HELENA — The extension of the wolf hunting and trapping seasons in northwest Montana was on the docket Thursday night at the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission's meeting in Helena.
The agenda included extending the wolf hunting season in the northwest part of the state to beginning August 15th and ending March 31st.
Wolf trapping season for Region 1 would also end February 28th.
Another agenda item included increasing the harvest quota for two units south of Bozeman from one to two wolves.
Both ideas brought out enough people to pack the meeting room at FWP headquarters.
Some of them as far away as Arizona came to share their views for and against the changes.
One of the anti-hunters told MTN News, "The wolves are valued intrinsically as wild life that is crucial to our ecosystem. Also for tourism which is crucial to our economy and research which is crucial to the world."
Another pro wolf hunter said "We also support the proposal to increase harvest opportunities in region . Wolves like other wildlife require management according to biological and social capacity. For those reasons we support the proposal."
After a long public discussion in Helena and around the state via video the commission voted to not accept the proposed changes, keeping the quota at one and the season to September 15th through March 15th.
