RON SEELY | Wisconsin State Journal
More than a dozen Wisconsin hunters have joined a lawsuit by a group of more than 40 state humane societies that seeks to stop the state Department of Natural Resources from allowing the unregulated use of dogs during the current wolf hunt.
Judge Peter Anderson is hearing the case in Dane County Circuit Court and has temporarily halted the use of dogs until a final ruling on the complaint. He is scheduled to hear motions, including a motion from the state to dismiss the lawsuit, on Dec. 20.
The coalition of humane societies is arguing that the DNR should have written rules that would govern both the training of dogs prior to the wolf hunt and their use during the hunt, which started last month and is scheduled to run for five months. The groups argue that, without rules, violent and possibly fatal fights between dogs and wolves are likely.
So far, hunters have killed more than 70 wolves since the season started. The DNR has set a quota of 116 animals.
Henry Koltz, a Wisconsin hunter who represents the group of hunters that supported the lawsuit this week, said he and the others are concerned that the unregulated use of dogs will interfere with concurrent hunts for deer, turkey, grouse and other game.
Jeff Baylis, who hunts deer and small game, said the use of dogs would be disruptive and dangerous to other hunters.
“Dogs know no boundaries and are out of their owners’ control for much of the time,” said Baylis. “Besides leading to trespass situations and conflicts with landowners, DNR’s failure to set limits on running dogs on wolves will drive wildlife from the areas that I hunt and disrupt my hunting enjoyment.”
Ed Mathwig hunts ruffed grouse with a bird dog and said he would fear for his dog’s safety if packs of wolf-hunting dogs were about.