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It’s safe to say that there was more disappointment than celebration on the Minnesota wolf hunt front on Wednesday.
That’s when lottery results were announced for the first-ever hunt. And with more than 23,000 applicants for 6,000 licenses, nearly three out of four missed out on the chance to participate in this historic hunt.
Among those who will be watching from the sidelines — and they will be watching, moreso than most — are two area wildlife managers on the opposite ends of the main wolf zone, the sprawling northwest zone includes both the Brainerd area in central Minnesota and the Baudette in far northern Minnesota.
On Thursday, Gary Drotts and Scott Laudenslager said they had yet to hear from anyone who had been drawn in this much-anticipated lottery. They didn’t know names; they just knew they weren’t among the lucky winners.
“I didn’t get one,” Laudenslager, DNR area wildlife manager in Baudette, said matter-of-factly, disappointment in his voice.
“Absolutely,” he said when asked if he would have been excited to be drawn for the hunt and, ultimately, harvest a wolf. “That’s the whole idea behind it — to put a trophy on the wall and experience something new. But I had no such luck.”
Unlike most every other applicant, Drotts, DNR area wildlife manager in Brainerd, was much more low-keyed. He would have like to have been drawn, but mostly to be a part of history.
“No, not really,” he said when asked if he was disappointed at not being drawn. “I’d probably put it (the license) in a frame for historical purposes. I wouldn’t have gone out of my way for the hunt.
“If I shot one wolf that might be the end of it,” he said of his wolf hunting future; he said he plans to apply again for future wolf hunts but, “I just want one pelt. Do I want to shoot a wolf every year for the next 10 years? No.”
But who knows how long this hunt will ultimately last. The hope is it will be a long-term management tool for the state’s burgeoning wolf population. But Drotts and other DNR types understand they will be under a microscope in this inaugural hunt — they admit that any issues could jeopardize the future of the hunt. And even at this stage of the game, this hunt still isn’t a done deal — a petition for review was filed recently with the Minnesota Court of Appeals in an attempt to stop the wolf hunting and trapping season and, as of Friday, still loomed.
But last week was about a different kind of anxiety: Hunters and trappers who applied for licenses could go to www.mndnr.gov/hunting/wolf to see if they were successful in the drawing and to view a copy of the 2012 wolf season regulations handbook. And now lottery winners, who also will receive notification and hunting regs via postal mail, may purchase their licenses at www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense or 888-665-4236.
Participants in the early season hunt, which coincides with firearms deer season, must purchase their wolf licenses by Oct. 24. Participants in the late hunting and trapping season, which runs from Nov. 24 to Jan. 31, 2013, must buy their licenses by Nov. 15.
If not, there’s still hope for those who missed out in the lottery the first time around: Any licenses not sold by the aforementioned dates will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis to unsuccessful lottery applicants beginning at noon Oct. 29 for the early season and at noon Nov. 19 for the late hunting and trapping season. Any remaining licenses not purchased by unsuccessful applicants will be available for purchase by any eligible hunter beginning at noon Nov. 1 for the early season and noon Nov. 21 for the late hunting and trapping season.
“Sure, I would love (to participate in the first wolf hunt),” Drotts said. “I wouldn’t mind having one wolf pelt on the wall. From that perspective you have something on the wall to brag about. It serves as a reminder of that event.”
Minnesota assumed state management of the gray wolf after the species was removed Jan. 27 from federal protection in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Minnesota’s population is estimated to be about 3,000 wolves. The target harvest of 400 wolves for this inaugural wolf season is a conservative approach that does not pose a threat to the conservation of the population, the DNR has said.
“What a neat success story,” Laudenslager said. “They were an endangered species and now the hunt ... It’s a tremendous conservation story.”
Additional information about wolf management in Minnesota is available online at www.mndnr.gov/wolves.
BRIAN S. PETERSON is a freelance writer based in northern Minnesota.
Comments (39)
Add commentWolf Lottery
I hope the people of Minnesota did not ever believe that the DNR is managing the Wolves. They are selling as many as they can and are taking in as much money as possible. How much? Lets try a minimum of $280,000.00 for 400 Wolves. And there probably won't be 400 taken. What a racket! if they were not playing the "bunny hugger" game, they could have easily had a season limit of 1500 animals, but the cash take would not have gone up much and the political danger would have grown hugely.
If the DNR wanted to make
If the DNR wanted to make this go smoothly without any issues they would have prohibited the use of wolf "power" snares and required trap modifications to footholds.
For those not familiar with power snares, they are snares with an attached spring similar to a 330 conibear with 30" springs. When the spring fires it yanks the snare closed with so much force and keeps pulling tighter and tighter that most people won't be able to save their dog even if they see it happen.
Since the traps for wolves are larger than what's currently used it would have a good idea to require modifications like base plating (center anchoring), off set jaws, laminated jaws and multiple swivels in the chain.
Since wolf sets are also good dog sets I think there is a good chance that we could see dogs killed this fall in wolf power snare sets or possibly foot/leg injuries from using footholds that are larger than needed. The wolf traps I bought in AK are so strong that someone weighing 200 lbs does not weigh enough to open the jaws. That could mean you would have to leave your dog in the woods with the wolves while you run back to town for clamps. MN wolves are much smaller than AK wolves but I'm pretty sure those AK wolf traps are legal here and some people might think bigger is better.
