HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana wildlife officials are considering cutting bobcat quotas across a broad swath of central and northern Montana.

John Vore of Fish, Wildlife and Parks says agency officials have seen a drop in bobcat numbers in those areas. He attributes the decline to a cyclical population shift, but says the agency doesn't want to exacerbate the drop through hunting and trapping.

The FWP proposal would lower the bobcat quota from 200 to 100 in central and northern Montana's Region 4. The quota in south-central Montana's Region 5 would go from 250 to 200, and northeastern Montana's Region 6 would drop from 90 to 50.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission is seeking public comment on the plan before making a final decision during its July meeting.