Helena, Mont. — Montana’s Fish and Wildlife Commission approved this year’s wolf management proposal and set a statewide wolf harvest quota at 300.
That total was down from 452 last year. The commission made the decision after hours of discussion and public comment during its meeting.
Fish, Wildlife and Parks staff reported that both the original and updated models still estimated Montana’s wolf population remained healthy and above the 450-wolf benchmark needed to maintain at least 15 breeding pairs and state management authority.
Some people at the meeting opposed changes to the harvest quota and argued it should be higher.
“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 warned that a 300-wolf quota could push the population down too quickly when combined with 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.