Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has opened several public comment periods covering a private fish pond license renewal, the selection of license auction organizations, and proposed 2026 furbearer and wolf hunting seasons — with all deadlines falling before a scheduled Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting on August 19.
Fish Pond License Renewal
A private landowner in Hamilton has applied to renew a previously expired license that would allow rainbow trout to be stocked in a personal pond. FWP is accepting public comments on that application through August 14.
The license, if approved, would permit the landowner to maintain a private trout pond for personal use. Such licenses are regulated by FWP to ensure private stocking practices do not conflict with the state’s broader fisheries management goals. Montana anglers and residents interested in local fishing regulations and water access may want to weigh in before the deadline.
Furbearer and Wolf Hunting Seasons
FWP is also gathering input on proposed regulations, quotas, and season structures for the 2026 furbearer and wolf hunting and trapping seasons. The comment window for those proposals closes August 12.
Wolf and furbearer seasons are among the more closely watched regulatory decisions FWP makes each cycle, drawing interest from hunters, trappers, livestock producers, and wildlife advocates across the state. The commission’s decisions on quotas and season lengths can have significant implications for rural landowners and the broader predator-prey balance in Montana.
License Auction Organization Selection
A third comment period, with the earliest deadline, covers FWP’s selection of license auction organizations. Residents wishing to comment on that process must do so by August 7.
License auction organizations facilitate the sale of special-use hunting licenses, with proceeds often supporting wildlife conservation programs. The selection of which organizations administer those auctions is subject to public input before the commission acts.
How to Participate
Montanans have multiple ways to submit comments. Written input can be provided in person at FWP regional offices across the state. Those who prefer to participate remotely can register for virtual comment via Zoom — registration opened August 4 and closes at noon on August 18.
All three topics will be addressed when the Fish and Wildlife Commission convenes on August 19. Members of the public who wish to comment directly before commissioners can do so at that meeting as well.
What Comes Next
The August 19 commission meeting represents the next formal decision point for all three matters. Commissioners will have the benefit of public input gathered through written submissions, virtual testimony, and in-person comments at regional offices before taking any action.
FWP’s process reflects the standard regulatory cycle the agency follows when setting seasons and approving licenses — one that gives the public a structured opportunity to shape wildlife management decisions before they are finalized. Montanans with an interest in hunting access, trapping regulations, or private fisheries management should note the staggered deadlines, as the license auction comment period closes first, on August 7.
