DNR: Wolf hunt will take place; no use of dogs

MADISON - Dane County Circuit Court Judge Anderson has scheduled Dec. 20 as the day he will hold a hearing on the department’s request to lift the injunction on the training and use of dogs to pursue wolves. As the result of this schedule, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is alerting permitted wolf hunters that the season will proceed, but the use of dogs to pursue wolves will not be allowed to start on Nov. 26, the date previously authorized by statute.

“We have a real need to reduce our current wolf population and have learned from other states that harvesting a wolf can be difficult. The use of dogs is a key way to increase hunter success. We will continue to work with the court to remove the injunction on the use of dogs, but unfortunately dogs will be sidelined for this hunt until at least late December,” said Kurt Thiede, DNR lands division administrator.

The temporary injunction was put into place this August while Judge Anderson considers the case brought against the DNR by humane society groups opposing the use of dogs in the wolf hunt. The injunction temporarily prevents or enjoins the use of dogs for hunting wolves, and also the use of dogs to train to hunt wolves. As a result of this ruling, hunters and trappers are advised that the use of dogs for tracking and trailing of wolves is not authorized when hunting wolves under a wolf harvesting license. Also, the use of dogs for training to track or trail free ranging wolves is not authorized at this time.

The wolf hunt will commence on Oct. 15. Prior to the injunction the use of dogs to track or trail wolves was slated to start Nov. 26, after the deer gun season, and continue through the end of the wolf season Feb. 28.

For more information on the wolf hunt, please visit dnr.wi.gov and search “wolf.”

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