Wolf Hunting Season in Minnesota East-Central Zone Closes End of Day Monday, Nov.5
Wolf hunting in the East-Central Zone will be closed for the remainder of the early season at the end of shooting hours on Monday, Nov. 5, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Northeast and Northwest zones remain open.
The harvest target for the East-Central Zone during the early season is nine wolves. Eight wolves were registered as of Sunday evening, Nov. 4. DNR managers decided to initiate the wolf hunting closure in this zone in anticipation of reaching the harvest target by the end of shooting hours on Monday, Nov. 5.
Through Sunday Nov. 4, a total of 50 wolves had been registered through the first two days of Minnesota’s first regulated wolf season. The harvest target is 200 wolves for the early season. The late season quota is 400, less the early season harvest.
The early wolf hunting season runs Nov. 3-18 in 100 series deer permit areas and Nov. 3-11 in 200 series deer permit areas. A late wolf hunting and trapping season is set for Saturday, Nov. 24, through Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013.
Early season wolf hunters are required to:
- Register all wolves by 10 p.m. the day of harvest in order for the DNR to monitor zone-specific harvest levels. Registration is available via telephone, website or in person.
- Obey zone closures, which become effective the end of legal shooting hours for the day on which a zone is closed.
- Take responsibility for tracking season progress and season/zone closure each morning before hunting by calling 888-706-6367 or checking the DNR wolf hunting page at www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/wolf/index.html. Season status and harvest targets will be updated in real-time for each zone.
- Return any radio collars when they bring wolves in for the mandatory wolf inspection and to bring an ear tag along so that information on the tag can be examined and recorded.
- Present the entire skinned wolf and pelt for inspection as outlined in the wolf hunting regulations so DNR can collect data on wolves for population monitoring.
- Wear blaze orange during open firearms (including muzzleloader) deer season.
Complete wolf hunting information, including a map of the wolf zones, is www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/wolf/index.html.
