The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission are two different critters. Our FW&P Department presents wildlife management proposals to five governor-appointed F&W Commissioners. Commission meeting minutes regarding wolves, 2007 through 2015 are available, 406-444-7826. Get a copy, it’s interesting history.
At their July 14, 2011 meeting, Schweitzer appointee Bob Ream moved and Moody seconded, establishing a three-wolf quota north of Yellowstone National Park. On July 9, 2015, Bullock appointee Gary Wolfe moved and Stuker seconded reducing their quota to two wolves. Yellowstone Buffer Zone wolf quotas were instituted by F&W Commissioners at final season setting meetings. They were not proposed by the FW&P Department or sent out for comment.
On May 12, 2016, Department biologists proposed a six wolf quota and a Montana trapping quota of seven fisher. Commissioners rejected the Department’s proposal and put out two wolf and zero fisher quotas. Department biologists made no Yellowstone wolf quota proposals before their six wolf quota that was shot down by a Commission majority.
Do wolf advocacy groups and their ‘green decoys’ masquerading as sportsmen try to influence Montana politicians? Could Montana hunters and trappers be ‘sold down the river’ to placate national wolf advocacy outfits who couldn’t care less about Montana’s hunting heritage? Are environmental activists seeking more federal control over Montana resources, pouring political action cash (PAC money) into our governor’s reelection campaign? Does wolf predation impact Montana’s ungulate populations?
You decide!
Edwin Johnson
Gardiner