Montana Title 87. Fish and Wildlife § 87-5-131. Process for delisting of gray wolf--management following delisting

(1) If the United States fish and wildlife service removes the Northern Rocky Mountain or gray wolf from the United States' list of endangered or threatened wildlife, the department is authorized to remove the wolf from the state list of endangered species upon a determination by the department pursuant to this part that the wolf is no longer endangered.

(2) Following state delisting of the wolf, the department shall manage the wolf as a species in need of management until the department and the commission determine that the wolf no longer needs protection as a species in need of management and can be managed and protected as a game animal or furbearer. Upon making that determination, the commission may declare the wolf a game animal or a furbearer and may regulate the taking of a wolf as a game animal or furbearer.