WDNR has open seasons on bobcat & coyote and it is legal to run dogs on wolves for training purposes in WI.

(Photograph belongs to Rachel Tilseth)

I just spoke with David MacFarland, WDNR, who confirmed; as of today WDNR administration will not allow zones 3 and 6 to fill. MacFarland also said, “WDNR are watching the quota numbers closely.”

For well over a month, WDNR has been ducking the issue about how to handle overages caused by not watching the zone quotas closely enough. But have finally made a decision today.

There’s more to this than meets the eye. WDNR seems to “bite off more than they can handle.” Considering DNR wardens are outnumbered, over-worked and under staffed.

WDNR has open seasons right now on Bobcats and coyotes with use of dogs. That means hound handlers are out there now hunting bobcat, and coyote with Dogs running down wildlife all over the north woods of WI.

That’s not the half of it as hounders are now (and have been allowed to) train their dogs to hunt wolves. Even if the wolf hunt season closes today hound handlers can run dogs on wolves for training purposes. Read more here: http://atomic-temporary-72018855.wpcomstaging.com/2014/10/02/third-wolf-hunt-set-to-begin-with-no-permanent-rule-in-place-to-monitor-use-of-dogs/

(Trail cam photograph of a wolf in WI by WI Outdoor Fun)

What can be done about this harassment of wild wolves by hound hunters? Well folks this is all legal, made legal by WI legislature. It’s Act 169 that allows the legal harassment of wild wolves here in WI. Here is the law: http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/related/acts/169

Call and write your WI legislator here’s the link to find out who is your legislator: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/

Change the law by removing the use of dogs to hunt wolves in WI. For more information on this topic of Wolf hounding: http://atomic-temporary-72018855.wpcomstaging.com/2014/08/13/wodcw-faq-sheet-on-wolf-hound-hunting/

~~~

Just because it’s legal does not mean it’s morally right. #BanWolfHounding