The total number of wolves harvested in the state of Minnesota reached 120 on the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 13. That’s an increase of 36 wolves, after 84 had been reported as harvested last Friday.
That number is based on the electronic reporting that is required within 24 hours of a wolf kill.
In all, 58 of those wolves have been taken in the north west zone, which has a target harvest count of 133 for the early season – the biggest target of all three hunting zones.
In the north east zone, the number of harvested wolves climbed to 54 over the weekend, putting it only four wolves shy of the 58-wolf limit imposed on the zone.
The zone remained open as of Tuesday evening, but hunters are still required to check the hunting status of each zone before heading out each morning by going to mndnr.gov/hunting/wolf, or calling 888-706-6367.
The east central zone has been closed since Nov. 5. That zone is just one wolf shy of its target harvest count of nine.
In the Grand Rapids area, the total number of wolves brought in for inspection is up to 26, according to Mike Broschart, assistant area wildlife manager at the Grand Rapids DNR office. The DNR office inspected 12 wolves on Tuesday, Nov. 13, the second open inspection date.
Five of them were male, seven were female.
Three additional wolves were inspected by appointment since last week.
That’s up from the 11 that had been brought in through the first day of open inspection on Tuesday, Nov. 6.
Updated deer numbers were not available on Tuesday, said DNR Area Wildlife Supervisor Perry Loegering.
On Tuesday, the DNR also sent out a reminder to lottery winners for the late wolf hunting season. Any hunter or trapper selected by the lottery must purchase their license by Thursday, Nov. 15.
Any licenses that are not purchased will be made available to early or late season applicants who were not selected in the lottery starting at noon on Monday, Nov. 19. Any remaining hunting or trapping licenses will be open to any hunter for purchase starting at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 21.
The late season begins on Saturday, Nov. 24 and will run through Jan. 31, 2013. Any zones that reach their target harvest may be closed prior to that date.