Montana closes backcountry wolf hunt near Yellowstone

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has decided to close wolf hunting in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, a small zone along the northern boundary of Yellowstone National Park.

At a meeting Tuesday, the five-member commission voted unanimously to close the remote area for the remainder of the season while keeping the statewide quota of 75 animals in place, reports the Associated Press.

Hunting had been suspended last week after nine wolves were killed surprisingly quickly since the season opened Sept. 15 in the backcountry zone. The area is located within what is called Wildlife Management Unit 3, which has an overall quota of 12.

State wildlife managers and commission members acknowledged a mistake in the decision to open the hunting season early near Yellowstone, and have characterized the nearly filled quota for the area as a learning experience.

The statewide general hunting season, including the rest of WMU3, opens Oct. 25.

--Kelly Burgess

Photo: A wolf watches biologists in Yellowstone National Park after being captured and fitted with a radio collar. Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Comments

[Cynthia Minde]

Did you honestly think that these wolves stood a chance once you put the hunt into motion? You called hunters from everywhere that like to kill innocent animals. Is it no suprise at all to you that they were killed so fast? I think everyone saw this coming even you. Now you killed the Probably one of the most behaved packs you have. You should have kept the hunt to area's where the problem wolves were. This is terrible, sad and Heartbreaking to many. Now you can't bring them back. What happends to their pups? You just going to let them die too.