Wolf hunt continues

With one hunting district in Northwest Montana closing and another reopening, Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials say wolf harvest opportunities still exist. A total of 54 wolves have been taken in FWP Region 1, which is about 75 percent of the quota of 71 wolves.

Wolf Management Unit 101, which includes areas in Flathead and Lincoln counties west and north of Kalispell, was closed to hunting on Dec. 29 because the quota of 19 wolves was met.

WMU 130, which includes areas around the Middle and South forks of the Flathead River and the Swan Valley, had closed Dec. 5 when it appeared the quota of 12 wolves had been met. But the district was reopened to hunting on Dec. 28 after it was determined that the last harvested wolf had been taken illegally, leaving the total harvest one shy of the quota.

The quota of 18 wolves has not been met in WMU 100, which includes the Yaak River valley and Purcell Mountains north of Libby, with 13 wolves taken. Up in the North Fork of the Flathead, WMU 110, the quota is two and one wolf has been taken.

Nine wolves out of a quota of 17 have been taken in WMU 121. The district includes the Noxon and Trout Creek area along the Clark Fork River, but the district extends pretty far north.

"Hunters may not realize that the Thompson River area south of Highway 2 is in Wolf Management Unit 121 along the Lower Clark Fork," FWP Region 1 wildlife manager Jim Williams said. "This is a good, accessible area for wolf hunting, and there are still eight wolves left in the quota for that district."

Wolf hunters are reminded that they must report a wolf kill within 12 hours by calling 1-877-397-9453. For more information, visit online at www.http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/planahunt/huntingGuides/wolf/default.html or call 1-800-385-7826.