Drawing for state's first wolf hunt set for Wednesday

A computerized drawing to select the 1,160 hunters from Wisconsin and around the country who will be given permits for the state's first wolf hunt is scheduled for Wednesday, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

As of late Friday -- the final day to apply for one of the permits -- the DNR had received nearly 20,000 applications to participate in the wolf hunt, scheduled to begin Oct. 15. While the large majority of the permit applications are from Wisconsin, there are requests for permits from throughout the country, according to the agency. They include 11 from California, eight from Florida, 179 from Illinois, 101 from Minnesota and 10 from Texas.

Those who are selected in Wednesday's drawing will be notified next week, DNR spokesman Bill Cosh said.

Still up in the air is whether hunters will be allowed to use dogs. A Dane County judge has issued an injunction temporarily halting the use of dogs for tracking and trailing wolves because of a lawsuit by a group of Wisconsin humane societies. The DNR has asked that the lawsuit be dismissed and a hearing is scheduled for Friday.

(c)2012 The Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wis.)

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