Available Montana Wolf Hunts --- Search HF Aventures
Montana hunters and trappers harvested 255 wolves last season. Typically, Montana averages 250-300 wolves taken each year. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks estimates there to be 1,087 wolves statewide. Montana has seven different wolf management regions, aside from WMU 313 adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. Most of the wolves in Montana are found on the western portion of the state in regions 1-3. The majority of the wolves harvested each year are by trappers or hunters pursuing elk and deer during the general season in Western Montana.
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Montana’s wolf regulations were not available at the time of print. When they are available, they can be found at https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/regulations/wolf. Wolf tags are available at all Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks offices, FWP license providers, and online at https://fwp.mt.gov/buyandapply. Nonresident hunters holding a deer or elk combination license will pay $25 for their first wolf tag. All other wolf tags will be $50 per wolf license. Hunters may purchase up to 10 wolf tags. Hunting or trapping tags are valid statewide. The season dates for wolf hunting are as follows: archery season is September 3-14, 2023 and the general rifle season is September 15, 2023-March 15, 2024. Trapping season dates have not been set at this time.
Archery | September 2 – September 14
General | September 15 – March 15
Trapping | Season dates for trapping wolves will be the first Monday after Thanksgiving to March 15 for the entire state.
Hunter orange is not required during archery season and after the close of the general rifle deer and elk seasons. A person must attend a wolf trapping certification class before trapping. Completion of either the Idaho or Montana wolf trapping class meets the requirement. A trapper must check his traps every 48 hours. All traps must have a metal trapper’s identification tag fastened to them.
A youth who turns 12 by January 16, 2024 season.
Electronic calls can be used for wolf hunting. Two-way communication (radios, cell phones, texting, etc.) is not legal to hunt wolves. Foot-hold traps are the only legal method of trapping during this season. Wolf trap pan tension has a 10-pound requirement in regions 1-5. Wolves can be hunted on private lands at night with the use of artificial lights, thermal imaging technology, or night vision scopes. Aside from a few exceptions, the use of bait and/or snares is allowed throughout most of the state. Refer to the 2023 regulations for more information.
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All successful wolf hunters and trappers must report their kill within 24 hours, regardless of their intent to retain possession of the hide and skull, by calling 1-877-397-9453. If you wish to retain possession of the hide or skull, you must present them within 10 days of harvest to FWP personnel. Hunters and trappers are not required to retrieve the meat.
The bag limit per person is 20 wolves, with up to 10 by hunting and up to 10 by trapping.
Like Idaho, Montana has taken steps to loosen hunting regulations on wolves over the past few years to help provide hunters and trappers a better chance of being successful in the field. These changes have included increasing the amount of trapping and hunting licenses available per person, the allowance of snares, hunting at night on private land, and baiting. Despite the more aggressive hunting and trapping measures, Montana’s wolf population remains stable. While there are no set regional quotas for wolf harvest, the regulations state that should 450 wolves be killed by hunters or trappers, the Commission will meet to consider in-season adjustments. The regional take triggering Commission action is set for the following regions: 195 wolves in region 1; 116 wolves in region 2; 82 wolves in region 3; 39 wolves in region 4; 11 wolves in region 5; 3 wolves in region 6; 4 wolves in region 7; and 6 wolves in WMU 313.
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Region 1 in the northwest corner of the state holds the highest population density of wolves and accounts for around 40% of Montana’s statewide harvest each year. While densities are not quite as high in regions 2 and 3, there’s always a chance to run across a wolf in these areas. If you will be hunting elk or deer in any of these regions this year, make sure you have a wolf tag in your pocket. Every year, we talk to hunters who had an opportunity to shoot a wolf but had not bought a tag before their hunt.
The biggest key to success is learning where the wolves home range is and their hunting habits. This can be tough to do without spending a lot of time scouting or hiring an outfitter. If you are just showing up to hunt them, a good place to start is the elk wintering areas. These can be great areas to start looking at after the snow piles up. Tracking them in fresh snow or setting up on a vantage point to glass and call seem to be the most successful methods when targeting wolves. Covering as much country as possible by truck or snowmobile while looking for wolf sign is also beneficial. The more area you cover, the better off you will be.
If you are looking to book a hunt with an Endorsed Outfitter, give us a call. We have outfitters that provide baited and wolf hunts on public and private lands
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| Base Hunting License | $15 |
| Conservation License | $10 |
| Wolf License (first license if you have a combination license for deer or elk) | $25 |
| Wolf License | $50 |
| Trapping License | $250 |
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