Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission sets new wolf hunting quota

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission has adopted new wolf hunting and trapping regulations, setting a 300-wolf quota for the upcoming season. This decision serves as a middle ground between the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MTFWP) department recommendation of 250 wolves and the previous year’s quota of 452.

The new quota follows the release of a revised population model, the integrated Patch Occupancy Model (iPOM 2.0). This updated model estimates the statewide wolf population at approximately 725, a significant decrease from the previous estimate of roughly 1,094. Officials noted that this change suggests wolf populations may have been overestimated for years rather than indicating a sudden recent decline.

Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of independent peer review for the iPOM 2.0 model and the impact on specific areas like Yellowstone National Park, where canine distemper has recently affected pup survival rates. Advocates suggest that management should proceed with caution to ensure the population remains high enough to avoid federal government intervention.