By Paul A. Smith of the Journal Sentinel
Wolf management zone 4 in northeastern Wisconsin will close to hunting and trapping of gray wolves effective 6 p.m. Tuesday, the Department of Natural Resources announced Monday night.
The closure was initiated when 11 wolves were registered; the zone’s harvest quota is 12.
When the closure takes effect, four of the six Wisconsin wolf management zones will be closed.
As of Monday, 197 wolves had been killed statewide since the season started Oct. 15.
Zones 3 (16 wolves registered out of a quota of 71) and 6 (27 out of 30) remain open.
The statewide harvest goal is 251 wolves. State wildlife managers are attempting to reduce the wolf population closer to the goal of 350 established in the 1999 Wisconsin wolf management plan.
Wisconsin had an estimated 809 to 834 wolves in 214 packs in late winter 2013. The wolf population typically doubles each spring after pups are born and then begins to decline from various sources of mortality.
Hunters and trappers are responsible to know the status of zone closures. Information is available on dnr.wi.gov and at (855) 299-9653.
