HB 222 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Creating open wolf hunting season until the population is 600 or fewer

HB 222 proposed creating a year-round open wolf hunting season in Montana. This season would have an unlimited quota, meaning there would be no limit on the number of wolves that could be hunted. The hunting season would continue until the statewide wolf population reached 600 or fewer, at which point it could be closed. The bill aimed to amend existing state law to mandate that the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission authorize this specific wolf hunting season.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Jan 2025
House Passage
Jan 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 15, 2025 Last action May 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 6 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0222_1(7).pdf HB0222_2(6).pdf · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from HB 222.1 to HB 0222.2 and includes minor formatting adjustments. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a specific exception to the wolf hunting season, allowing the commission to close the season in May and June to protect wolf dens and pups. A new section on severability was also added to ensure the rest of the bill remains valid if any part is struck down.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding wolf hunting was modified by adding a seasonal exception for denning and whelping periods.
TIMELINE

Added an exception allowing the wolf hunting season to be closed in May and June to protect denning and whelping activities.

REQUIREMENT

Inserted a new severability clause to ensure the bill remains partially effective if any specific provision is found invalid.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill number from HB 222.1 to HB 0222.2 and adjusted page headers.

Floor votes · House Jan 30, 2025

How they voted

5246
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 100
Jan 30, 2025
D Democratic42
2 Yea 40 Nay
95% Nay
R Republican58
50 Yea 6 Nay 2
86% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
24
Key actions
3
Committee
3
Jan 30, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (52-46-2)
house
Jan 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Jan 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Jan 16, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Jan 15, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Lukas Schubert
Lukas Schubert
RRepublican
MT
8