2020 WOLF FWP HUNTING AND TRAPPING REGULATIONS Gray Wolf Canis lupus TURN IN POACHERS: CALL 1-800-TIP-MONT fwp.mt.gov Highlights & Reminders Obtain a License • Once you have established your residency, you must continue to meet all these • Two swivels, including a center swivel on The combined maximum hunting and trapping requirements and physically reside in the base of the trap, will be required for all bag limit is five wolves per person during the Montana as your principal or primary ground set foothold traps. For details, visit: 2020-2021 season. Five wolves can be taken place of abode for not less than 120 days fwp.mt.gov/hunting/trapping. by means of hunting each with a valid Wolf per year (days need not be consecutive). • Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, a hunter or trapper License. Trapping is authorized Dec. 15, 2020 • To purchase an annual resident who has completed a transfer form may - Feb. 28, 2021, with a valid Trapping License have a representative present the hide Conservation License, you will be required and upon completion of mandatory wolf- to show a valid Montana Driver’s License and skull to a Montana FWP official for trapping certification. Persons could take up inspection. See mandatory reporting (MDL), a valid Montana Identification Card to five wolves via any combination of hunting (MIC), or a valid Tribal Identification Card. requirements section for details. and trapping (maximum harvest of five wolves • Collared wolves can be lawfully taken, but • If your MDL or MIC has been issued for per person). For hunting, a separate license less than six months, you may be required they provide important information for is required for each wolf. For trapping, only a monitoring populations and managing to show additional proof of residency. An Trapping License is required. out-of-state driver’s license is NOT an livestock depredations. • A Wolf License is available at all Fish, • A wolf harvest must be reported within acceptable form of ID for resident license Wildlife & Parks offices, FWP license purchases. Contact your local FWP office 24 hours. providers, and online at fwp.mt.gov. • Any Wolf Management Unit (WMU) can for specifics. close upon a 24-hour notice. • A Wolf License must be purchased by • A person is NOT considered a resident for the February 28, 2021. Hunting purposes of this section if the person claims • Electronic calls can be used for wolf hunting. • A Wolf License purchased after August 31 residence in any other state or country for Trapping may not be used until 24 hours after the any purpose. license is issued. • WMU 313 is closed to wolf trapping in the • The Conservation License allows hunters, Hunter/Trapper Education Deckard Flats to Trail Creek Wolf Trapping Requirements Closure Area. anglers, and trappers access to all legally • Wolf trap pan tension must be at least 10 accessible state school trust lands. Contact Hunter Education for Firearm and Archery pounds in Regions 1,2,3,4, and 5. a DNRC office for regulations. • If you were born after January 1, 1985, you • Trappers must immediately dispatch a Licensing – Youth Hunting are required to show proof of completing trapped wolf by gunshot – unless otherwise Opportunities a Montana Hunter Safety and Education authorized not to do so by FWP prior to Course (or an approved Hunter Safety wolf-trapping efforts. A resident or nonresident youth 12 years of age Course from any other state or province) or older may hunt any game species for which prior to applying for or purchasing a Regulations Adopted by Fish their license is valid. Those who will reach 12 hunting license, whether the hunting & Wildlife Commission years of age by January 16, 2021, may hunt any license is for the rifle or archery season. game species, for which their license is valid, • Bowhunter requirements - in order to Regulations for season dates, structures, after August 15 of the 2020 license year. Proof and restrictions were adopted by the F&W purchase a Montana Bow and Arrow of hunter education must be presented at the license, a hunter must provide a certificate Commission on February 13, 2020, under the time of purchase. authority granted in MCA 87-1-301 and are of completion of a National Bowhunter • Apprentice Hunters - are not eligible to hunt Education Course or provide any prior valid March 1, 2020, through March 15, 2021. wolves. Visit fwp.mt.gov for details. The F&W Commission reserves the authority year’s archery license from any state or • In order to carry or use a firearm for any province. to amend the seasons, limits and regulations reason, a youth under 14 years of age must herein if deemed necessary for wildlife be accompanied by a person having charge • Montana law requires members of the management purposes. Statutes and other or custody of the youth, or be under the armed forces and their dependents information, including other agencies’ supervision of a qualified firearms safety stationed in Montana