Wisconsin Wolf Hunt

[Fitter]

You guys think you'll see a wolf hunting season any time in the near future?

We're in the same boat as I understand it here in Michigan as the anti hunting fraternities continue to block the removal of protection which would allow individual states to create their own management plans. Obviously state management is what we need to begin with. Idaho was able to hold onto state management and are still battling anti hunter animal rights activists even during their wolf hunt which is going quite well. Our wolf population is well beyond the sustainable numbers according to the experts. No surprise that Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota all have flourishing wolf populations as we have abundant deer herds and expansive forests.

The wolves haven't made it far enough south for me to see any yet, but from what I have heard from some of my buddies they have been a problem in their hunting areas. I just hope the DNR does something before it does get out of hand.

[Fitter]

I just recently posted on our news site that wolves have been once again confirmed in Northern lower Michigan so they're spreading out here. Minnesota announced last week that they would be trying to have the wolves protection removed once again. That's also good for us especially if it happens. We have a good population of wolves around my place yet I've only seen them twice. Have seen their tracks numerous times.

[Fitter]

And I can update the most recent siting of wolf tracks to yesterday. My daughter and I took a bike ride and stopped at our pond which is about 300 yards from the cabin. A pair of wolves must have visited for a drink. Left their paw prints in the soft mud along with a bunch of other critters including coyotes.

I mentioned the "official" Wisconsin DNR stance on wolves in another post today, but will note another funny point.

There were numerous individuals criticizing the wildlife biologist giving the seminar for releasing wolves in Wisconsin. The fact is that the DNR never released any wolves in Wisconsin. Minnesota has gladly donated every wolf our state has recieved. This time of the year many young (last years') wolves find themselves homeless and unwelcome in nearby territory and then have to "scout around" for a new place to live.

I used to believe that the DNR released them, and I have heard that accusation many times (of course, it was supported financially by the insurance companies), but I can't find anything online to support the theory.

The DNR's official statement is that they moved back in from MN in the 70's after extinction despite being listed in the 50's. They are skyrocketing in population - even in comparison to the intened plan - which would have allowed them to be delisted when the population exceeded 80 (estimated to happen in the '80s). They currently number well over 600, with a likely jump into the 700's this year. They were delisted in 2008, only to be sued back into relisted status nearly immediately. In May 2009 they were re-delisted, then apparently they have been relisted again - presumably due to tree-hugger lawsuits.

If wolves want to eat people, I wish they would start with the Anti's and their lawyers! We need to get them delisted and establish a hunting season before there is someone in this state that gets hunted by them. A little temper to the population growth would be a good thing for the wolves and for the deer!