Wisconsin Wolf Hunt

[Scott M]

Wisconsin may revive wolf hunt

from Associated Press, Pioneer Press

Wisconsin could move a step closer to allowing hunters to kill timber wolves as the state's Conservation Congress holds a vote tonight.

The congress, a citizens' advisory group to the Natural Resources Board, will ask outdoor enthusiasts during statewide meetings whether the state should create a wolf hunting season. The proposal is expected to pass, said Mike Brust, of Wausau, who chairs the congress' committee on wolves.

The vote would come about a year after the federal government removed the animals from the endangered species list. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in March 2007 decided the population had rebounded to stable levels in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota.

If the proposal passes, the issue would be taken up by the group's board at its meeting in May, said Adrian Wydeven, a Department of Natural Resources mammalian ecologist and wolf expert. The board would then decide whether to forward the plan to the Natural Resources Board, which sets policy for the DNR.

That board, Wydeven said, then would have to decide whether to direct DNR staff to set up regulations for a wolf hunting season. Ultimately, a hunting season on wolves also would have to be approved by the state Legislature.

Gray wolves, otherwise known as timber wolves, have returned to Wisconsin in healthy numbers after being nearly eliminated from the state by the late 1950s by hunters who feared the animals were threatening the deer herd.

Last year's surveys showed between 540 and 577 wolves in Wisconsin, Wydeven said.

As the wolf population has increased, so has depredation by some wolves on livestock, pets and hunting dogs, Brust said. A wolf hunting season would be a way to keep the population in check. It also would help retain support for the recovery program, especially in Northern Wisconsin.

Not everyone is for the plan. Gena Schroeder, with the national organization Defenders of Wildlife, said the group will encourage its Wisconsin members to vote against the hunting plan.

Schroeder said the wolves haven't been off the endangered species list for too long and there is not enough information on their current populations to justify a hunt.

"We've always been concerned about the long-term survival of the wolf," Schroeder said.

[walleye101]

While most of us see this as positive, successful recovery and potential for carefully regulated harvest, other are preparing for a lenthy law suit. It really exposes their true motivation. If it was real concern for the wolves they too would be happy to declare or at least admit successful recovery. However for them it has never been or never will be about restoring the species to healthy harvestable population levels. It is all about infinite protection at any population level.

[kkahmann]

You are right of course walleye.

I have some experience hunting wolves--it's legal here but it is much more regulated than it used to be. I also have some experience with wolves in Wisconsin--I actually saw a wolf kill a dog in the Chemogoen National Forest some years ago.

I personaly think you could start unregulated hunting of wolves in Wisconsin tomorrow and you would not drive those animals into extinction. You would reduce the population some I suppose and the remaining wolves would start to act like the wolves around here--very wild and secretive and almost unhuntable. Wolves in Wisconsin were driven into extinction by a very special set of circumstances that are not likely to be repeated. Poison was a big part of it also. That ain't coming back.

[Cooter]

The recent spring hearings had as the final question, "Do you favor the DNR, WI Conservation Congress, and the WI Legislature develop a season framework and harvest goals to maintain the wolf population within management objectives?"

Results:

Yes - 4,848

No - 772

Number of counties in favor - 72

Number counties tied or opposed - 0

So while a hunt is probably coming, I'm not holding my breath until it happens. BTW, IMO the 'estimate' of some 500 is very, very conservative.

[Lunker]

Remember the conservation congress does not actually make changes in rules.

Many of us remember the debacle that was the cat-hunting "law" a couple years ago. The CC "passed" the idea, which made a lot of angry citizens think it was law, only to have the actual rule makers, the DNR board, shoot it down. I would expect a similar result this time around. Remember that the citizens who vote for the CC are those that are there because they want to vote for a specific cause. The DNR board, even if they agreed with wolf hunting(or cat hunting), would be unlikely to pass this in my opinion because it will anger a lot of the state population(most notably those "caring" folk in the higher density urban areas in the southern part of the state, i.e. those who don't ever see a wolf). Unfortunatley, risk of bad press for outdoorsmen often outweighs choices that are sensible ecologically(if we look bad in the eyes of the public it could effect future relations).

I would love to see a Wolf hunt here in WI, and even more so in MN(where there are way more wolves), but I wouldn't hold your breath.

But who knows, I may be wrong.

[walleye101]

So if we avoid doing what is right and ecologically sensible because we might look bad in the eyes of the uninformed public, how do we ever make any progress in informing the public on what is ecologically sensible?

[Lunker]

Anyone know the results from the CC on the Wolf hunt?

[tealitup]

My father went to our hunting land this past weekend - 55 miles NW of two harbors.

They arrived at 3AM and went to bed. My father awoke early and went for a walk at 630AM. He noticed wolf tracks on the tire tracks in the snow (Yes there is still snow up there).

At 830AM everyone got up; my dad went to show everyone the wolf tracks only to find more tracks in his footprints.

That day they were standing next to the vehicles only to have two wolves walk within 30 yards of them stoping to look.

I do believe they are not scared of humans in this neck of the woods.

[imhooked]

The wolves in Northern Wisconsin have increased in population.

I never saw one as a kid.

Now, I see at least a dozen each winter.

A sight to behold.

They need to have a limited hunting season for them.

If only to put a healthy fear of man back into them.

[fishermann222]

I hope you guys get a season, it will be good for the humans, wolves, and the wolves prey.

[tedl]

I would love to see MN get a season, I have had wolf encounters just about everytime I go out with my dog.

[tealitup]

 Originally Posted By: tedl

I would love to see MN get a season, I have had wolf encounters just about everytime I go out with my dog.

Have alot of people had encounters with wolves when grouse hunting in the North Country? Is it something to be mindful of?

[tedl]

In summer and fall its rare to see wolves, its a lot more common in the winter time. The worst time is in January and february because it is mating season and they become very territorial, and will attack dogs.