State looking to increase wolf harvest

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission will look at changes in hunting regulations as a way to increase next year’s wolf harvest.

According to FWP director Joe Maurier, that could include allowing hunters to take more than one wolf or to purchase more than one license, use of electronic calls, trapping, reconsidering quotas and a longer season. Some changes could be implemented by FWP, while others would require action by the legislature.

“We believe we have to reduce the wolf population in Montana,” Maurier said.

This past wolf hunt season was extended from Dec. 31 to Feb. 15, but hunters only harvested 166 wolves out of the statewide quota of 220.

“We were aiming for a minimum population of about 425 after the hunting season,” Maurier said. “Despite a six-month season that started in September, hunters were only able to take enough wolves to reach 75 percent of our wolf hunting quota.

FWP wolf specialists say Montana’s wolf population increased by about 15 percent in 2011, compared to 8 percent in 2010 and 5 percent in 2009. The “minimum wolf count” — the actual number counted by FWP wolf specialists, which is likely to be 10-30 percent fewer than the actual population — came to 653 wolves in 130 verified packs and 39 breeding pairs.

According to FWP’s wolf report, Northwest Montana’s population saw the biggest increase, growing to a minimum of 372 wolves in 85 verified packs and 23 breeding pairs. Lincoln and Flathead counties had the most wolves killed by hunters, 26 and 22 respectively.

FWP got full management authority over wolves in Montana after the federal government delisted wolves in May 2011.

“We’re committed to using our authority to responsibly manage Montana’s wolf population while addressing conflicts with livestock and other wildlife populations,” Maurier said.

Of 216 total wolf deaths documented in 2011, fifty-seven were through agency control efforts to reduce livestock depredations. That’s down from 129 in 2010. Other wolf deaths last year included eight illegal kills and eight by vehicle or train accidents.

Livestock depredations by wolves were fewer last year. As confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services, cattle deaths caused by wolf attacks decreased from 87 in 2010 to 74 last year. Sheep losses dropped from 64 in 2010 to 11 last year.

Of the 166 wolves killed by hunters this past season, 92 were adults, 35 were yearlings and 25 were juveniles. Most adults weighed around 91 pounds. The largest weighed 120 pounds. Eighty-six were males, and 80 were females. Nearly all were in good health.

FWP’s wildlife bureau chief, Ken McDonald, said the recent wolf hunt offers “additional insight on how best to manage wolves.” For example, only 43 of the 100 wolves taken during the big game season were opportunistic — taken by hunters who were actually going for deer or elk.

“That’s a big surprise,” McDonald said. “During Montana’s first wolf hunting seasons in 2009, the opportunistic harvest was almost 80 percent, so Montana hunters are really doing their homework and trying to learn more about wolf behavior.”

He also noted that the recent wolf harvest is more than double that of 2009 — 166 compared to 72.

“We did this with the help of dedicated hunters whose growing interest in wolves in Montana is key to our approach to wolf conservation and management,” McDonald said. “We need the hunters’ support and participation for this to be successful.”

For more information, visit online at http://fwp.mt.gov and click on “Montana Wolf Hunt.”