FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2012
Contact: Andy Pantzlaff
920-676-2974
Yesterday at the NRB meeting in Stevens Point the emergency rule package for a Wolf hunt was approved unanimously by the Natural Resource Board. The Wolf season will be implemented this fall and has been long awaited by the hunting community. The wolf season bill was introduced by Rep. Scott Suder (R) Abbottsford and Senator Terry Moulton (R) Chippewa Falls in the 2011 legislative session. Act 169 was signed into law in April by Governor Scott Walker.
“We are very happy that the rule package was expedited by the WDNR and are grateful to Sec. Stepp and her staff for communication on the rule throughout the rule making process said Dean Hamilton, USW President.
The proposed season which is to start this October will allow hunters to apply for permits August 1. The harvest of 201 wolves was approved for the first season “While we feel the goal should have been higher we also understand this is the first season and we need to be conservative on the harvest numbers” said Andy Pantzlaff, USW Vice President “With the threat of lawsuits we feel the harvest goal of 201 wolves will withstand any legal challenge and still provide opportunity for a hunt this fall.”
United Sportsmen of Wisconsin is looking forward to working with the WDNR as we move forward towards a permanent rule. All in all it was a big victory for sportsmen to finally be able to control the wolf population using hunting and trapping as a management tool.
USW is a sporting advocacy group that works to preserve Wisconsin’s strong hunting and sporting heritage for our future generations. USW will protect the rights of and advocate on behalf of hunters, fishermen, trappers and gun owners in Wisconsin.