• Tom Kuglin
• Apr 9, 2021Updated16 min ago

Tom Kuglin

Gov. Greg Gianforte on Friday signed billsallowing snares to be used for the trapping of wolvesandlengthening Montana’s trapping seasons.

House Bill 224andHouse Bill 225, brought by Rep. Paul Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, are two of multiple high-profile bills dealing with wolves and trapping that have seen significant debate this session. SB 224 adds snares to the list of legal traps for wolves; previously only foothold traps were allowed. HB 225 extends wolf trapping seasons by two weeks earlier and two weeks later. Unless adjusted by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission, the season will start the first Monday after Thanksgiving and run until March 15.

Brooke Stroyke, a spokesperson for Gianforte, said the governor signed the bills to support “the continuing efforts to manage this species and to balance the concerns of communities across the…