A Montana district court has ruled that a lawsuit seeking to force the state to reduce its wolf population through more aggressive hunting and trapping regulations may proceed. The case was filed by two Republican state legislators along with hunting and conservation groups, who argue that Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Fish and Wildlife Commission have failed to follow state law directing them to actively reduce wolf numbers.
Plaintiffs say FWP isn’t following the Legislature’s direction
The lawsuit centers on legislation passed by the Montana Legislature in 2021, which instructed the Fish and Wildlife Commission to manage wolves with the intent of reducing the statewide population while maintaining a sustainable population.
According to the plaintiffs, the Commission has instead adopted harvest quotas and regulations that effectively stabilize wolf numbers rather than reducing them. They argue this conflicts with the Legislature’s intent and diminishes hunting opportunities for elk, deer and other big game in areas where wolves continue to expand.
The lawsuit asks the court to require the Commission to adopt more liberal wolf regulations, including higher harvest quotas and longer hunting and trapping seasons.
Current wolf regulations are already the most liberal in years
The lawsuit comes despite Montana already adopting its most aggressive wolf hunting framework in more than a decade.
For the 2025–2026 season, the Fish and Wildlife Commission approved regulations allowing the harvest of up to 458 wolves through hunting and trapping quotas, with additional wolves eligible for removal through landowner provisions and agency control actions. Hunters and trappers may harvest up to 15 wolves per license, depending on the district and method of take.
Even so, the plaintiffs argue those regulations still fall short of the Legislature’s directive because they are designed to maintain—not significantly reduce—the statewide wolf population.
Conservation groups are fighting in the opposite direction
The lawsuit adds another layer to Montana’s ongoing wolf litigation.
At the same time that legislators and hunting organizations are seeking larger wolf harvests, several conservation organizations continue pursuing a separate lawsuit claiming Montana’s current regulations already allow too many wolves to be killed.
That case argues the state’s regulations threaten the long-term sustainability of Montana’s wolf population and seeks to overturn the current hunting framework. In December 2025, however, a district judge declined to halt the season while the broader lawsuit continues.
What supporters of the lawsuit say
Supporters argue that Montana has one of the healthiest wolf populations in the Lower 48 and that stronger management is needed to reduce impacts on elk and deer herds, livestock producers and rural communities.
They also point out that wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains have remained well above federal recovery goals since being removed from Endangered Species Act protections more than a decade ago.
What opponents say
Conservation organizations counter that Montana’s current regulations are already among the most aggressive in the country and caution that additional harvest pressure could unnecessarily reduce wolf numbers.
They also dispute the population estimates used by the state and argue that management decisions should rely on long-term scientific monitoring rather than legislative directives.
What happens next
The recent court decision does not change Montana’s wolf hunting regulations immediately. Instead, it allows the lawsuit challenging FWP’s management approach to proceed toward a full hearing on the merits.
If the plaintiffs ultimately prevail, the Fish and Wildlife Commission could be required to reconsider its wolf management framework and adopt regulations intended to reduce wolf numbers more aggressively than under the current system.
For Montana hunters, the outcome could have significant implications not only for future wolf seasons but also for broader predator management and big game populations across the state. At the same time, the case underscores how wolf management remains one of the most contentious wildlife issues in the Northern Rockies, with competing lawsuits simultaneously arguing that Montana is harvesting too few wolves and too many wolves.
Stay Up to Date with Montana Hunting Regulations
As legal challenges and Commission decisions continue to shape wolf management in Montana, staying informed is essential. The Hunterizer app gives Montana hunters instant access to current wolf hunting seasons and regulations, along with seasons for deer, elk, bear, turkey, upland birds, waterfowl and many other species. Hunters can also use the app’s “What Can I Hunt Today?” feature to see open seasons for any date and location in Montana, plus access zone maps, legal hunting methods, shooting hours, license requirements and other regulations—all in one place.
