Montana Commission Agrees to Season Closure, Yet Continues Wolf Hunt Near Yellowstone

Livingston, MT – Today, Montana’s Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to close hunting and trapping in Region 3, once the set threshold of 82 wolves is met. The Commission rejected an amendment brought by Commissioners KC Walsh and Pat Byorth to immediately end hunting and trapping in WMUs 313 and 316 that border Yellowstone’s northern boundary. NPCA and many other organizations throughout Montana and across the country have urged the Commission to immediately close those areas to hunting.

Statement by Dan Bailey, Yellowstone program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association

“While today’s decision provides some level of progress, it’s disappointing that the Commission declined amendments by Commissioners KC Walsh and Pat Byorth to immediately end hunting and trapping in the two districts at Yellowstone’s northern border. Twenty wolves have been killed in areas just outside of the national park’s northern boundary so far this hunting season and Yellowstone’s wolf population has dropped by 30%. Many of these animals were born and raised within Yellowstone National Park and were long protected by hunting quotas, which reflected the economic values these wolves bring to our gateway communities. Unfortunately, the Commission eliminated those quotas last summer and severely limited public comment today ensuring very few business leaders and local voices time to address these issues.”

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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its nearly 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.