DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DECEMBER 14, 2012
Northeast zone closes to wolf hunting and trapping Dec. 15
Wolf hunting and trapping in the northeast zone will close for the remainder of the late season at the end of shooting and trapping hours on Saturday, Dec. 15, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The closing is the second zone closing in two days. The DNR announced Dec. 13 that the east-central zone would close at the end of shooting and trapping hours on Dec. 14.
The northwest zone remains open through Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, or until its target harvest is reached. Permits are not zone-specific, allowing hunters and trappers to hunt or trap in any open zone.
The harvest target for the northeast zone during the late season is 56 wolves. Fifty-two were registered when DNR initiated season closure on Dec. 14. Nine of 10 were registered in the east-central zone as of Dec. 14.
Hunters and trappers in all zones have registered a total of 123 wolves so far during the late season. The total harvest target for all zones is 253 wolves for the late season.
Wolf hunters and trappers must:
• Register all wolves by 10 p.m. the day of harvest in order for the DNR to monitor zone-specific harvest levels. Registration is available via telephone, website or in person.
• Obey zone closures, which become effective the end of legal shooting and trapping hours for the day on which a zone is closed.
• Take responsibility for tracking season progress and season/zone closure each morning before hunting or trapping by calling 888-706-6367 or checking the DNR wolf hunting page.
• Season status and harvest targets will be updated in real-time for each zone.
• Return any radio collars when they bring wolves in for the mandatory wolf inspection and bring an ear tag along so that information on the tag can be examined and recorded.
• Present the entire skinned wolf and pelt for inspection as outlined in the wolf hunting and trapping regulations so the DNR can collect data on wolves for population monitoring.
Complete wolf hunting information, including a map of the wolf zones, is available online at http://www.mndnr.gov/hunting/wolf.