MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will take public comment on the next 10 years of wolf management in the state as well as comments on the fall 2021 wolf harvest season.
The public comment period for both topics will open on April 15 and close May 15. People can submit comments on the DNR's wolf management plan webpage.
In a press release, the DNR said the agency will convene a Wolf Management Plan Committee that will meet in the summer and go over the comments on the future of wolf management in the state. The DNR took over managing wolves in the state early in 2021 after the Trump administration de-listed the animals from federal protections last winter.
The DNR said the Wolf Management Plan Committee will comprise of stakeholder groups including hunting organizations, wolf advocacy groups, agriculture groups, tribal agencies, government representatives and DNR support. Ultimately the DNR said the process will result in a draft 10-year wolf management plan to be released in Feb. 2022. The DNR plans on presenting a final draft to the Natural Resources Board in June of 2022.
The first hunting season since 2014 resulted in far more wolves being killed than the harvest quota — the hunt lasted less than three days and was held only after courts ordered the DNR to organize a hunt in Feb.
The agency will also take comments on this Fall's harvest. The DNR plans to hold a second public comment period for that hunt — in June or July — and consult with tribal partners before presenting harvest quota recommendations to the Natural Resources Board in Aug.
The wolf hunting license application deadline is Aug. 1. The fall 2021 wolf hunt is scheduled to open on Nov. 6.