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MISSOULA- Folks interested in wolf trapping received instruction from Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks officials on Saturday at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The course is mandatory for Montana wolf trappers, and teachers share ethics, trapping techniques, and wolf habits and history.

FWP Regional Manager Mike Thompson says he sees a lot of familiar faces and everyone has been receptive to the course.

Despite a season extension last year, only 75% of the statewide quota was reached, but Thompson says trapping is probably the most effective tool for wolf management.

"When the state wolf management plan was drafted, it was envisioned as the tool that was probably gonna be most effective. The tool that was gonna be needed to manage wolf numbers and so trapping is really important, something we've always envisioned as a component of wolf management," Thompson said.

Two more wolf trapping courses will be held in Missoula, one on September 19th and the other on October 13th.