New Montana Wolf Regulations Aim to Protect Yellowstone Wolves but Set Concerning Statewide Quota
Thankfully, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission’s recent decisions to set 2025-2026 wolf hunting and trapping regulations upheld guidelines designed to protect Yellowstone National Park wolves from negative impacts of wolf hunting in the state. We applaud Region 3 Commissioner Susan Kirby Brooke for recognizing the value of wolves to southwest Montana’s economy and advocating for regulations that balance science with the interests and concerns of the constituents she represents.
While the Commission acknowledged the potential for a disproportionate impact of a statewide quota on southwest Montana and made an effort to reduce unethical waste tied to wolf hunting, they set a dangerous precedent by establishing regulations that move significantly closer to a broad-brush, statewide approach to wolf management. A statewide quota leaves behind important community input, local management, and conservation needs.
A pack of wolves has a standoff with a group of elk. Photo Eric Rock Photography
Here are several key elements of the 2025-2026 regulations:
A statewide quota of 452 wolves.
A sub-quota of 60 wolves in Region 3 (southwest Montana).
Separate quotas of three wolves each in Wolf Management Units 313 and 316 that border Yellowstone National Park (Why does this matter?)
A person may harvest 15 wolves via hunting and 15 via trapping, provided that five wolves from each method of take are harvested in Region 1 or Region 2.
Hunters must purchase a wolf license for each wolf they harvest via hunting, but can purchase up to 15 licenses before going hunting.
A requirement that all harvested wolves must be presented to FWP for inspection within 10 days of harvest for pelt tagging, tissue sampling, and tooth extraction.
It is now illegal to leave a wolf hide and skull in the field after harvest, even if the hunter or trapper doesn’t want to keep the animal.
The removal of trapping setbacks on roads closed to motor vehicle and OHV traffic in Mineral County and on the Spotted Bear Ranger District in northwest Montana.
What does this mean for Montana wolves?
While we are relieved that a Region 3 subquota will mitigate dire overharvest of southwest Montana wolves, we are concerned the subquota is arbitrary and too high given recent regionwide population decline, and the importance of some flexibility for livestock conflict mitigation. We are glad that at a minimum, the regulations maintain status quo for the wolf management units north of Yellowstone National Park. This will help limit wolf mortality on the Yellowstone National Park boundary as Yellowstone wolves cross into Montana.
A move toward a statewide quota and increasingly liberalized regulations for wolf hunting and trapping is concerning. A statewide quota applies a one-size-fits-all approach to wolf management that fails to reflect the unique needs of local communities.
This approach is not based in science, and we are concerned that it will not stand the test of time. It is critical that Montana’s wolf management paradigm is balanced and moderate. We recognize that Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Commission are navigating tremendous political pressure surrounding this issue. We are confident that over the long term, the best approaches for Montanans and our iconic wildlife are those that are durable.
Wolf management policies must reflect the diversity of peoples’ values while ensuring a sustainable population for the long-term. Unfortunately, the 2025-2026 regulations as a whole are a step in the wrong direction.
Thank you to the nearly 150 advocates who spoke up for Montana wolves. We will continue to let you know how to take action on behalf of the long-term sustainability of these iconic animals. Consider joining our mailing list to receive updates right to your email inbox.
The Greater Yellowstone Coalition is committed to finding durable, science-based, and moderate solutions to keep wolves on the landscape while meeting the unique needs of each region of the state.
Brooke Shifrin, Wildlife Program Manager (Bozeman, MT)