Fish and Wildlife Commission approves quotas…

Fish and Wildlife Commission approves quotas for wolf hunting and trapping season

Montana hunters will face a 300-wolf quota this season after state officials approved new hunting and trapping regulations following hours of debate and public comment.

Hunters have a state quota of 300 wolves this year in Montana, lower than a year ago but
higher than the one requested by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials. The hunting
season quota and other topics were discussed by the Fish and Wildlife Commission, which
approved the 2026-27 wolf and furbearer hunting and trapping regulations.
Officials approved the regulations after nearly four hours of deliberation and public
comment. Discussion was focused almost entirely on wolf management. The season begins
Sept. 5 with a quota of 300, by regions and Wildlife Management Units. Last year’s quota
was 452, and 247 wolves were harvested.
The approved quotas are based on an amendment brought by Commissioner Ian Wargo.
He represents Region 1 in northwest Montana. His amendment quotas:

Region 1: 131
Region 2: 92
Region 3 (excluding wolf management units (WMU) 313, 316): 33
o WMU 313: 1
o WMU 316: 1
Region 4: 28
Region 5: 6
Region 6: 4
Region 7: 4

Before the commission began deliberating, it heard a presentation by FWP carnivore coordinator Molly Parks on the updated wolf population model. This was the basis for FWP’s recommended reduction in the wolf quota. This model is an update to the Integrated Patch Occupancy Model (iPOM), which helps biologists estimate wolf distribution and population size across the state. The presentation can be viewed on the recording of the commission meeting; the presentation starts at about hour five.

“Over the years, wolf monitoring has shifted; so, when you think about a growing and expanding wolf population, think about that small recovery population that’s grown over time,” Parks said. “iPOM was made to evolve and incorporate new information as it becomes available.”

Parks’ presentation covered two versions of the iPOM – iPOM 1.0 and the newly updated version iPOM 2.0. iPOM 1.0, uses the original version of the iPOM framework. IPOM 2.0 uses updated data and revised analytical methods. The data used for iPOM 1.0 was derived from wolf research across the West. Ongoing FWP research on wolf distribution and pack size informed the updated iPOM 2.0 so that it is more specific to Montana. IPOM 2.0 estimates a smaller population of wolves, smaller pack sizes and larger pack territories. The updated model has not been peer-reviewed and refereed for journal publication.

Peer review of iPOM 2.0 is underway. It will be important for commissioners in the future. The commission reviews and sets wolf hunting and trapping regulations and quotas every year.

"We come back next year, and we could be in a different position, and I think it warrants being cautious," said Commissioner Susan Kirby Brooke, who represents southwest Montana.

During the meeting about 120 people provided comments. This was in addition to more than 2,200 public comments received online and by mail before the meeting.

There was no additional commission discussion after the public comment period. The motion to approve the regulations carried unanimously.