Montana Considers Anti-Wolf Legislation
Potential Harm to Tourism, Economy, and Reputationby Dr. Nathan Varley
March 28, 2025
Gardiner, Mont – Three bills have passed the Montana House and are now being heard on the Senate floor, aimed at dramatically reducing an important tourism draw: wildlife. The bills, House Bills 176, 258 and 259, directly threaten jobs, livelihoods, and Montana’s second-largest industry—tourism. According to the State’s Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research findings, tourism contributed an average of $5.82 billion per year in 2022-2023 to the Montana economy. “These bills threaten Montana’s ethical hunting reputation and will harm my business by reducing wolf viewing opportunities that my guests hire me for,” said Cara McGary, owner of In Our Nature Guiding Services in Gardiner, Montana. “These wolves are the centerpiece of the tourism product in southern Park County. I am very concerned that their loss will lead to a decline in bookings, loss of jobs, and economic harm to my community.” HB 176 would eliminate regional quotas and require unlimited wolf hunting throughout Montana until the wolf population is decreased from the estimated current population of around 1,100 wolves to just 450. HB 258 would extend the wolf hunting season to June, to encompass denning, birthing, and pup rearing periods. HB 259 would require unlimited hunting (no bag limits) and allow use of bait for hunting and trapping. Wildlife, particularly wolves and grizzly bears in their natural habitat within Yellowstone National Park, is a primary draw for visitors seeking outdoor experiences. The opportunity to see wolves specifically brings at least $82 million to the Montana economy annually. These tourists fill hotels, purchase gas, dine in restaurants, and contribute millions in bed tax revenue to the state of Montana. In Park County, Montana where the Yellowstone wildlife-watching economy is largest, tourism ($500 million annually) significantly surpasses other industries, including agriculture ($40 million annually). Half of the $500 million annual tourism economy comes from out-of-state visitors bringing in external revenue to our state. For Montanans, these bills eliminate community-based wolf management strategies. Communities across the state have varying concerns when it comes to wolf management, including tourism, impacts on deer, elk, and moose populations, and livestock depredations. These bills remove Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ ability to use quotas as a management tool to encourage wolf hunting in specific areas of concern. Generally, livestock depredations in Montana are low. Statewide, 29 cattle, nine sheep, one horse, and one livestock guard dog were suspected or confirmed wolf depredations in 2023 according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks annual report. This conflict is typically dealt with through targeted, localized efforts to eliminate specific wolves that pursue livestock before the behavior perpetuates to other wolves. Shauna Baron, Veteran Yellowstone Guide and owner of Yellowstone Trip Planning, conveys a common local perspective. “As a child of a dairy farmer, I understand the challenges that wolves can bring, but the number of conflicts does not warrant such an extreme response as these bills represent.” Wild Livelihoods has seen the consequences of increased wolf hunting on tourism before. During the 2021-2022 wolf hunting season, the liberal quotas and elimination of wolf management units 313 and 316 resulted in 19 wolves from Yellowstone packs being killed. This led to public outrage, business boycotts, and hate mail directed at local businesses. Even though the bills have not yet passed, local businesses are starting to get cancellations as a result of what is proposed. One Gardiner, Montana-based tour company, Yellowstone Wildlife Profiles, received the following message on February 27, 2025. “We have decided because of the wolf killing situation it’s just not ethical for our group of 10 to come next year & celebrate my birthday. We really wanted to come just for the wolves. I am sorry about this but we decided we can not found this killing in this area. This of course is no reflection on you.” Meanwhile, those business owners involved in the tourism economy have voiced their frustration that legislators are not considering their needs. “My colleagues and I are angry and concerned, like any good business owners or managers would be about these wolf bills. No business owner on the planet would kill off a product that generates profits. The wildlife and natural resources of Yellowstone and all of Montana are our business partners and should be treated with the respect they deserve,” said McGary. Today, March 28, 2025, these three bills will have their second of three votes in the Senate. If they pass the Senate, the bills will proceed back to the House for a yes or no vote with no further opportunity for amendments. Governor Gianforte will have the opportunity to approve or veto the bills. Wild Livelihoods and business owners are pressuring legislators to vote against these bills. “Kill HB 176, 258, 259 if you believe in working class Montanans and Republican economic principles. Start over, and invite us Montanans in gateway communities who are driving the economies here…to the table.” says Jeff Reed, owner at Reedfly Farm. For more information about the economic impact of healthy wolf populations in Montana, see the Wild Livelihoods website. https://www.wildlivelihoods.com/business-members “99% of the people who come to my store in Silver Gate are here looking for wolves. When there are wolves being seen in the northeast part of the park, we are busy at the store. When they aren’t, our business is way down,” said Krisztina Gayler, owner at Stop The Car Trading Post in Silver Gate, Montana“The justification for these measures is weak. The value of wolves to Montana’s tourism economy far outweigh the costs of their management. These measures aredriven by fringe groups who champion trapping and trophy hunting. None of Montana’s major industries, including agriculture, have backed these bills. None,” said Nathan Varley, owner Yellowstone Wolf Tracker.
“There was little to no year-round work for guides here before wolf restoration. Now, this part of Montana is considered the best place to see wild wolves, drawing millions of guests from around the world throughout the entire year. This wolf-focused tourism sparked a thriving economy of guiding and short-term vacation rentals and allows our hotels, restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores to remain open and keep their staff on payroll year round,” said Emil McCain, owner Yellowstone Wild Tours.
“What I do not support is, a non-scientific measure to hunt any species year-round, to hunt them while they are in their dens, to eliminate fair chase and to completely go against the North American Model for hunting practices,” said Ken Sinay, retired hunting guide, founder and former owner of Yellowstone Safari Company. “All of these bills reflect poorly on Montana's long history of wildlife conservation and the legacy that we have created here, and they are not tolerated by the visitors, the very people we rely on forour income.”
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Photos
Visitors enjoy wildlife in the park