Wolf hunt

Wisconsin wildlife officials on Friday released thousands of public comments on a new wolf management plan, some calling for the restoration of a statewide population limit and others urging a total hunting ban

The Wisconsin DNR released the first draft of its new wolf management plan.The DNR started developing the plan when wolves were briefly removed from the federal endangered species list last year.

Wisconsin wildlife officials estimate Wisconsin's wolf population currently stands at about 970 animals.

The Oneida County Board passed an advisory resolution during Tuesday’s meeting to express support for maintaining the state’s wolf population at 350 animals or less.

Republican Ron Johnson and Democrat Tammy Baldwin introduced a bill earlier this week to remove protections for the wolf.

The DNR announced it will refund fees to those who applied for a wolf harvest permit for last fall

Gray wolves regained federal protection on Thursday following the decision of a U.S. district judge in California. That means Wisconsin can no longer hold a wolf hunt this fall.

While the scheduling means this year's hunt is effectively over, the fate of a 2022-2023 hunt is up in the air.

The tribes argue that the hunt violates their treaty rights and endangers an animal they consider sacred.

A judge has granted a request from wildlife advocacy groups and blocked Wisconsin's fall wolf hunt two weeks before hunters were set to take to the woods.