By: News Tribune staff, news service reports, Duluth News Tribune
MADISON — Wisconsin wildlife officials are closing two more wolf hunting zones, including one covering most of Northwestern Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources plans to close zones 1 and 5 at 7 p.m. today. The hunting and trapping quota for Zone 1 — which includes all or part of Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, Washburn, Sawyer, Price and Rusk counties — is 76 wolves. Hunters and trappers had taken 72 as of Tuesday evening.
The quota for Zone 5, which covers a portion of central Wisconsin, is 34 wolves; hunters and trappers had taken 33 as of Tuesday evening.
“Harvest trends in Zone 1 have been steady with an increased harvest rate over the past few days and Zone 5 has been steady with two additional wolves registered late in the day Tuesday, prompting closure,” DNR large carnivore specialist David MacFarland said in a statement.
The DNR previously had closed Zone 2 in northeastern Wisconsin, after hunters and trappers took 29 wolves — one above the quota of 28.
Three wolf hunting zones remain open, including Zone 3, which covers parts of Washburn, Sawyer and Burnett counties.
The hunt began Oct. 15 and will run until hunters reach the 251-wolf statewide quota or through the end of February, whichever comes first.
Statewide, hunters and trappers had taken 168 wolves as of Tuesday evening.
Minnesota’s wolf hunting season is scheduled to begin Nov. 9.