to present a Montana restrictions, are provided as a courtesy and instructor or an adult 18 years of age or older hunter education certificate or similar do not fall under Commission authority. Martha who has been authorized by the youth’s certificate from any state or province when Williams, Director. parent or guardian, MCA 45-8-344. purchasing any Montana hunting license. Discrimination Prohibited – State and Federal • Duplicates – Montana certificates of laws, Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964, Residency completion for the Montana hunter Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, education and/or bowhunter education Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act It is unlawful to swear to or to affirm a false statement in order to obtain an original or courses may be obtained from FWP’s of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, website. and Title IX of the Education Amendments of duplicate resident hunting and/or fishing license OR to assist an unqualified applicant Wolf Trapper Certification – A person must 1972, prohibit discrimination on the basis of attend and complete a wolf-trapping race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, or in obtaining a resident license. Resident certification class before setting any trap disability. Anyone believing he or she has been for a wolf. Completion of either the Idaho discriminated against (as described above) • To be a legal Montana resident and eligible or Montana wolf-trapping certification in any FWP program, activity, or facility may to purchase any Montana resident fishing, class will be recognized as meeting this write to FWP Human Resources, 1420 East hunting, and trapping licenses, as per MCA requirement. A certificate will be awarded Sixth Avenue, PO Box 200701, Helena, MT 87-2-102, you must: to those completing the Montana trapping 59620-0701 or the office of Equal Opportunity, - Claim Montana as your principal or certification class. This certification must U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, primary home or place of abode be in possession of any person setting wolf D.C. 20240 - Have been physically living in Montana for traps and/or harvesting a wolf by trap. at least 180 consecutive days immediately Definitions prior to purchasing a resident license Hunter with a Disability Legal Wolf – Any male or female wolf, - Register your vehicle(s) in Montana If you or someone you know has a disability and/ including young-of-the-year. - Be registered to vote in Montana if you’re or is aging, and is in need of assistive technology Wolf Management Unit (WMU) – Areas registered to vote (AT) or adaptive equipment to help you participate in outdoor recreation, please contact: that define Montana’s wolf-hunting and - Not possess current (or have applied for MonTech at the University trapping districts as specified under any) resident hunting, fishing, or trapping of Montana Rural Institute “Wolf Management Unit (WMU) Legal privileges in another state or country 29 McGill Hall Descriptions.” - File Montana state income tax returns Missoula, MT 59803 as a resident, if you are required to file (406) 243-5751 montech.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/ 2 Turn In Poachers. Enough is Enough! Make the call: 1-800-847-6668 License Chart similar devices. These limitations shall not exclude the mechanical leverage advantage The following licenses, for the purpose of wolf hunting, are valid March 1, 2020, through the provided by eccentric wheels or cams, so dates listed in these regulations and are subject to quota closures. long as the available energy stored in the LICENSE REQUIREMENTS COST bent limbs of the bow is the sole result of a Annual fee charged at the time the hunter purchases their $10 Resident single, continuous, and direct pulling effort Base Hunting License by the shooter. first hunting license. $15 Nonresident $4 Resident - The bow must be hand-held. One hand shall 12-17, 62+ hold the bow and the other hand draw the Required prerequisite at the time the hunter purchases bowstring. The bowstring must be moved Conservation License $8 Resident their first hunting or fishing license. and/or held at all points in the draw cycle $10 Nonresident entirely by muscle power of the shooter until Wolf License release. The bowstring must be released as Must be purchased by Feb. 28, 2021. A wolf-hunting $12 Resident without a a direct and conscious action of the shooter, license purchased after August 31 may not be used until Sportsmans or either relaxing the tension of the fingers or 24 hours after the license is issued. Maximum of 5 per $50 triggering the release action of a hand-held Combination person. Nonresident License release aid. Exception: Physically disabled bowhunters Wolf License with Only valid for the first wolf license purchased after $10 Resident certified by FWP with the Permit To Modify a Sportsmans purchasing a sportsman or combination license.