Each week we answer questions our readers have asked. What do you really want to know? Drop us a line; maybe we can help.

“I see that there has been a temporary injunction against using dogs to train/hunt wolves. However, if that injunction gets overturned and wolf hunters can use dogs to hunt/train, will wolf hunters be compensated if a wolf kills their hunting dog while hunting or training?”

– Troy, Cassian

The Star Journal asked Jim Jung, a warden with the Department of Natural Resources. Jung responded:

“I referred to Act 169 and Senate Bill 411 which outlines the framework of the wolf hunting and trapping season. It states: ‘The Department shall administer a wolf depredation program (with) payments made to persons who apply for reimbursement for death or injury caused by wolves to livestock and to hunting dogs other than those being actively used in hunting wolves’…

“So, the answer is no. Payments will not be made for hunting dogs that are engaged in the act of hunting wolves, although dog owners may be reimbursed for wolf depredations during the bear season, coyote hunting and the bobcat season, which does overlap the wolf season. As of 2012 Wildlife Services (APHIS) is still the agency that investigates wolf depredations on livestock and pets such as hunting dogs. The monies collected from the sales of wolf preference points and wolf harvest permits will be the fund that will reimburse those claims.”

Editor’s note: Send in your questions to Starjournal@jrn.com, or mail them to the Star Journal, 24 W. Rives St., P.O.?Box 558 Rhinelander, WI? 54501.