Governor signs wolf hunting, trapping bill

Gov. Steve Bullock on Feb. 14 signed into law a wolf management bill that received overwhelming bipartisan support in the Montana Legislature and will liberalize hunting and trapping regulations.

The law, sponsored by Rep. Kelly Flynn, R-Townsend, will allow hunters to purchase up to three wolf licenses and lower the price of a nonresident wolf license from $350 to $50.

The new law also allows for wolf hunters to use their license 24 hours after purchase instead of after a five-day wait, authorizes the use of electronic calls and removes the requirement for wolf hunters to wear hunter-orange clothing after the general deer and elk hunting seasons have ended.

The measure will also support science-based efforts by state wildlife officials to manage Montana’s recovered and growing wolf population, Bullock said.

“This legislation leaves management of the gray wolf where it belongs, in the hands of scientists, not politicians,” he said.

The legislation was amended by law makers to allow hunting and trapping of wolves near national parks and will allow wildlife officials to close such areas after established wolf harvest quotas are met. Bullock asked Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to ramp up education programs aimed at preventing the harvest of collared wolves near national parks.

Bullock also directed his staff to determine the best way to re-engage the wolf advisory council, which was created more than 12 years ago to lead Montana’s wolf conservation and management plan discussions.

The recovery of wolf populations in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming is one of the fastest endangered species comebacks on record. The recovery goal for wolves in the three states was set at a minimum of 30 breeding pairs, or successfully reproducing wolf packs, and a minimum of 300 individual wolves for at least three consecutive years.

To hasten the overall pace of wolf recovery, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the mid-1990s released wolves in Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho. By 2002 the recovery goal was reached, and the wolf population has increased every year since.

At least 1,774 wolves in 287 packs and about 109 breeding pairs currently live in the region. In Montana, minimum wolf population estimates at the end of 2011 included 653 wolves in 130 verified packs and 39 breeding pairs.

Montana’s wolf hunting and trapping seasons remain open through Feb. 28. So far, hunters have taken 115 wolves and trappers have reported taking 84 wolves. For more information, visit online at http://fwp.mt.gov.