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HB 554

Remove FWP requirement to regulate wolves as furbearers or game animals

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brandon Ler

HB 554 eliminates Montana's statutory requirement that FWP regulate wolves as furbearers or game animals, granting the agency discretionary management authority.

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Bill Summary · HB 554

Legislative bill overview

HB 554 removes the legal requirement for Montana's Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) department to regulate wolves under either furbearer or game animal classifications. This eliminates a regulatory framework that previously governed wolf hunting and trapping seasons, bag limits, and related management protocols in the state.

Why is this important

Wolf management is a highly contentious issue in Montana, affecting both wildlife conservation goals and rural livelihoods dependent on livestock. By removing regulatory classification requirements, this bill effectively gives FWP discretionary authority over wolf management without statutory mandates, potentially reshaping how—or whether—wolves are hunted and trapped in the state.

Potential points of contention

  • Conservation implications: Removing regulatory classifications could allow for less restrictive wolf hunting/trapping, raising concerns among environmental groups about population sustainability and ecosystem impacts
  • Livestock protection vs. predator preservation: Ranching interests may support reduced protections for wolves, while wildlife advocates argue statutory protections are necessary to prevent population declines
  • Regulatory flexibility vs. legal certainty: While this gives FWP management flexibility, it removes legislative guardrails that previously ensured consistent, legally-defined hunting standards

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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