DNR releases proposal for wolf harvest

DNR releases proposal for wolf harvest season this fall

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proposing an inaugural gray wolf hunting and trapping season this fall that calls for a conservative harvest quota of 400 animals.

Wolf research indicates Minnesota’s wolf population could sustain a higher quota, but DNR officials say they are taking a measured approach to the state’s first season.

The proposal sets a quota of 6,000 licenses that will be allocated through a lottery system. Only one license will be allowed per hunter or trapper. Hunting would be allowed with firearms, archery equipment and muzzleloaders. Calls and bait would be allowed with restrictions.

The season is proposed for the end of November and would be closed once the quota is met. Hunters would be required to register animals on the same day they are harvested and data would be collected from carcasses. Other states with harvest seasons for wolves and other big game animals similarly monitor seasons and close them when quotas are met.

DNR will outline its proposals to the Legislature on Thursday, Jan. 26 before the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the House Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee.

While the legislatively approved wolf management plan authorizes hunting and trapping seasons, the agency is seeking additional authorization from the state Legislature this session to offer a wolf license and implement other management strategies.
Legislators will have to pass a bill by the end of the session and the governor will have to sign it in order for a season to be held.

The DNR will also take public comments prior to finalizing and implementing a wolf season.

The initial season will allow wolf biologists to collect information on hunter and trapper interest and harvest success and will provide biological information on harvested wolves to help inform future wolf population management and monitoring. The state has an estimated population of 3,000 gray wolves and past surveys indicate the population is stable.

Wolves are prolific, survival of young is generally high and populations can offset effects of mortality caused by hunting and trapping seasons, DNR officials say.

The DNR intends to manage wolves as a prized and high-value fur species by setting the season when pelts are most prime, limiting the take through a lottery and requiring animals be registered.

DNR plans to adjust the framework of future wolf seasons based on information collected during the inaugural season. This adaptive management approach will result in progressive changes as the DNR learns how to best manage a wolf season in Minnesota. The wolf harvest quota does consider other causes of mortality such as removal due to livestock and domestic animal depredation and threats and vehicle collisions.

The agency will also be undertaking a new wolf population survey starting next winter.

Minnesota’s population of Great Lakes gray wolves transitions from federal protection to state management on Friday, Jan. 27. That is when the DNR implements its state management plan, which is designed to ensure their long-term survival of wolves in the state.

The agency has three lead conservation officers designated to ensure enforcement of the state’s wolf laws by conservation officers throughout the wolf range. The agency also has a wolf research biologist and management specialist.

Information on changes to regulations on taking wolves to protect domestic animals can be found online at http://www.mndnr.gov/wolves.

Thanks for sharing Benny. I was just coming to post this. I’m excited. I’m hoping to talk to my wife’s cousin to learn how they hunted the wolves in Canada. Lots to learn I’m sure.

I am sure it will be interesting to see What happens! I know I will apply if given the chance.

Lets hope this gets through the Legislature!

For those of us that apply and do get a tag, I think it would be beneficial to share with each other as much knowledge about hunting these beasts as possible, considering most of us have zero experience in hunting timberwolves.

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Lets hope this gets through the Legislature!

For those of us that apply and do get a tag, I think it would be beneficial to share with each other as much knowledge about hunting these beasts as possible, considering most of us have zero experience in hunting timberwolves.

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X2!

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For those of us that apply and do get a tag, I think it would be beneficial to share with each other as much knowledge about hunting these beasts as possible, considering most of us have zero experience in hunting timberwolves.

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I think this is a key statement. Getting a license is going to be the easiest part of the whole deal.

I know that there have been timberwolves on and around our Minnesota deer hunting area for at least the last 15 years there weren’t the numbers of them there are now, but we saw tracks on at least a yearly basis and yes, I can tell the difference between coyote and wolf tracks.

But until 2 years ago, no one in our party and no one in the rancher’s family and hired hands had EVER actually seen one. That’s what we’re up against when we talk about hunting them. Those guys working the ranch are out there 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. And they didn’t see a wolf until they caught one that was so focused on finishing off a calf that he had gotten hold of, that he didn’t see them coming.

IMO, there will be no significant wolf kill until they allow the hunting to run concurrent with the deer season AND allow anyone with a deer license to take a wolf. I believe this is the case in Alaska, and it’s the only way the population would ever be held in check. Unless they allow 1950s style shoot-em out the door of a Supercub action. I’d sign up for that, but it isn’t going to happen.

Grouse

I spoke with a Canadian outfitter a few years ago that told me their method of hunting Timberwolves consited of setting bait in an isolated section of woods and scouting for tracks coming in to the bait, but not coming out. They would then drive the section of woods until they sprung the wolf loose, hopefully towards the direction of the hunter.

I’m not sure if MN will even allow the use of bait, but I think it will be an extremely hard task to fill one of these tags without it. Heck even with the use of bait it won’t be easy!

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I’m not sure if MN will even allow the use of bait, but I think it will be an extremely hard task to fill one of these tags without it. Heck even with the use of bait it won’t be easy!

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Yes, the DNR’s specific rules around using bait, calls, and other restrictions on hunting methods will say a lot about weather they are just holding a wolf season as an appeasement/PR exercise vs. being serious about slowing the population growth overall. Wolves will be very difficult to hunt even if there are few restrictions. Restricting the use of bait, calls, and weapons will simply turn a difficult hunt into an impossible one and most hunters will simply quit.

The DNR and the legislature had better think about the mess they will end up in if hunters simply give up trying to hunt wolves because of over-regulation. If that happens, the DNR will then need to plan, fund, and execute their own emergency control program at massive cost. The “blame it all on the Feds and the Bunny Huggers” excuse isn’t going to be an option anymore. When you have control, you have responsibility.

Grouse

Issue those tags to gun deer hunters and I guarantee there will be success. I know one thing. They wont be using dogs to hunt them!

I think the coyote hunters will figure it out pretty quickly and I think they will be successful. That is if they can use calls and bait of course. I picture myself on the edge of a clear cut in NE MN I would suppose or pasture edge in NW MN.

A few locals around me run dogs for yotes including my cousin. They see plenty of wolves and just have to pass them. Dogs would be your best bet I’d think??? Let the lead fly!

That’s awesome, hopefully we’ll get the chance in Wisconsin before long. I just cut a set of wolf tracks at the spot I killed a coyote last week… makes you keep an eye on your blind side.

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A few locals around me run dogs for yotes including my cousin. They see plenty of wolves and just have to pass them. Dogs would be your best bet I’d think??? Let the lead fly!

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Can’t believe those guys dogs are still alive after running into wolves….

Saw a hunting show the other night where they were hunting Mt Lions with dogs. They cut some tracks of a large lion along with some wolf tracks. Dude said they won’t let the dogs loose anywhere close if there is wolf sign because the wolves would kill the dogs.

Bear dogs get it all the time by wolves. I have never heard of using dogs on wolves. Tell us more about it.