Montana’s Whopper Wolf Harvest Increase, Wildlife Action Plan

A state wildlife action plan that would love your input and a new set of wolf hunting regulations.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has seen a flurry of activity with the approach of fall and all the additional hunting seasons that includes. And, if the way wildlife is managed in Montana matters to you, you'll want to do a deeper dive into an action plan for which the comment period is now open.

NEW WOLF HARVESTING REGULATIONS

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission finalized wolf hunting and trapping regulations during a lengthy meeting August 21, where commissioners heard passionate comments from people around the country. And the increases are significant.

The Commission bumped the overall harvest quota from 334 to 458 wolves—a 37% increase—while scrapping most of the old region-by-region caps. The only exceptions are a 60-wolf quota in Region 3 (southwest Montana) and tight limits of three each in the Yellowstone-bordering units 313 and 316. Last season, hunters and trappers harvested 297 wolves, but FWP officials say they’re aiming for a steeper population decline.

The commission also raised personal tag limits from 10 to 15 each, meaning one person could legally take up to 30 wolves in a year. However, five hunted and five trapped wolves would need to come from the wolf-heavy northwest.

Other updates include requiring hunters to turn in hides and skulls they don’t want, and tighter reporting rules. For example, the Commission approved regulation changes to require that all harvested wolves must be presented to FWP for inspection within 10 days of harvest for pelt tagging, tissue sampling, and tooth extraction. A trapper must present the hide and skull for tagging and sampling within 10 days of harvest.

It is now illegal to leave a wolf hide and skull in the field after harvest, even if the hunter or trapper doesn’t want to keep the animal.

There are a lot of other rules and regulations, details of which can be found here.

THE NEW 2025 MONTANA WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN DRAFT

Montana FWP has also prepared the draft of the 2025 Montana State Wildlife Action Plan. The draft identifies Species of Greatest Conservation Need and their habitats, describes threats that impact those species and habitats, highlights conservation actions to address those threats, and outlines a monitoring plan.

States submit these plans to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a 10-year cycle and are required for states to be eligible for grants through the State Wildlife Grant Program. FWP uses the plan to prioritize projects, apply for funding, and implement actions that address specific threats to fish, wildlife, and their habitats.

The draft contains text, tables, and figures that have not been formatted yet. Final draft decisions in part take into account public comment, which is now open through September 14. Read everything you could possibly imagine that could be contained in an action plan such as this, and if so inclined, comment here.