Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildlife Wolf Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Montana Senate approves three wolf-management bills after lengthy floor debate over population, seasons and methods
Summary
The Senate concurred in House Bill 176 and voted to concur on House Bills 258 and 259, advancing measures that change wolf population targets, expand hunting seasons and allow additional management techniques including thermal and infrared scopes; the bills drew sharp divisions on wildlife, livestock and tourism impacts.
The Montana Senate on March 28 advanced three related measures aimed at expanding state authority to manage gray wolves, approving House Bill 176 on a close vote and concurring in House Bills 258 and 259 on second reading.
House Bill 176 — carried on the floor by Senator Hertz — would revise state wolf-management rules to set a higher population benchmark and permit expanded state discretion in hunting and trapping around certain areas (with exceptions for districts adjacent to Yellowstone National Park). Hertz told senators he sponsored the bills in response to concerns from western Montana residents and livestock producers who say wolves have exceeded original recovery expectations.
Debate was robust. Opponents, including Senator Flowers and several members representing western and tourism-dependent districts, argued that wolf populations have stabilized and that the bills risk undermining the scientific and regulatory framework used by federal agencies. Senator Flowers cited trend data showing stabilized wolf counts and declining livestock losses in recent years and asked why the Senate should "flip the table over and start all over." Several senators warned that weakening state regulatory safeguards could jeopardize delisting or federal protections for other species.
Supporters, including livestock-sector advocates and some rural senators, pushed back that regional wolf densities and local depredation justify expanded management tools. Senator Hertz and others argued the package balances tourism interests with hunting and ranching concerns.
House Bill 258 would extend wolf hunting season into the spring to align with the current spring bear season; supporters argued the change would allow more harvest opportunities. House Bill 259 authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Commission to use different management techniques by region and clarifies that thermal and infrared scopes fall within authorized night-vision tools on private land; proponents said the clarification simply recognized technology already in use for predator control.
Votes and outcomes: - House Bill 176: Concurred in on second reading, 26–24. - House Bill 258: Concurred in on second reading, 31–19. - House Bill 259: Concurred in on second reading, 32–18.
Why it matters: The three bills together make cumulative changes to how Montana manages wolves — changing population thresholds, hunting seasons and allowable methods — and could affect wildlife populations, hunting and tourism dynamics as well as state-federal listings.
Next steps: The bills, having been concurred in on second reading, will return to the House for consideration of the Senate amendments, or be resolved in conference if the chambers do not agree.
