MontanaWolf managers would use regional rules and additional control methods
Montana’s wildlife commission would set regional wolf-management rules, while landowners and some public-land permittees would follow separate conditions for taking wolves.
What it does
Wolf managers would tailor harvest rules by region and could allow more licenses, multiple animals, bait, and night or thermal-scope hunting under the listed rules.
Landowners or their agents could take a threatening wolf on the landowner’s property without a wolf license, but reporting, carcass preservation, yearly limits, and possible moratoriums would apply.
Public-land permittees who have lost livestock to wolves would need a special kill permit to take a wolf without buying a regular wolf license.
Argument forRegional rules and additional control methods could help managers respond to areas with more wolves and protect people, livestock, and dogs.
Argument againstBroader harvest options, including unlimited takes under one license, could reduce wolf numbers and make yearly population limits harder to manage.
More detail
The Fish and Wildlife Commission would apply different wolf-management techniques in each administrative region and authorize listed hunting and trapping methods. The rules would apply to wolf management, including hunting and trapping seasons, licenses, bait, snares, artificial light, and night-vision, infrared, or thermal scopes. Regions with more wolves would receive the most liberal harvest rules. Wolf seasons must aim to reduce the population to a sustainable level, while keeping at least 15 breeding pairs. The supplied text contains both “may” and “shall” in the direction to apply different techniques, so the exact requirement is unclear. Any use of bait must keep traps or snares at least 30 feet from exposed bait visible from above. The measure states that it would take effect when approved, but the supplied record does not show whether that approval occurred.
The commission would adopt rules allowing a landowner or the landowner’s agent to take a wolf without buying a Class E-1 or E-2 license. This applies to wolves on the landowner’s property when the wolf may threaten people, livestock, or dogs. The rules must follow Montana’s gray wolf conservation and management plan and the commission’s adaptive-management principles. The person taking the wolf must promptly report it to the department and preserve the carcass. The commission must set a yearly total limit and may impose a moratorium before reaching that limit. The provision would apply after the measure takes effect upon passage and approval.
A public-land permittee who has experienced livestock depredation would need a special kill permit to take a wolf on public land without a regular wolf license. This applies to public-land permittees taking wolves on public land after livestock depredation. The special permit must be authorized under section 87-5-131(3)(b). The provision does not remove the special-permit requirement. The requirement would apply after the measure takes effect upon passage and approval.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Sep 29Chapter Number AssignedLatest
- Sep 29(H) Signed by Governor Greg GianforteMajor
- Sep 23(H) Transmitted to GovernorTo Governor
- Sep 22(S) Signed by PresidentMajor
- Sep 3(H) Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Aug 26(H) Returned from Enrolling
- May 8Chapter Number AssignedMajor
- May 5(H) Signed by Governor Greg GianforteBecame Law
- Apr 25(H) Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Apr 25(S) Signed by PresidentPassed Senate
- Apr 23(H) Signed by SpeakerPassed House
- Apr 14(H) Returned from Enrolling
- Apr 12(H) Sent to Enrolling
- Apr 12(H) 3rd Reading Senate Amendments
- Apr 11(H) 2nd Reading Senate AmendmentsMinor
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 11(H) Scheduled for 3rd ReadingMinor
- Apr 11(H) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Mar 31(S) Returned to House with Amendments
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 31(S) 3rd Reading
- Mar 31(S) Scheduled for 3rd ReadingMinor
- Mar 28(S) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 28(S) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Mar 26(S) Committee Report - (S) Fish and Game
- Mar 25(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Fish and Game
- Vote recorded be_concurred_in_as_amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 15(S) Hearing - (S) Fish and Game
- Mar 3(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Fish and GameMinor
- Feb 26(S) 1st Reading
- Feb 25(H) Transmitted to Senate
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 25(H) 3rd Reading
- Feb 24(H) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded AMD-HB0259.001.002 Seckinger DO PASS. Result: fail.Lower
- Feb 24(H) 2nd Reading Motion to AmendMinor
- Feb 7(H) Committee Report - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
- Feb 7(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
- Feb 6(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
- Vote recorded do_pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 28(H) Hearing - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
- Jan 20(H) 1st Reading
- Jan 20(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Fish, Wildlife and ParksMinor
- Jan 17(H) Introduced
- Jan 16(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- 2024
- Dec 27(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- Dec 27(LC) Draft in Assembly
- Dec 26(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- Dec 24(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- Dec 20(LC) Draft in Edit
- Dec 20(LC) Draft in Legal Review
- Dec 13(LC) Drafter AssignedIntroduced
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