Open house considers wolf-hunt changes

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will host an open house in Kalispell on Wednesday, June 13, to give information and answer questions on the proposed 2012-13 wolf hunting and trapping season.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Flathead Valley Community College Arts and Technology Building. At the open house, people will break out into small groups to discuss details and work on comments regarding the proposals.

Under the wolf season proposals, the general season would run from Sept. 1, 2012, to Feb. 28, 2013, with trapping allowed from Dec. 15 to the end of the general wolf season. There would be no statewide quota, but quotas would be established in two areas near Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks.

Features of last year’s hunt that would remain in place include mandatory harvest reporting within 24 hours, and the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission would have the authority to close the season in any wolf hunting unit or portion of a hunting unit if necessary to prevent overharvest.

Trappers would be required to take a mandatory trapper orientation and to conduct mandatory trap checks. Snares would not be allowed. The proposal includes potential adjustments to bag limits and electronic calling if statutory adjustments are made in the 2013 Legislature.

To find more details on the season proposals and to submit comments online, go to fwp.mt.gov, click on  Hunting and then 2012–13 Wolf Hunting Seasons, Quotas and HD Boundaries – Proposed. 

The comment deadline for the wolf proposals is June 25 at 5 p.m., and the commission will make a final decision in July.