Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop

MONTANA MOUNTAIN LION STATUS REPORT
RICH DeSIMONE, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 1420 East Sixth Avenue, Helena, MT
59620, USA, email: rdesimone@state.mt.us
ROSE JAFFE, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 1420 East Sixth Avenue, Helena, MT 59620,
USA, email: rjaffe@state.mt.us
INTRODUCTION
Mountain lions in Montana are classified
as a big game species. Overall management
direction is provided in the Montana Fish,
Wildlife & Parks’ (MFWP) 1996
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) –
Management of Mountain Lions in
Montana. According to the EIS, objectives
concerning lion management are “… to
maintain mountain lion and prey
populations, to maintain mountain lion
populations at levels that are compatible
with outdoor recreational desires, and to
minimize human-lion conflicts and livestock
depredation”.
DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE
Figure 1. Montana mountain lion hunting districts.
29
Proceedings of the Seventh Mountain Lion Workshop
Mountain lions are currently distributed
over approximately 75% of the state. Lions
have filled habitats in western and central
Montana and are continuing to expand in the
eastern part of the state. Montana does not
estimate lion populations, however, trends
are monitored through harvest/mortality
data, tooth age information, damage/conflict
reports, and information from houndsmen.
HARVEST INFORMATION
Lion harvest objectives are guided by
balancing concern for human safety and
demand for sport hunting. Montana’s 155
deer and elk hunting districts are combined
into 74 mountain lion hunting districts
(Figure 1).