Two weeks after the Outdoor Heritage Coalition and Republican lawmakers sued Montana for insufficient efforts to reduce the wolf population, conservation groups presented a contrasting argument in court. The lawsuits highlight a conflict between lawmakers aiming to limit wolves in Montana and advocates concerned about unsustainable population decreases. While the lawsuits push different views on a “sustainable” population, both criticize Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the governor-appointed Fish and Wildlife Commission for unscientific management methods. Recently, the commission set a 458-wolf quota with stricter rules near Yellowstone National Park.
The Outdoor Heritage Coalition, Gallatin County outfitter Craig Neal, and Montana Representatives Shannon Maness of Dillon and Paul Fielder of Thompson Falls, filed a lawsuit in Sanders County. They claim an excess of wolves leads to “chronic” livestock issues, declining ungulate numbers, and fewer hunting opportunities. They allege that commission quotas defy the Legislature’s 2021 directive to reduce the wolf population, affecting the constitutional right to harvest wild game and fish. They seek a permanent injunction to abolish the 2025-2026 hunting framework, advocating for a higher quota and longer season.
Fielder supports a target of 400 wolves, aligning with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2009 proposal for delisting gray wolves. He suggests expanding hunting seasons and methods in Montana, similar to Wyoming and Idaho, and questions FWP’s efforts. “I’m a retired wildlife biologist and I’ve got my ideas and opinions on what they can do, but the department has the authority and the responsibility and the expertise to figure out how we can remove more wolves,” Fielder said. “And they’re not doing it.”
Conversely, WildEarth Guardians, Project Coyote, Footloose Montana, and Gallatin Wildlife Association filed a lawsuit to block the “extreme quota” of wolves, which they claim is unsustainable. Their Oct. 15 brief argues that the 2025-2026 quotas, plus 100 authorized wolf “removals,” are “unsupported by science” and could cause long-term population decline. They also contest the state’s wolf population estimates.
“Montana’s reckless and unscientific wolf eradication must stop,” wrote Lizzy Pennock of WildEarth Guardians. Conservationists argue that public opposition to wolf regulations is ignored in favor of fringe groups. They also allege their members had insufficient time to voice concerns in an August meeting, with comments often landing in spam folders.
The constitutional claims in the lawsuit address the state’s wolf management framework, linking it to Montanans’ right to a “clean and healthful environment” and a directive to prevent environmental degradation. The conservationists’ legal actions against aggressive wolf management date back to 2022, when they sought to block legislative wolf management bills from taking effect. Judge Christopher Abbott initially granted a restraining order in November 2022 but lifted it after finding insufficient evidence of unsustainability in the revised framework.
Gray wolves were originally protected under the Endangered Species Act in 1978, and delisted in Montana in 2011 following Congressional action. Attempts to restore protections have failed. Montana’s wolf population has remained around 1,100 for a decade, based on FWP’s estimates, contested by WildEarth Guardians and co-plaintiffs.
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