87-1-217. Policy for management of large predators -- legislative intent. - Montana Statutes

     87-1-217. Policy for management of large predators -- legislative intent. (1) In managing large predators, the primary goals of the department, in the order of listed priority, are to:
     (a) protect humans, livestock, and pets;
     (b) preserve and enhance the safety of the public during outdoor recreational and livelihood activities; and
     (c) preserve citizens' opportunities to hunt large game species.
     (2) As used in this section:
     (a) "large game species" means deer, elk, mountain sheep, moose, antelope, and mountain goats; and
     (b) "large predators" means bears, mountain lions, and wolves.
     (3) With regard to large predators, it is the intent of the legislature that the specific provisions of this section concerning the management of large predators will control the general supervisory authority of the department regarding the management of all wildlife.
     (4) For the management of wolves in accordance with the priorities established in subsection (1), the department may use lethal action to take problem wolves that attack livestock, so long as the state objective for breeding pairs has been met. For the purposes of this subsection, "problem wolves" means any individual wolf or pack of wolves with a history of livestock predation.

     History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 212, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 275, L. 2009.