The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board has approved the 2012 wolf hunt quota, zones and rules for Wisconsin’s fall 2012 wolf hunting and trapping season. The emergency rule was approved on a unanimous vote.

The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board approved three amendments to the proposal at last week’s meeting after listening to testimony from over 40 people:

– Any wolf caught in a trap will be humanely dispatched

-There will be a zero wolf quota on the Stockbridge-Munsee tribal reservation

– The department will gather all possible data before the board votes on a permanent rule and the department will come back to the board in September with a timeline for updating the wolf management plan.

DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp praised DNR staff for their hard work on the proposal at today’s meeting. “I want to thank the DNR staff for the tremendous work they did in pulling together this proposal. We were operating with some pretty tight timelines. They rose to the challenges before them. This is just another example of the great work that our state’s wildlife professionals do on a daily basis on behalf of the citizens of Wisconsin,” said Stepp. “In addition, I want to thank the public for their input and help, which allowed us to find a good balance for Wisconsin’s first wolf hunting season.”

The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board approved a quota of up to 201wolves that could be harvested during the first season. The available quota and permits available to nontribal hunters and trappers will be determined after tribes make their declarations of the harvest quota for the Ceded Territory. The season will run October 15, 2012 through February 28, 2013.

Permit sales to open Aug 1. All hunters will be eligible to receive a wolf harvest permit in a drawing during the first year. Unsuccessful hunters will be awarded a preference point. Permit applications may be purchased at any ALIS license vendor, online and by telephone. The permit application fee is $10. The license fee is $100 for residents; $500 for nonresidents.

License: Wolf trapping and hunting license combined

Fees: Application fee $10, License fee $100 resident and $500 non-resident
Use of fees: License and application fees fund wolf depredation payments first and then other wolf mgt. costs

License transfer: Allowed by application to DNR no later than 15 days before season

Preference system: One half random drawing; one half by drawing based on preference

Season dates: October 15 to end of February

Legal Weapons: Firearms, bows, crossbows

Shot size: Larger than BB allowed

Dogs: May use up to 6 dogs in a pack to track or trail wolves beginning day after Nov. gun deer season

Night Hunting: Legal option beginning day after Nov. gun deer season

Use of Lights: Flashlights only at point of kill

Cable restraints: Shall be allowed as a trapping method

Baiting: Shall be allowed but regulated

Calling: Allowed including electronic calls

Trapping: Shall be allowed with specific regulations

Reporting and registration of harvest: required

Zone season closures: Protocol provided for closing seasons based on wolf harvest through news release, website, and telephone registration system.

“It is very important if someone has any interest in hunting wolves, that they apply for a preference point this year,” said Kurt Thiede, Division Administrator of Lands.

The 2012 wolf hunting season proposal is a temporary framework, known as an emergency rule. Beginning next year the department will begin work on a permanent rule.

Information on the hunting season proposal can be found on the DNR website dnr.wi.gov search for keyword “wolf.”