A member of the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission wants to eliminate trapping setbacks on closed roads in Mineral County, increase the statewide wolf quota and extend hunting season dates in certain parts of the state.

Commissioner Jeff Burrows proposed three of several amendments that will be considered by the Fish and Wildlife Commission this week, ahead of the 2025-26 hunting season. The meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m., Aug. 21 in Helena at the Montana WILD Auditorium. The meeting can be streamed via Zoom. 

The first of Burrows’ proposals, eliminating setback regulations on roads, is to help trappers fill their quotas. Setbacks — 50 feet for furbearers and 150 feet for wolves — exist on all roads in Mineral County during trapping season.  

Eliminating the setbacks would boost efficiency in trap sets and checks, according to the amendment, especially as trappers try to work in a shorter wolf trapping and snaring season laid out by U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy in 2023 and upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2024. 

Burrows successfully eliminated setbacks on closed roads in Ravalli County last year.  

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, though, raised concerns about the increased risk of trapping dogs, especially those that accompany other trappers, hunters and hikers, by eliminating these setbacks. 

Burrows told the Daily Inter Lake he checked with law enforcement in Ravalli County and didn’t find any reported incidences of this since that county’s setbacks were eliminated. 

More than 200 public comments were received by the Fish and Wildlife Commission on Burrows' amendment. Opponents worried about the safety risk to humans and pets. Some said they live in fear of their dog getting caught up in a trap, even with existing regulations.  

“There is no defense for getting rid of trap setbacks anywhere. Pets already get caught in wolf traps with setbacks in place,” said Gardiner resident Sarah Stewart. “Children and adults have been caught and injured in traps. This amendment will cause more trauma and tragedy.” 

ANOTHER OF Burrows’ amendments would increase the statewide wolf quota from 334 to 458.  

“To be cautious in maintaining delisted status and state management of wolves, [Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks] will use 450 wolves as the benchmark to ensure the population maintains at least 15 breeding pairs, which also surpasses the minimum requirement of 150 wolves,” the amendment reads. 

There is an estimated 1,091 wolves currently roaming Montana, according to state data. Burrows said a 42% harvest rate for a wolf quota, equivalent to 458 wolves, is “well within the scientific range for wolf mortality as the impacts from natural mortality would be minuscule.” 

The state wildlife agency doesn’t anticipate any adverse effects on the wolf population because of the new quota. 

A little more than 160 public comments were received on this amendment with the majority opposed to it. Those against the amendment criticized it as trying to mislead the public, since Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks proposed a new 500 quota over the summer.  

“This amendment is meant to mislead the public into thinking a lower-than-500-quota is a lifesaver,” said Constance Poten of Missoula. “No, it is not. It is still an extermination plan.” 

BURROWS’ THIRD amendment would extend the wolf hunting season — with a proposed start date on June 30 and end date on March 15 — in northwest and west central Montana. Affected areas would include Sanders, Lincoln, Flathead, Mineral, Ravalli, Missoula, Powell and Granite counties.  

These areas are difficult to access during the snowy winter months, according to Burrows’ amendment.  

The state wildlife agency highlighted a few conflicts with the new hunting season dates, including uncertainty on how it would affect the state’s ability to count wolf populations. The agency also questioned how the new dates would interact with archery-only wolf season, which is typically in early September.  

Public comments were mixed on this amendment. Those in favor of the new hunting season agreed it maximized harvest potential in these regions. Opponents worried about orphaning and killing wolf pups, since April is typically the time pups are born.  

A few public commenters also worried about how it might affect summer recreationalists, including hikers, horseback riders and rock climbers.  

Reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at 758-4439 or [email protected].