MONTANA — Wolf hunting statewide in Montana closed Wednesday, Feb. 15, and no seasons will be further extended, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials announced last Thursday.

The wolf hunting season ends with a total harvest of 166 wolves, 75 percent of the overall quota of 220 wolves. The season was initially set to end Dec. 31, 2011, but the FWP Commission earlier extended wolf hunting until Feb. 15 to allow hunters to reach closer to the harvest quota. The season extension resulted in the harvest of an additional 45 wolves.

Last year, wildlife officials documented a minimum of 566 wolves, in 108 verified packs, and 35 breeding pairs in Montana at the end of 2010. Wildlife managers are now compiling Montana’s 2011 wolf population data. FWP’s annual wolf population report will be complete in March. For more information, visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov. Click “Montana Wolf Hunt.”