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MFWP Commission oversight, harvest regulations would be established. Regulated hunting and trapping of wolves 

 would take place within the larger context of multi-species management programs, rather than the context of single 

 species management. As wolf numbers increase and distribution expands, harvest opportunity would increase. 

 Specific harvest objectives will depend on other losses to the wolf population, such as control actions for livestock 

 depredation or loss of a pack because of intraspecitlc strife. 



Through annual MFWP Commission oversight and public input, hunting and trapping would take place under 

 designated seasons and regulations which describe legal means of take, license requirements, and reporting and 

 tagging requirements. Total harvest would be strictly controlled through a permit or quota system, with season 

 closures as soon as harvest objectives are reached. Law enforcement by the MFWP Enforcement Division would 

 also proceed similar to other managed wildlife species such as deer, with penalties for violations and restitution 

 values established in Montana statute. 



Fine scale population management would be achieved by the delineation of specific harvest districts with 

 individualized harvest objectives. Wolves could be promoted (on remote public lands) or discouraged (in areas with 

 high livestock densities) depending on harvest objectives, district boundaries, and pack distribution. Hunting is not 

 permitted in national parks. Public harvest options would also considered in circumstances where a livestock 

 producer has had problems with wolves harassing or killing livestock. In these circumstances, pubhc harvest would 

 be in lieu of a government control action. 



There is a significant amount of published literature to assist MFWP as it initiates a public harvest program for 

 wolves. Our Canadian neighbors manage wolf populations and address wolf conflicts using a diversity of 

 management tools, one of which is a sustainable public hunting and trapping program - all in an environment very 

 similar to Montana (Carbyn 1983, Bjorge and Gunson 1985, and Gunson 1992). All available information will be 

 considered during the decision-making process. 



Illegal Wolf Mortality -- Illegal wolf mortality occurs in Montana, despite the current protection of ES A. Some 

 mortality was attributed to negative public opinions about the federal government's efforts to recover wolves, wolf 

 activity in a new area, and public land management policies (Bangs et al. 1998). It remains to be seen whether 

 illegal mortality will be a problem for future wolf populations managed by the state. Illegal mortality would result 

 from public taking outside of the framework established by Montana statutes and MFWP Commission rules and 

 regulations. Poaching, malicious killings, and mistaken identity losses would all be considered illegal. MFWP 

 Enforcement Division will pursue cases of illegal wolf mortality, similar to other wildlife species. 



Other Considerations 



Trappers may incidentally catch a gray wolf in a trap or snare intended for other species. Trappers will be required 

 to release the animal, if possible, and report the incident to MFWP. If the animal has debilitating injuries, the 

 trapper must call MFWP for assistance and reporting. 



Even though MFWP has a legal requirement to maintain at least ten packs, the wolf population could decrease to 

 below or near recovery goal targets through an unpredictable combination of natural events and management 

 actions. Within national parks, wolves will always be legally protected from intentional human-caused mortality 

 beyond the context of a management removal. As long as wolf populations remain secure and viable, Yellowstone 

 and Glacier national parks will be a source of dispersing wolves to reoccupy vacant habitats outside park boundaries 

 if the Montana population decreased to levels near or below recovery goals. If population trends could not be 

 reversed by conservative management strategies, MFWP would consider transplanting wolves into Montana from 

 other secure populations. In reverse, a secure wolf population in Montana could serve as a source of animals for 

 future restoration efforts elsewhere such as Colorado, where preliminary work documented that wolves could be 

 sustained biologically (USFWS 2(XX)). Transplanting wildlife to augment populations is a management tool that 

 MFWP used to restore ungulate populations in the 1940s and 1950s and uses now for bighorn sheep. 



Population Monitoring 



For the first five years after the gray wolf is delisted, MFWP is required to document that the wolf population is at or 

 above the relisting criteria. Beyond the legal requirement, MFWP will want to include wolves in the long history of 



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