The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission shot down the state’s proposal to triple wolf harvest in a hunting district near the northern border of Yellowstone National Park, deciding to stick with the current quota of two.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks recommended to the commission that the quota for wolf harvest in wolf management unit 313 — a portion of hunting district 313 — near Gardiner go from two to six, but three of the four commissioners at the meeting Thursday were uncomfortable with increasing the pressure on those wolves.
Gary Wolfe, a commissioner from Missoula, said the unit is very small, and that he believes the wolves that are hunted there move in and out of the district and are also hunted in other parts of the state.
“I think we are putting pressure on those wolves,” Wolfe said.
Dan Vermillion, the commission’s chair, of Livingston, was the lone dissenter.
The vote opens public comment on the quotas until June 17, with a final decision expected in July. Vermillion cited that as his reason for supporting the FWP proposal to raise the quota.
“This is the beginning of the proposal,” Vermillion said. “Not the finish line.”
The 3-1 vote came after the commission heard dozens of public commenters on both sides of the issue, including wildlife advocates and hunters.
John Vore, FWP’s game management bureau chief, said the proposal was meant to balance the interests of hunters who want to take more wolves and tourists who want to see wolves. He argued that the quota increase would offer more wolf hunting opportunity without harming the overall wolf population.
“It strikes a good balance,” Vore said.