Judge hears arguments in challenge to Montana's wolf hunting, trapping seasons

Attorneys for Montana and a coalition of conservation groups sparred in court Friday over whether a judge should halt the state’s ongoing wolf hunting and trapping season.

Lewis and Clark District Judge Christopher Abbott didn’t indicate at the end of the hearing how soon he will rule on a request for a preliminary injunction to pause the killing of wolves in Montana while a larger challenge to state hunting and trapping policies plays out.

The Montana Wildlife Commission in August set quotas allowing up to 458 wolves to be killed in the current and upcoming hunting and trapping seasons.

Jessica Blome, representing WildEarth Guardians, Project Coyote, the Gallatin Wildlife Association and Footloose Montana, argued that with the suite of wolf-killing methods approved by the state in rece