Wisconsin DNR picks wolf hunters

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin wildlife officials have decided who can hunt wolves this winter.

Department of Natural Resources officials say 20,272 hunters, including 486 from outside the state, applied for a permit to hunt or trap wolves. The DNR chose 1,160 applicants through a random computer lottery on Wednesday.

The agency says 1,145 Wisconsin residents and 15 nonresidents won authorization to buy a permit. They cost $100 for state residents and $500 for nonresidents.

The first season is scheduled to begin Oct. 15 and run through the end of February. DNR rules enacting the hunt call for a total statewide quota of 201 wolves. The state's Chippewa tribes have exclusive right to 85 of them, leaving 116 for state-licensed hunters.

License authorizations were issued to residents of 71 Wisconsin counties and were roughly evenly spread across age groups. Of the total, 91 went to women and 1,069 to men.

Successful applicants may purchase their wolf harvest license at any license sales location or online at dnr.wi.gov now or during the season. The cost is $100 for residents, and $500 for nonresidents. Successful applicants have the option of transferring their wolf harvest license to a youth or an adult who meets the eligibility requirements within 15 days of notification that they were successful in the drawing.

A wolf license authorizes both hunting and trapping. The license holder must meet the appropriate education requirements for trapping or hunting or must be participating in the Hunting Mentorship program. Successful hunters are required to tag and register their wolf. Regulations were sent to the successful applicants and are also available on DNR’s website at dnr.wi.gov, keyword search ‘wolf’.

People who applied for a wolf license can check on their application status through the DNR Online Licensing Center.

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