Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wolf Management And Hunting Season topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill extending wolf hunting season in targeted areas after contested debate
Summary
A bill to extend wolf hunting season drew divided remarks about elk population declines in northwest Montana and whether the Legislature or FWP should set dates; the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee voted to advance the bill after a roll call.
The committee took executive action on legislation to adjust wolf hunting season dates and directed the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission to be able to adjust dates for specific wolf management units based on regional recommendations.
A member moved that House Bill 258, “enactorizing laws related to wolf hunting season,” do pass. Representative speakers from high‑use northwest districts argued the bill is intended to respond to heavy wolf pack density and low elk counts in Region 1 and to give the Legislature a firmer directive after what supporters said was insufficient action by the commission. Representative Fielder described maps showing wolf pack density and elk population objectives and said the bill targets Region 1 where supporters say elk numbers are below objective.
Opponents and some committee members urged caution, cited gaps in the department’s population data for northwest Montana and urged study or better data collection rather than immediate statutory date mandates. Representative Konar said she would vote no because a date‑certain mandate is problematic, and Representative Eiseley and others urged a more creative, data‑driven approach. Several members who represent Region 1 described long‑running declines in elk sightings and urged action.
The committee called the question and conducted a roll call vote. The roll call as recorded in the hearing transcript shows 12 members voting aye and 8 voting no; the clerk reported “12 have voted aye. 8 have voted no.” The transcript does not record a named mover for the motion to advance the bill in the executive action segment.
Discussion during the executive action included suggestions from members to request additional study or a resolution asking FWP to improve population monitoring in Region 1, and at least one member said he would support such a follow‑up. The committee advanced the bill for further consideration.
