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Wolves Lose at MT Commission Hearing

Apologies for not updating you sooner about the August 19, 2026, Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission meeting. After another exhausting day in Helena, I needed time to process everything. These meetings have been particularly tough over the past six years, especially as proposals and amendments often change for the worse, and commenters only get a minute or two. That limited time makes it more challenging to cover all the wolf and furbearer proposals, including bobcats, otters, beavers, trap setback removals, wolves, and several amendments—leaving me with only seconds for each.

Despite the pressure, I tried to address the main proposals since they’re all important to Trap Free Montana. If time had permitted, I would have refined my remarks on wolves to focus more directly on the central issue. Meanwhile, several participants, both in-person and joining via Zoom, presented compelling and well-articulated comments regarding the wolf proposals.

Yet, rather than exercising caution, the commission chose to increase the department’s proposed wolf quota by an additional 50 wolves. Despite Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) openly admitting uncertainty about the current wolf population—and even acknowledging that their estimates may have been inflated by as much as 34% over the years—the commission disregarded these warnings and opted against a more conservative approach.

For years, FWP has said we have ~ 1,100 wolves, “a stable population”, but that was based on a critically flawed population model, IPOM. Recently, with a mere tweak of the software, forming IPOM2.0, they claim Montana may only have 618 – 836 wolves left. The point is, no one knows, but we have suspected for years that there are far less wolves.

FWP’s response was a proposed reduction to a 250-quota for the 2026/2027 Montana wolf season, after a 458-quota last season which claimed the lives of a reported 247 wolves. The general public saw this quota change as a win for wolves, but it is nothing close to that.

During the public meeting, Region 1 Commissioner Wargo’s amendment was discussed that had arrived just days before. He proposed regional quotas bringing the total quota to 317 wolves.  Commissioners opposed and new numbers for regions were quickly inserted, i.e. Region 1 with a high wolf quota of 131, whereas last year 98 wolves were reported killed by hunters and trappers, and a 92 quota for Region 2, likewise well over previous years kills. Region 3 Commissioner Brooke managed to get a reduced quota of 33 wolves in her region where it is easier to shoot wolves and her amendment passed that reduces individual hunting quotas to 5 wolves in Region 3. Elsewhere, individuals can kill 10 wolves by hunting and 10 by trapping/snaring.

Region 4 was assigned a quota of 28 wolves, almost double their average reported kills. Region 5 now has a quota of 6 and Region 6 and 7 each have quotas of 4 wolves. It is seriously doubtful the Commissioners took a look at past kill reports. Honestly, it was if they pulled them out of a hat to come up and quickly with what seemed a goal of a 300-wolf quota. 

Together, we achieved two genuine victories: both units 313 and 316, bordering Yellowstone, were restored to a quota of just one wolf each thanks to Region 4 Vice Chair Walsh’s amendment. Additionally, the commission rejected Commissioner Wargo’s proposal to extend the wolf hunting season by three months—until June 15—which would have resulted in a nine-month season and permitted the killing of newborn and dependent wolf pups in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

As a result, the total wolf quota for the 2026/2027 season stands at 300. 

After 2 hours of public commenting in person and over zoom, with wolf advocates dominating, Commissioner Wargo, said nothing that was said that was going to change anything. 

What went largely unaddressed during the nearly five-hour public meeting on wolves was the broader context of wolf mortality in Montana. According to FWP, beyond the reported wolves killed by hunters and trappers, an average of 55-additional wolves are documented who die each year due to poaching, vehicle and train collisions, incidental deaths, natural causes, unknown factors, landowner actions, and for livestock. FWP is certain that even more wolves perish annually, underscoring the broader impact that isn’t fully captured by official quotas alone. Yet, therein has lied the focus… quotas. Furthermore, the commission approved 15 wolves total for landowners under SB200, and who can collect $1,000 – $1,500 bounties per wolf, plus no limit, and no commission monitoring of wolves killed by federal officials, i.e. Wildlife Services, FWP, etc.

Therefore, if a mid-point from an uncertain, not peer-reviewed, population model, IPOM2.0, guestimates only 725 wolves are left in Montana and a quota of 300 is hit plus the average 55, that would be a 49% reduction and leave ~ 370 wolves left, falling below the arbitrary 450-wolf population floor, some believe is the ceiling, for Montana’s wolf management goal.

Even if the average known mortalities combined over the last 5-years of 272 wolves shot/trapped and 55 killed from other causes, that results in 327 wolves dead from the population, which is 45% of the ~ 725.

Ultimately, the number of wolves remaining in Montana is unknown, yet fewer wolves are being reported killed even as relentless efforts, with multiple means of unfair chase, to reduce their numbers persist. Unfortunately, the choices made by the commission have only exacerbated the challenges facing the species. Notably, scientific consensus warns that reducing the wolf population by more than 29% jeopardizes their long-term viability, underscoring the urgent need for more responsible management practices.

MEDIA Links:

‘Split the difference’: Fish & Wildlife Commission sets Montana wolf harvest quota. 

Despite overwhelming public oppostion, Montana FWC approves killing 300 wolves.

Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approve lower wolf quota.

 

By and large bobcats also lost:

Region 1 bobcat quota: instead of being reduced to 175, Wargo’s amendment passed keeping the quota at 200 and despite the biologists saying even last year that the quota needed to be reduced to 175 because of the continuing declining bobcat population in NW Montana after years of trapper overkill.

Region 5 bobcats: FWP proposed an increase quota from 50 to 75. The Commission decided it is better to try and kill 100 bobcats, likely because their fur value has greatly increased again.

Region 7 bobcats: proposal to reduce the 600 quota to 300 passed. They have rarely ever hit 300 and that was from years ago.

Otter Region 5: quota increased from 4 to 8, even though they went over quota last year. This is a common response to simply allow more killing.

Removal of Trap Setbacks Passed in Lincoln and more in Sanders counties. Thereby, increasing the public safety threat.

Halting beaver and otter trapping temporarily in beaver translocation areas: Passed. However, they did not include muskrat, despite our request.

Again, friends, this is why we have felt litigation has become our best option.

There are some court cases Trap Free Montana are involved with and some are progressing.
Stay Tuned.
 

Lastly, a well-done enlightening film on the history of wolves is showing in Bozeman on August 29th!
We were privy to seeing the film before it aired, publicly, and it is well-worth it!
 

Thank you’s will be going out this coming week for the wonderful donations and please know we truly value our monthly contributors, too!

It was great seeing some diehard wolf advocates, especially those who made the journey!

  Thank you!

KC York, president, founder and on behalf of the board of directors.

DONATIONS are tax-deductible to Trap Free Montana and are greatly appreciated.

Trap Free Montana was established in 2016 as a 501(c)3.
Our mission is: Connecting hearts and minds through the best available science, truths in trapping, and compassion for the plight of wildlife, and promoting biodiversity, respectful coexistence, responsible stewardship, and trap free Montana public lands.
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