FWP sets hunting quota of 6 Yellowstone wolves

Yesterday, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission made a decision to set a quota of six wolves in the newly combined hunting district 313 and 316 - just north of the park near Gardiner and Cooke City-Silver Gate.

This is less than the 10 wolves that FWP recommended, and a significant step in the right direction. Last year, 19 Yellowstone wolves were killed in the hunting districts, and the entire Phantom Lake pack was eliminated. While the state is still allowing unethical hunting practices such as baiting, night hunting and high bag limits, we are thankful we won’t get back to that. 

This accomplishment is due to the hard work in our community, especially the advocacy of Wild Livelihoods and Bear Creek Council. Our partners Greater Yellowstone Coalition, NRDC, and the National Parks Conservation Association really stepped up, meeting with commissioners and working to elevate our community’s voice. 

There is much more work to do. We will be going through this process every year, and we hope to get back to a management system that respects the wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

In the past, the district was split into two wolf management units (313 and 316). Last year, 21 wolves were killed in those districts – by far, a record. In fact, an entire pack – the Phantom Lake pack – was eliminated. This happened after the commission removed long-standing quotas and allowed aggressive new hunting tools, such as baiting and night hunting, and allowing a single hunter to kill up to 10 wolves.