Montana wildlife officials recommend wolf hunting quota of 186

State wildlife officials will recommend increasing the quota of wolves allowed to be killed by hunters this year to 186, compared to 75 in last year’s inaugural hunt. The increased hunting quota could decrease the state’s wolf population for the first time since the gray wolf was reintroduced to the Northern Rockies in 1995. The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission will meet Wednesday and Thursday to set the parameters of this year’s wolf hunt. The commission started taking public comment in May after approving quota alternatives of 153, 186 or 216 wolves — targets the agency estimated would reduce wolf numbers in Montana between 8 percent and 20 percent. The agency received about 1,500 comments over that time that were “very diverse,” said state wolf program Coordinator Carolyn Sime. After receiving those comments, the agency decided to recommend a 186-wolf quota over 13 wolf management areas, an expansion from the three management areas in last year’s hunt. Montana’s wolf management plan calls for a population of at least 150 wolves and 15 breeding pairs. There were an estimated 525 wolves and 37 breeding pairs at the end of last year...more