-round unregulated killing of wolves. However, Sen. Bob Brown says neither of these concerns are valid.
“It’s a reimbursement for receipts, so it’s not a bounty. You’re not going out and getting a new snowmobile for taking a wolf, but it would free up some of these groups that have expressed interest.” – Sen. Bob Brown
Rep. Paul Fielder and Sen. Bob Brown hope their bills will bring attention to wolf management practices in northwestern Montana.
