Minnesota’s first regulated wolf hunt will begin Saturday, November 3. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources set a target harvest goal of 400 animals. The state’s wolf population is estimated at 3,000.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has finalized rules for Minnesota’s first regulated wolf hunting and trapping season this fall and winter. There are several changes to what the DNR originally proposed in May as a result of input received since the proposal was announced.
“We changed the closing date for the late season from Jan. 6, 2013, to Jan. 31,” said Steve Merchant, DNR wildlife program manager. “We also tightened the wolf harvest registration requirement so we can more quickly close a zone based on harvest results.”
Another notable change is that the wolf range will be divided into three zones for the purposes of harvest targets, registration and season closure. The northeast zone and the east-central zone closely parallel the 1854 and 1837 treaty ceded territory boundaries. These zones will allow the state to allocate and manage wolf harvest in consultation with Indian bands that have court-affirmed off-reservation hunting rights. The northwest zone will be the other area open to wolf hunting. Only that portion of Minnesota where rifles are legal for deer hunting will be open for taking wolves. When harvest targets are reached in any zone, that zone will be closed and hunters will be able to continue to hunt in any other open zone.
The state’s first regulated wolf hunt will begin Saturday, Nov. 3. The target harvest is 400. The early wolf season will last up to nine days in the 200-series deer permit areas and up to 16 days in the 100-series deer permit areas. The late season, which also allows trapping for those with a wolf trapping license, will begin Nov. 24 statewide. Target harvests are 265 in the northwest zone, 117 in the northeast zone and 18 in the east-central zone.
The DNR states that the state’s inaugural wolf season will be conducted under a conservative approach that is consistent with the goal of ensuring the longterm survival of wolves and that addresses wolf and human conflicts. The state’s wolf population is estimated at 3,000. This year’s wolf season follows the transition of wolves from federal protection under the Endangered Species Act to state management this past January. The 2012 Legislature also passed and Gov. Dayton signed a bill providing additional direction and authorities for conducting a wolf season.
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