Montana releases 2021 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Wolf Report

Montana wolves are thriving and the latest wolf report shows that numbers and distribution remain stable. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MTFWP) released their 2021 wolf report on Monday. The 2021 estimated wolf count is 1,141, which is only a 40-wolf difference compared to 2020, according to a press release. 

“What the data shows us really isn’t surprising,” said MTFWP Director Hank Worsech. “Our management of wolves, including ample hunting and trapping opportunities, have kept numbers at a relatively stable level during the past several years.”

As of 2021, there is an estimated 192 wolf packs, which is down slightly compared to 198 packs in 2020; however, the last 10 years have shown a fluctuation in pack numbers, with 205 in 2012 and 186 in 2017. The current estimate does not reflect any harvests during the first three months of 2022. Montana’s wolf hunting and trapping season officially ended on March 15, 2022.

As GOHUNT previously reported, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved regulation changes for the 2021/22 wolf hunting and trapping season that eliminated quotas, increased the number of wolf trapping and hunting licenses and extended wolf trapping seasons. They also legalized the use of snares. Yet, recent data shows that there were actually fewer trappers out during the 2021/22 season, which wildlife officials say could be due to poor weather conditions.

See the full MTFWP Wolf Report