Posted on 03/05/2021 6:34:11 AM PST by SJackson
Kills quickly exceeded statewide limit, forcing the state to end the hunting season early
Hunters and trappers in Wisconsin killed 216 gray wolves last week during the state’s 2021 wolf hunting season – more than 82% above the authorities’ stated quota, sparking uproar among animal-lovers and conservationists, according to reports.
The kills all took place in less than 60 hours, quickly exceeding Wisconsin’s statewide stated limit of 119 animals.
As a result, Wisconsin’s department of natural resources ended the season, which was scheduled to span one week, four days early.
While department officials were reportedly surprised by the number of gray wolves killed, they described the population as “robust, resilient” and expressed confidence in managing the numbers “properly going forward”.
Most of the animals were killed by hunters who used “trailing hounds”, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
The state’s overkill was exacerbated by Wisconsin law that mandates 24-hour notice of season closure, rather than immediate notification.
Natural resources department officials also sold 1,547 permits this season, about 13 hunters or trappers per wolf under the quota’s target number. This equated to twice as many permits as normal – and marked the highest ratio of any season so far.
State authorities had a total culling goal of 200 wolves, in an attempt to stabilize their population. As Native American tribes claimed a quota of 81 wolves, this left 119 for the state-licensed trappers and hunters. Because the tribes consider wolves sacred, they typically use their allotment to protect, not kill, them.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
The wolves will do fine. A few more calves will survive spring too. Next, year fewer permits. And in total, it's only six over the target of 200 since the tribes don't use their permits.
More real emotion and outrage expressed by the slaughter of wolves than the death of the migrants.
Those “animal lovers” would quickly change their minds if they had to watch a couple of wolves eat their precious little dog alive...
If they were counting 116 wolves to be culled, why did the state sell more than that of tags to the applicants?
I think they could have had a ‘tag lottery’, as some states do, where the state takes the applications and then draws out the number of animsls to be culled. That way the state decides the number to be culled, and it is upon the skills of the hunter that decides if the number desired is the number culled.
As Native American tribes claimed a quota of 81 wolves, this left 119 for the state-licensed trappers and hunters. Because the tribes consider wolves sacred, they typically use their allotment to protect, not kill, them.
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Or as some one said they sold their permits to non-indians for $US 5,000 each.
***sparking uproar among animal-lovers and conservationists,***
Ever notice that most of the “wolf lovers” all live in big city CONDOS and apartments far away from the damage called by wolves.
Release some wild wolves in the local city parks and see what happens.
A country person living in the hunting area would say...”GOOD JOB HUNTERS!”
Because it is hunting, not slaughter.
Most hunters are not successful.
The State issues more tags to make sure they harvest the number they want.
They monitor the number harvested, when it appears they will reach the desired harvest, they stop the hunt.
There is a 24 hour lag to report, so the hunt is not precise.
But 216 is very close to the goal of 200.
Some members of the tribal council want headlines, and to "stick it to the man", so they refuse to issue the tags they are allocated to tribal members.
No. They simply refuse to issue any permits they had, as a publicity stunt.
All the idiots that are so fond of predators don’t live where the predators do.
Wolves aren’t that easy to find. I suspect the state estimate of 1,000 wolves is very low. Also, they interbreed with Eastern coyotes and coywolves. I doubt the state did 216 dna tests, but had they’d probably have found a much lower number of pure wolves. And per one legal action I’m aware of some years ago, a hybrid aka coywolf isn’t a wolf for legal purposes. One case, don’t assume that’s always the position authorities would take. Still, half wolf, protected, half coyote, open season, what did you shoot. The coyote population in WI is estimated to be 40-50,000. Coywolves, who knows.
I just LOVE stories with happy endings...
Hope the hunt is 120 hours next year!
I don’t know about that. I don’t hunt wolves, but assume tribal permits are for use on reservations. I could be wrong.
Meateater host and author, Steven Rinella calls these people, “New Jersey Cat Ladies.”
Because it is hunting, not slaughter.
Most hunters are not successful.
The State issues more tags to make sure they harvest the number they want.
They monitor the number harvested, when it appears they will reach the desired harvest, they stop the hunt.
There is a 24 hour lag to report, so the hunt is not precise.
But 216 is very close to the goal of 200.
Some members of the tribal council want headlines, and to "stick it to the man", so they refuse to issue the tags they are allocated to tribal members.
People upset about the destruction of predators is an uproar.
People upset about men in your daughter’s bathroom at school are bigoted transphobic haters.
Priorities, people.
It would seem there were a lot more wolves than they thought.
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