Regulatory Framework

Currently, wolves are under state authority and classified as a “species in need of management” in Montana.

The foundation of Montana’s conservation and management of wolves is the Montana Wolf Management Plan, which was updated in 2025. This plan outlines how Montana monitors wolf populations, tracks harvest, conducts effective conflict management, and integrates the best available science.

FWP engages diverse stakeholders, such as ranchers, hunters, conservationists, and others, through public meetings and comment periods to set annual regulations and manage harvest. The public has ongoing opportunities to provide input on wolf harvest decisions during legislative and season-setting processes.

Montana FWP and the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission review wolf harvest regulations annually. This review covers season dates, bag limits, quotas, permitted tools and equipment, and other rules. Annual updates to wolf hunting and trapping seasons, along with related regulations, are set through the Commission’s public season-setting process.

Additionally, the Montana Legislature creates and passes laws (statutes) that govern wildlife management, including gray wolf management. FWP is legally obligated to implement these statutes. If the legislature modifies existing statutes or introduces new ones related to wolf management, FWP must adjust its management practices to comply with those changes.