Letter to MDFWP regarding gray wolf management plan
Mr. Jeff Hagener, Director
Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
PO Box 200701
Helena, Montana 59620-0701
Dear Director Hagener:
The Montana Bowhunters Association (MBA) is appreciative for the opportunity to comment on the Department’s draft alternatives for the Montana Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.
The introduction of the gray wolf into Montana has had a statewide impact. But, like it or not, we acknowledge wolves are here to stay. Therefore, it is in Montana’s best interest to see the wolf delisted and the MDFWP gain management responsibility as quickly as possible. Until delisting occurs, Montana will suffer the consequences of an out-of-control wolf population with wildlife, hunters and livestock producers bearing the costs.
The MBA considers Alternative 2, with some modification, as the best chance for the Department to maintain wolf populations, wildlife populations, and hunting opportunity and provide a margin of safety for the livestock industry.
The MBA respectively requests the following provisions be incorporated into the draft management plan.
Wolves should not be managed at the expense of our deer, elk and moose populations. Our traditional hunting heritage must be preserved without favor to wolves. When prey species numbers are low, aggressive control methods should be applied to control wolf numbers.
The MDFWP preferred benchmark of 15 breeding pairs is too high in our opinion. Allowing for 12 breeding pairs is a reasonable compromise that gives a 20% margin of safety above the minimum level established by the USFWS and still allows Montana to retain control.
Wolves should be limited to large contiguous public land areas where the potential for conflict is the lowest. They should not be allowed to habitat areas of private property in eastern Montana, nor any major agriculture and livestock producing areas.
Support a compensation program for livestock owners for losses at fair market value. Funds from the general license account should not be used to compensate for depredation losses.
Allow livestock producers and landowners to shoot wolves in order to protect their livestock and property.
Allow for a regulated harvest of wolves. There are by some accounts currently 33 packs in Montana and only 16 of these are considered as breeding packs. The non-breeding packs may be only one year away from meeting the definition of a breeding pack. Their numbers need to be reduced through regulated hunting before they are given the chance to reduce our elk herds even further.
The MBA encourages the Department to seek Federal financial or private assistance to monitor wolf populations. Our license dollars should not be allocated for wolf monitoring.
We expect to see litigation used as a means to prolong the delisting process. It’s vitally important that the Department request some management responsibilities for the interim period that will allow them some control over expanding wolf populations.
Thank you again for the opportunity to contribute to the wolf management plan. The Montana Bowhunters Association has appreciated the opportunity to work with the Department in the past and offer our continued support in the future.
Sincerely,
Charlie Johnson, President
Montana Bowhunters Association
