State Wolf Hunt to Begin Before the End of February

Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 -- 9:06 AM

(Wisconsin Ag Connection) Just days after a judge ordered the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to commence a gray wolf hunting season before the end of February, the agency's board unanimously approved the harvest period and set quotas at its monthly meeting.

According to the Wisconsin Ag Connection, on Monday, the panel voted to allow hunters and trappers to apply for a wolf permit or preference point effective February 16 through the end of the day on February 20.

Board members also decided to set a harvest quota of 200 wolves outside reservation lands.  The move comes after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed gray wolves from the federal endangered species list last fall, thus returning management authority to the lower 48 states and tribes.

When the citizen board decided in late January to forego holding the season until later this fall, a lawsuit was filed in an effort to overturn the group's decision.

Farmers have been advocating for a wolf season for years, saying the animals are preying on their livestock and pets.  Reports say there are approximately 1,030 wolves in 256 packs currently living in Wisconsin.

Hunters interested in applying for a wolf permit can go to the Go Wild account login on the DNR's website. The application permit fee is $10 plus $49 for the license if selected.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.