Hope for Wisconsin??

[schmalts]

MADISON -- With the announcement today that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is removing the gray wolf from Endangered Species Act protection (exit DNR), Wisconsin’s long fought battle to manage growing wolf populations within its borders is nearly over. Gov. Scott Walker has charged the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources with being ready to begin implementing Wisconsin’s Wolf Management plan by Feb. 1, 2012.

“We are eager and ready to take on the challenges of wolf management,” said DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp. “We appreciate Governor Walker’s attention to this issue.”

More information about the gray wolf in Wisconsin and a copy of the Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan are available on the DNR website.

Stepp also thanked the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (exit DNR) for their responsiveness to the concerns that she raised, especially with regard to their finding that the population of wolves in the Western Great Lakes is a single species. In addition, she praised the work of Wisconsin’s Congressional Delegation and that of Michigan and Minnesota in raising the importance of addressing this issue now at the national level.

“I want to acknowledge the citizens of Wisconsin for their patience as we worked on the delisting,” said Stepp. “They were persistent in bringing their concerns to my attention. It is because of that persistence that we were able to achieve the delisting.”

Today’s action is only the first step in the process. Once wolves are delisted, the DNR will be able to do depredation controls, via trapping and permits to landowners in depredation areas.

“While the department is committed to long-term conservation of wolves in Wisconsin, it is critical that we be allowed to manage wildlife populations within our borders,” said Stepp

 

[orion23]

I think there is better hope on the wolves than there is in the bowl game against Oregon! OK, sorry couldnt resist.

Damn wolves are going to kill hunting across the country in another 10 years even with wolf seasons. We over here in Idaho can hardly make a dent in them. The need to become shoot on site without a tag just like coyotes if we want even a chance at management.

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

I would presume the same group of do-good tree-hugging AR's will now start their lawsuits in WI and holding up hunting there for years....major hope is, the Fed Judge to hear such cases aint Malloy from the 9th Circuit!!!

 

[highmountian]

All we can do is keep our voice and gun heard! I sure would like to hunt that state someday...

 

[Oak]

Gonna take a lot more work if you want to hunt them. The WI Wolf Management Plan only allows for harvest to the degree mentioned in the article. The the WMP specifically mentions that it will take legislative action to get a public hunt passed, and that it will be very controversial. That's why WI hunters really need to get off their arses and rally the troops if they want to hunt them.

 

[174in]

I heard something on the radio today that if delisted only land owners or farmers will be able to shoot wolves causing damage to livestock.I dont know if there will be an actual season for hunters.

 

[birddog32]

don't think a season is planned. But with a population of over 800, vs original plan of 300 I think it is time.

 

[Ben Lamb]

I would presume the same group of do-good tree-hugging AR's will now start their lawsuits in WI and holding up hunting there for years....major hope is, the Fed Judge to hear such cases aint Malloy from the 9th Circuit!!!

Most of the litigators have said that they won't challenge the GL delisting for a few reasons:

The Feds got the rule right this time (no loopholes hopefully)
The change in species name from Canis Lycans to Canis Lupus means that the pro-wolf folks think they can continue to push for more wolves in the NE
Everybody is afraid of congress.

There more than likely will be a lawsuit, but the delisting rule should stand up to litigation.

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

Don't have a clue how WI F&G Commission is established.....but if it is made up of usual Lib bunch that control so many of your activities, you will never have a "hunt"

 

[schmalts]

Don't have a clue how WI F&G Commission is established.....but if it is made up of usual Lib bunch that control so many of your activities, you will never have a "hunt"

We have a lib DNR but a pretty right Governor at the moment.

 

[jb82]

Gov

I agree about the governor lets just hope he doesn't get recalled.

 

[jb82]

I heard something on the radio today that if delisted only land owners or farmers will be able to shoot wolves causing damage to livestock.I dont know if there will be an actual season for hunters.

Actually the law already states that if you catch a wolf in the act of harming domestic animals and livestock you have the rigth to shoot on sight

 

[StrutNut]

Switch it from "in the act" to "intent to act" and you have yourself a wolf management program!

 

[WI avidhunter]

I am confident If the wolves stay delisted we'll probably have a hunt within five years. Even with some libs in the government WI tends to be a very prohunting state.