Montana wildlife officials are considering a bold move to bring wolf numbers back down and give deer, elk, and ranchers some relief. The state’s Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is proposing to increase the wolf harvest quota to 500 animals for the 2025-2026 season—nearly half of the estimated statewide population of 1,091 wolves.
Under the plan, hunters and trappers could take up to 15 wolves each. Supporters say the move is long overdue. “Northwest Montana is densely populated with wolves and is also in a part of the state where people are clearly frustrated by (lower) deer and elk populations,” said Ryan Bronson of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) in Cowboy State Daily. He noted that FWP “has a proven track record of managing Montana’s wolves” and should have flexibility to adjust quotas as needed【source: Cowboy State Daily】.
The proposal comes after several legislative pushes in recent years to reduce wolf numbers to what lawmakers call a “sustainable level.” The 2021 law requires FWP to decrease wolf populations to help rebuild struggling big game herds and minimize livestock losses. During the last season, hunters and trappers took 297 wolves—a number some believe isn’t enough to bring populations under control【source: Daily Montanan】.
FWP Chief of Conservation Policy Quentin Kujala explained the plan’s intent: “We are committed to following the law to reduce wolf numbers to a sustainable level, which means ensuring Montana has a healthy, state-managed population”.
Not everyone agrees. Critics, like Lizzy Pennock of WildEarth Guardians, call the proposal “outrageous” and warn it could harm genetic diversity and impede the species’ natural expansion into other areas.
She argued, “If you look at the wolves in Yellowstone, they manage themselves. The No. 1 killer of wolves is other wolves”.
Lawmakers backing the plan, however, believe it’s about time the state gave hunters and trappers the tools to do the job. “Our deer, elk, and moose cannot continue to take this pressure and survive,” said Rep. Shannon Maness during debate on a related bill earlier this year.”
FWP’s proposal doesn’t include year-round seasons or unlimited quotas—ideas floated during legislative hearings—but instead aims for targeted management in areas with the densest wolf populations.
Opponents argue that livestock depredation by wolves is already low, with confirmed wolf kills of livestock down significantly from historic highs. In 2024, wolves were blamed for 62 livestock deaths statewide, compared to over 2.5 million cattle in Montana overall (Daily Montanan). But ranchers point out that even a handful of losses can devastate small operations, and many welcome stronger predator control.
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will take up the proposal at its Aug. 21st, 2025, meeting. For hunters and trappers eager to see elk herds rebound and predator numbers brought in check, that meeting could mark a turning point in Montana’s predator management.
As Bronson summed it up: “We’re thinking of balanced management, and that means balancing our forest management and managing out predator populations”.
When the wolves were pretty much gone the environment adjusted itself as it always will, within reason, and what did the douche bags do? They reintroduced the wolf back into where they no longer were. It upset the whole applecart. The same with grizzlies. If these dumbasses would just leave it alone it would right itself!
if only “Lizzy Pennock, carnivore coexistence attorney for WildEarth Guardians”, actually lived near or had livestock near wolves she might have a different outlook. only out of touch with reality cosplayers think like she does.
No one could have predicted this, BS, the government didn’t because they wanted to appease the anti’s, but most of us hunters knew what would happen when these wolves were released. Not only that but when there’s plenty of food animals produce more young and until the idiot government and anti’s got involved there was plenty of game and calves. It’s what happens when you let the inmates run the asylum. They refused to listen to anyone but the “EXPERTS”?
Reading this, I couldn’t help but think about “The Big Bad Wolf” official video by Duck Sauce. I fear that if I post a link to that bizarre video, I might be permanently banned, so I will leave it to the viewer to look it up.
Randy Shelby, whose YouTube channel is called ‘The Real Gunsmith’, recently mentioned a departed old timer named Gap Pucci. Gap was a Wyoming hunting guide and he wrote several books which are still available. Gap reportedly described the local wolves in at least one of his books. They were, according to Randy, dark in colour and significantly smaller than the—introduced—Canadian Grey Wolf. The grey wolf, is therefore, an exotic species in Wyoming. You could argue that it is an invasive species in Wyoming and Montana BUT … discussion often works better than outright confrontation. Enjoy your summer. Cheers from NZ.