Montana Trappers Association

09/08/2026

Montana Evironmental Quality Council meeting. Discussion on IPOM 2.0 and general wolf management

09/04/2026

President Trump signed an Executive Order on September 4, 2026, directing the Department of the Interior to determine if gray wolves and Mexican wolves meet the criteria to be removed from the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Main Details of the Order
* The Review: The Secretary of the Interior has 90 days to check if the wolf populations have recovered enough to be delisted or downlisted.
* Rule Changes: The order directs federal agencies to make it easier for ranchers to use lethal removal methods against wolves that threaten livestock
* Compensation: The Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture must update how they pay ranchers for livestock lost to predators.
* State Support: The order encourages state governments to remove wolves from local protected species lists and update their wildlife management plans.

Current Legal Status
* The order does not immediately change the legal status of wolves.
* It starts a formal review process and asks for legislative recommendations .
* In most of the U.S., gray wolves remain protected under the ESA following a 2022 federal court ruling.

09/04/2026

Link in comments 👇

09/04/2026

Evidence at the scene of a grizzly bear attack near Columbia Falls reveal the bear involved was a female with at least one cub of the year.

The attack occurred around 7 p.m. on Aug 31. The victim was a woman walking with her dog on the Cedar Flats trail complex north of Columbia falls.

Investigators also located a cached whitetail deer carcass approximately 100 yards off the trail. Given the presence of the cub, the nearby food resource, and other information, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks specialists have concluded the incident was a surprise defensive encounter. Because of the circumstances and the nature of the attack, no further action will be taken to locate the bear. For public safety, the area will remain closed until further notice. The victim’s dog sustained no injuries and has since been reunited with family.

“This unexpected defensive encounter is truly unfortunate,” said FWP Director, Christy Clark. “Our thoughts are with the victim and their loved ones during this difficult time.”

09/01/2026

Area closure in place

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) are investigating a bear attack on a woman walking her dog on the Cedar Flats trail complex north of Columbia Falls. The attack occurred around 7 p.m. on Aug. 31. The species of bear involved in the attack is currently unknown.

Last night, investigators from FWP and USFS, with assistance from the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, searched for the bear using a thermal infrared drone but were unable to locate it. The area remains closed by Forest Service officials in the interest of public safety. The victim sustained significant injuries and was transported to Logan Health Medical Center for treatment. The incident is still under investigation, and no further details are available at this time.

Montana is bear country. When recreating in bear habitat, follow these safety tips:
* Carry bear spray where it’s easily accessible and know how to use it.
* Stay alert and watch for signs of bear activity, especially in areas with limited visibility.
* Travel in groups and keep members close together.
* Make noise to avoid surprising a bear, especially in dense vegetation or near running water.
* Avoid traveling at night, dawn, or dusk.
* Steer clear of carcass sites or areas with scavenger activity.

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the 2026-2027 wolf and furbearer hunting and trapping regulations after nearly four hours of deliberation and public comment focused almost entirely on wolf management.

For the upcoming season, which starts Sept. 5, the commission approved a total harvest quota of 300 wolves, broke down by regions. This is lower than last year’s statewide quota, but higher than the quota of 250 recommended by FWP. Last year’s quota was 452, and 247 wolves were harvested.

The approved quotas are based on an amendment brought by Commissioner Ian Wargo, who represents Region 1 in northwest Montana. The amendment split the quotas down by regions as follows:

Region 1: 131
Region 2: 92
Region 3 (excluding wolf management units (WMU) 313, 316): 33
WMU 313: 1
WMU 316: 1
Region 4: 28
Region 5: 6
Region 6: 4
Region 7: 4

Before the commission began deliberating on the 2026-2027 wolf and furbearer hunting and trapping regulations, it heard a presentation by FWP carnivore coordinator Molly Parks on the updated wolf population model, which was the basis for FWP’s recommended reduction in the wolf quota. This model is an update to the Integrated Patch Occupancy Model (iPOM), which helps biologists estimate wolf distribution and population size across the state. The presentation can be viewed on the recording of the commission meeting; the presentation starts at about hour 5.

“Over the years, wolf monitoring has shifted; so, when you think about a growing and expanding wolf population, think about that small recovery population that’s grown over time,” Parks said. “iPOM was made to evolve and incorporate new information as it becomes available.”

Parks’ presentation covered two versions of the iPOM – iPOM 1.0 and the newly updated version iPOM 2.0. iPOM 1.0, uses the original version of the iPOM framework. IPOM 2.0 uses updated data and revised analytical methods. The data used for iPOM 1.0 was derived from wolf research across the West. Ongoing FWP research on wolf distribution and pack size informed the updated iPOM 2.0 so that it is more specific to Montana. IPOM 2.0 estimates a smaller population of wolves, smaller pack sizes and larger pack territories. The updated model has not been peer-reviewed and refereed for journal publication.

Peer review of iPOM 2.0 is underway and will be important for commissioners in the future. The commission reviews and sets wolf hunting and trapping regulations and quotas every year.

"We come back next year, and we could be in a different position, and I think it warrants being cautious," said Commissioner Susan Kirby Brooke, who represents southwest Montana.

During the meeting about 120 people provided comments; this was in addition to more than 2,200 public comments received online and by mail before the meeting.

There was no additional commission discussion after the public comment period, and the motion to approve the regulations carried unanimously.

08/31/2026

Mark your calendars for the MTA Fur Sale...

08/26/2026

More on the trap setting contest from last weekend.