Minnesota’s late-season wolf kill has surpassed the early season, and the northwest part of the state is the only region still open to hunting or trapping the animals.
According to the Department of Natural Resources, the late-season take as of this morning stood at 161. By comparison, 147 wolves were killed during the early season, which was limited to hunting only.
That brings the wolf kill to 308 so far.
The late season for hunting and trapping in the northeast and east-central parts of the state has been closed for several days now. In the northeast, which had a late-season quota of 56, the final tally was 58 wolves. The DNR closed the east-central zone, which had a late-season quota of 10 wolves, when the take hit nine.
Meanwhile, there still are plenty of opportunities for hunters and trappers to take a wolf in the northwest region, which has a higher quota. As of this morning, the kill in the northwest stood at 94, which is well short of the target of 187.
The DNR set a quota of 400 wolves — 200 early and 200 late — for this year’s inaugural managed season. The early season harvest was 53 short, and so the DNR added the number to the late season, meaning hunters and trappers could take 253 wolves.
The late season, while closed in the northeast and east-central zones, continues through Jan. 31 unless the northwest quota of 187 is filled before that time.
For more information on the season, including up-to-date harvest numbers, go to www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/wolf/index.html.
