Montana's statewide wolf hunting season on Monday came to an abrupt halt in the southern portion of the state, only one day after it started.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks ordered hunting closed in Wolf Management Unit 3 a half-hour after sunset Monday. The area generally includes land south of Highway 200 and east of Interstate 15 to the Montana border.

Wolf hunting will continue in WMU 1, which is north of the Highway 200 line, and in WMU 2, which is in the southwestern portion of Montana.

The hunting closure in WMU 3 was prompted by four wolves that were reportedly killed from that unit, which pushed the total number taken from the area to 13. A pre-established quota called for taking only 12 wolves from that area.

Ron Aasheim, FWP community education administrator, said there is no need to adjust the quotas in the other wolf management units because they went over in WMU 3. However, all wolf hunting will end if the entire 75-wolf harvest level in Montana is reached. If it's not, the wolf season ends with the rest of the general big game season on Nov. 29. It can be extended through December, however, if the quota isn't reached.

As of Monday afternoon, 23 of Montana's 500 wolves were reported killed by hunters. Six came from WMU 1, which has a quota of 41, and four came from WM2, which has a quota of 22. Twelve of the wolves were taken in a special backcountry hunt offered prior to the general wolf season.

Aasheim noted that on Sunday, two wolves were taken in Gallatin County, two in Beaverhead County, two in Sweet Grass County and one each in Ravalli, Sanders, Mineral and Flathead counties. He wasn't sure where one wolf was shot.

Hunters must report their wolf kills within 12 hours, and they then have 10 days to submit more detailed information. They're expected either to call the wolf hotline at 1-800-385-7826 or go online to fwp.mt.gov before hunting to ensure that quotas aren't surpassed.

"We shouldn't have a problem getting ahead of the quota, because hunters know they need to check in. That's why we have the hotline," Aasheim said.

The wolf hunt comes four months after they were removed from the list of animals protected by the federal Endangered Species Act in Montana and Idaho. They remain listed in Wyoming.

Idaho has authorized hunters to take 220 wolves, and 79 have been harvested so far.

Officials in both states say hunting is an integral part of their management plans.

For more information, visit Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park's Web site at http://fwp.mt.gov/default.html and click "Montana Wolf Hunt," or call the toll-free number at 1-800-385-7826.

Eve Byron: 447-4076 or eve.byron@helenair.com