HB 259 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Revise fish and wildlife commission techniques for gray wolf management

HB 259 revises Montana's gray wolf management rules to give the Fish and Wildlife Commission more flexibility in controlling wolf populations. It allows landowners to kill wolves threatening livestock or safety without a hunting license (subject to reporting and annual quotas), expands hunting/trapping on private land at night using thermal/infrared scopes, and permits unlimited wolf harvest in high-population areas. The bill directly affects landowners, hunters, and the Fish and Wildlife Commission, which must implement these changes. Key provisions include new landowner take rules, modified hunting seasons based on regional wolf numbers, and immediate implementation upon enactment.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Sep 2025
Senate Passage
Sep 2025
Signed into Law
Sep 2025
Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Signed Sep 29, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0259_2.pdf HB0259_2.2.pdf · 9 edits
MAJOR
This bill amends Montana's gray wolf management laws to allow the Fish and Wildlife Commission to use more flexible hunting and trapping techniques based on regional wolf population levels. Key changes include permitting multiple wolf licenses per applicant, allowing unlimited wolf harvest per license, and authorizing the use of bait and night-vision equipment. It also introduces a new provision allowing landowners to kill wolves threatening safety or livestock without a standard hunting license, subject to an annual quota.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of management authority by allowing different regulations in different administrative regions and adding a specific mechanism for landowners to remove threatening wolves without standard licensing.
REQUIREMENT

Changed the wolf population target from 'not less than 15 breeding pairs' to 'at least 15 breeding pairs' to clarify the minimum threshold.

Replaced 'may' with 'shall' to require the commission to apply different management techniques in regions with the highest wolf numbers.

Allowed the use of bait during trapping seasons, provided no trap is set within 30 feet of visible bait.

Authorized hunting wolves on private land at night using artificial light or night-vision scopes.

ELIGIBILITY

Added authority to issue more than one Class E-1 or E-2 hunting license to a single applicant.

Added authority to allow trapping or snaring of more than one wolf per license holder.

Added authority to harvest an unlimited number of wolves per hunting or trapping license.

Created a new exemption allowing landowners or agents to kill wolves threatening safety, livestock, or dogs without a hunting license, subject to an annual quota.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from 'immediate' to 'on passage and approval'.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 31, 2025 · House Apr 11, 2025

How they voted

3218
Passed
Total votes 50
Mar 31, 2025
D Democratic18
18 Nay
100% Nay
R Republican32
32 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
48
Key actions
13
Committee
7
Amendments
1
Sep 29, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Sep 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Sep 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
May 5, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 11, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (56-43-1)
house
Mar 31, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (32-18)
senate
Mar 31, 2025
Introduced
(S) Returned to House with Amendments
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Mar 3, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Jan 20, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Jan 17, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Paul Fielder
Paul Fielder
RRepublican
MT
14