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The WI DNR is asking
for your opinion on the Fall 2021 wolf harvest season as well as the ongoing
revision to the state's wolf management plan. Between April 15 - May 15, you
can provide your comments via their online survey.
The
February Wolf Hunt was a slaughter that shocked humane-minded citizens not only
in WI but across the nation. We must do all we can to stop that from happening
again. PLEASE take a few moments of your
time to let the WI DNR know you consider wolf hunting completely
UNACCEPTABLE! In addition to "multiple choice" opinion
questions, the survey includes blocks where you can type in your comments. We
have put together a list of talking points (see
below) to serve as a springboard to your own thoughts.
Some
of the questions on the survey may be ambiguous and open to interpretation,
meaning exactly the opposite depending on whether you are against the hunt or
for it! Because of this, we have consulted with several experts on this topic
to analyze the intent of the survey. You can find our analysis, how WE would
answer these questions, and the list of talking points by clicking on the link
below. PLEASE NOTE: Read the questions on
the actual survey very carefully; they may appear in a different order than
they are in our analysis!
 2021 WI Wolf Management Survey Analysis/Talking Points
(pdf)
2021 WI Wolf Management Survey
(now closed)
We
urge you to let your voice be heard on behalf of WI wolves by filling out this
survey! You can be sure that the wolf hunters, trappers, and hounders will!
TALKING POINTS:
Specific to Question 6:
• Regarding “wolf hunting and trapping: regulated
public harvest of wolves by licensed participants” -- Any interest I have
relates to prohibiting or greatly reducing hunting and trapping of wolves.
Hound hunting wolves should be prohibited.
• Specific to “Depredation
compensation”—Depredation payments should not be paid for hounds
purposely put in harm’s way by hunters.
The land, water, and animals of Wisconsin, including
Federal forests, belong to ALL the people, not just hunters and trappers.
The DNR data does not show number of acres per wolf on
the title page map. That information isnecessary to understand the population.
Simply saying there are 1,200 wolves in Wisconsin is
misleading.Additionally,the 1,200 number is an estimate PRIOR to the February
2021 hunt.
Wolf management programs that include hunting seem to be
governed predominantly by special interests and not best available science.
The impact of the February 2021 wolf hunt has not been
analyzed. Until the impact of the over-kill can be studied, no further hunting
or trapping of wolves should be allowed.
The DNR has not calculated overharvest in quotas. That
has led to over-kill of the wolf population, particularly in the recent
February 2021 hunt.
The poorly planned and rushed February hunt caused
significant collateral damage to established packs during breeding season.
The February 2021 wolf hunt did not honor treaty, land,
and heritage rights of Native tribes.
I support a ZERO quota for the fall wolf hunt.
Wolves are not eaten by hunters, therefore the hunt is
only “thrill kill” for trophies.
Livestock depredation is frequently given as the main
reason wolves should be hunted -- but the percentage of livestock actually
killed by wolves is relatively small.
Previous Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Wolf
Management Plans contained effective measures for "controlling nuisance
wolves and reimbursing landowners for losses caused by wolves" without the
use of hunting.
Hunting wolves destroys pack order and the ecosystem.
As an apex predators, the wolves help to control CWD by
using weakened deer as a food source.
It's NOT a "hunter's rights" issue -- more and
more ethical hunters are speaking out AGAINST trophy hunting and trapping of
wolves.
Collared wolves are a part of (desperately needed)
scientific study of wolves. Collared individuals should be considered to
“belong to” the scientist and their studies. The taking of a collared
wolf should be illegal.
Wolf hunters and hunters with hounds often violate the
rights of private property owners. Hunting hounds do not know property borders;
the hunters do not respect them.
Traps, snares, cable ties, and packs of hunting hounds
create conflicts and pose dangers to other users of public lands, to private
property owners and to their pets.
Depredation payments currently in place can adequately
compensate ranchers and farmers. Depredation payments should NOT be paid to
hounders who purposely put their animals in harm’s way.
To our shame, Wisconsin is the ONLY state in the country
to allow the use of dogs to track and trail wolves, with nearly unrestrained
in-the-wild training of these dogs. This is NOT the type of leadership that
reflects well on our state!
Hunting wolves with hounds is just a form of
“legalized dog fighting.”
Hunting at night with dogs, ATVs and snowmobiles is
disruptive to the environment and to people who live in rural areas.
Pursuing wolves with ATVs, snowmobiles and
hounds—chasing the wolves to exhaustion—is unethical, cruel, and is
not “fair chase” hunting.
The Nicolet-Chequaumegon National Forest appears to be
where the majority of the wolves live. With over 1.5 MILLION acres and low
population density, it doesn’t appear that “conflict” would be a
big problem…unless you are a hounder with dogs looking for trouble.
I oppose paying depredations to hunters who purposely
set their dogs upon wildlife. Depredation payments in this case are
“rewards” for animal abuse. That is wrong.
I have changed the way I recreate in Wisconsin NOT
because of wolves—but to avoid conflict, noise, disruption, and FEAR of
hound hunters and their untethered hounds.
A minimum five mile NO HUNT buffer zone should be
created around tribal lands, camping sites, hiking trails and other places used
for silent sports to provide for the safety of both the tribal wolves and the
general public.
2021 WI Wolf Management Survey
(now closed)
2021 WI Wolf Management Survey Analysis/Talking Points
(pdf)
DNR Wolf Management Plan page WI
DNR Wolf Hunting & Trapping
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