The Wisconsin DNR has closed Wolf Harvest Zones 4 and 5 to hunting and trapping of gray wolves for the 2013-2014 wolf harvest season.
With this closure, a total of four wolf harvest zones have closed this season. Zones 3 and 6 are still open, although the southern Zone 6 is only two wolves under its quota of 30. Zone 3, north and west in Taylor, Price, Rusk, Washburn and Burnett counties, has a quota of 71 and only 16 wolves have been killed.
The state wolf harvest quota for Zone 4 was set at 12 wolves and the closure process was initiated when 11 wolves were reported as harvested. A total of 194 wolves had been taken as of Tuesday.
When additional zones are closed, the DNR will announce such closures by news releases, notification at dnr.wi.gov, and on the wolf call-in number, 1-855-299-9653. It is the hunter’s and trapper’s responsibility to check for and know about zone closures. The department encourages hunters and trappers to check the website or the call-in number daily.
“Our ultimate goal is to harvest 251 wolves,” said MacFarland. “The quotas concentrate hunting pressure more in areas with higher potential for conflicts, allowing for higher population densities in core habitat where potential for conflict is lower. We continue to learn information about harvest success that will be valuable in future management decisions.”