Wolf

Wolf. Wolf. No person may hunt or trap, or attempt to hunt or trap, any wolf unless he or she possesses a current and valid license from the department and any associated carcass tags for the area or zone in which he or she is hunting or trapping. The department shall use the following information to set harvest quotas, issue harvesting licenses, determine application and issuance procedures, and set season closures: (1) Wolf harvest Quotas. The department shall establish a statewide wolf harvest quota and allocate such quota among the wolf management zones based on the status of wolf populations in relation to management objectives as outlined in a species management plan. Harvest quotas established under this section are for the purposes of hunting and trapping and are in addition to wolves killed in depredation control activities. These determinations may take into account: (a) Evaluation of metrics, objectives and guidelines outlined in a species management plan. (b) Population estimates and trends, not including reservation wolves. (c) Wolf-related conflict levels and trends. (d) The take of wolves for depredation management purposes, the impact of disease, illegal harvest, and other causes of mortality on the wolf population. (e) The projected impacts of wolf harvest quotas on the wolf population. (f) Outcomes of previous harvest seasons. (2) Wolf harvesting licenses. The department shall determine the total number of wolf harvesting licenses to be issued and allocated to each zone. The department shall base these determinations on: (a) The quotas established in sub. (1) . (b) The projected harvest and success rates of hunters and trappers. (c) Hunter and trapper satisfaction. (d) Maximization of opportunities for participation in hunting and trapping. (e) Timing of previous season’s zone closures under sub. (4) . (3) Application and issuance procedures. (a) Forms. Applications for licenses shall be made on forms provided by the department. (b) Deadlines. All license applications shall be postmarked no later than the deadline dates indicated on the form or received by a department service center location on those dates to be considered for selection. The annual application deadlines may not be sooner than July 1. (c) Application limit. No person may apply for more than one permit. (d) Random selection. If the number of qualified applications for wolf harvesting licenses exceeds the number of licenses that are available, the department shall issue wolf harvesting licenses in accordance with the preference system established in s. 29.185 (3) , Stats. (e) Carcass tag issuance. The department shall issue one wolf carcass tag to each person who is issued a wolf harvesting license under par. (d) . (f) Validity. All carcass tags are valid only in the area or areas and for the time period specified on the permit during the open season established for wolves. Wolf harvesting licenses and carcass tags are not valid and may not be used within the exterior boundaries of the Bad River, Lac Courte Oreilles, Lac du Flambeau, Menominee, and Red Cliff reservations or within the identified Stockbridge-Munsee Community Area. (4) Zone closure. The secretary of the department may close a portion or all of any wolf management zone or subzone established in s. NR 10.295 , upon a finding by the department that doing so is necessary to effectively manage the state’s wolf population. The department shall do all of the following to notice a closure: (a) Wolf hunting and trapping season closure shall become effective 24 hours after posting a notice on the department’s website, announcement on its telephone registration or harvest reporting system, and issuance of a press release. (b) The department shall consider all of the following factors in closing the wolf hunting and trapping season: 1. The reported harvest relative to the harvest quota. 2. The rapidity at which the quota is being approached. 3. The anticipated harvest in coming days. 4. Other known sources of mortality that may be greater than anticipated when the department set the quotas. 5. Other information which relates to the department’s ability to effectively manage the wolf population.