These risks could have been avoided.
wolves
wow fishhead now your after snares,whats wrong with you.just a few months ago you were saying to use more snares and no body grippers get a life dude.
There are 4 types of snares.
There are 4 types of snares. Spring powered snares are only 2 of the 4. Both are designed to kill even if the animal isn't fighting the snare hard. That makes them very dangerous to dogs. Few trappers use the power snares so you can unbunch your undies.
Wisconsin (and other states) requires the use of relaxing snares called cable restraints. Those are very safe for dogs and are still effective for wild canines.
Fishhead
You sound like a real knowledgeable person. You bought Wolf traps in Alaska that you can't set without clamps? First off, why would someone like you, so smart and all buy traps in Alaska when he should be bringing them up there. There is only one type of Wolf trap made in Alaska. Tell us dummies what the name of it is, what the jaw spread is, where it is made. Also tell us what the maximum jaw spread allowed in Minnesota is. By the way, I hope dogs do get killed in these traps. Dogs are ONLY out there in January to run Deer.
4 1/2 Newhouse. I used them
4 1/2 Newhouse. I used them when I lived in AK. I would not use them in MN because they are bigger than necessary and dangerous to dogs.
I don't doubt that you do hope that hunters dogs are killed this fall. No doubt at all.
People like you are why we need regulations. It's why we were forced to form Dog Lovers 4 Safe Trapping MN.
http://www.doglovers4safetrappingmn.org
And people like you
are why dogs chase deer in the winter.
DOGS
Doesn't MN. have a state wide leash LAW??
fish
and i suppose they do not have dogs in AK.
i see dogs chasing deer I...
i see dogs chasing deer on my land I:
A) Shoot the s.o.b. without question and
B)Find out who the owners are and make sure they are given a harassment to wild animals charge.
Snare the dog if its out in the woods not on a leash. The owner deserves it and the dog owner failed keeping the dog in control, which is actually law.
How do you expect hunters to
How do you expect hunters to hunt with a dog on a leash?
Do you know anything about hunting?
Some of the comments I see from the radical fringe trappers who want to continue setting body grip traps where dogs can reach them would seem that they think you hunt grouse in a mowed field.
You need to be careful about shooting someones dog. It can land you in court even if you claim it was chasing deer.
Killing someones dog in a body grip trap can also land you in court. We've found an attorney who handles animal law cases. He said it's an easy case to sue the person responsible. We have a link to that information on our website.
fish
Their ya go using that word SUE again. 1st it was phones now its the trapping issue. I wonder whats next??
Stayed on track
Can't believe with this many comments that you haven't turned it to politics!!!!
4 1/2 Newhouse I used them
ROFLMAO! I also asked for jaw size fishhead. It is 9" and illegal in Minnesota. The only trap made in Alaska is a #9 Manning and it also has a 9" jaw spread. Neither trap is legal in Minnesota, nor is a Bridger Brawn. A 4 1/2 Newhouse is a collector trap, made in NY or Pennsylvania many years ago that sells for approximately $300.00. I don't know anyone that would use a collector trap. It sort of sounds like someone is trying to smoke the people or is smoked.
I d a w d
fish is right first you can only shoot dogs in season . Yes they have a season on dogs. Second they have to be chasing deer. Third you can get sued. I DO UNDERSTAND I have a neighbor who lets his mutts run too.
dvranish is wrong
Just to make sure that I was correct about 4 1/2 Newhouse dimensions I just set one and measured it.
Inside jaw measurement 8 inches
Outside jaw measurement 8 3/4 inches.
Page 43 of the DNR hunting/trapping booklet reads.
A person may not set, place, operate:
- any foot or leghold trap with a jaw opening greater than 8 3/4".
Thus 4 1/2 Newhouse ARE legal in MN even though they are much larger than needed and pose a threat to our dogs.
I don't have a scale otherwise I would weigh the trap to verify it weighs 8 lbs.
You are making me hungry for Wolf Chili Pie
Ummm ...
WOLF CHILI PIE
4 c. corn chips
2/3 c. chopped onion
1 1/2 c. shredded Colby or cheddar cheese
19 oz. can Wolf brand chili without beans
Layer 2 1/2 cups of corn chips, onion, 3/4 cup cheese and chili in a 1 1/2 quart casserole. Top with remaining corn chips. Bake in preheated moderate oven (375 degrees) about 25 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and continue baking 5 minutes. Garnish with sour cream and ripe olives (optional).
fish its called dog control
If I blow my whistle for my dog to stop it does, or it gets a good jolt of electricity.
A good dog always knows to stay in the vision and take hand direction of their owner.
I didnt get sued, in fact the DNR agent said I was within my rights when I blasted 2 german sheppards chasing deer.
OH and they had collars on and they were my neighbors. Guess what, no lawsuit
Evidently you have never
Evidently you have never hunted grouse with a dog. There is no such thing as keeping a dog within eyesight while grouse hunting or pheasant hunting.
court
trap tampering will land you in court to fish.
Why do YOU
own "KILLER TRAPS" fishhead? You even tested your own "KILLER TRAP" ? It was 1/4" small enough to not be a "KILLER TRAP"? Do you ever read what you post on here after you post it?
hans, I never said anything
hans, I never said anything about trap tampering. What are you talking about?
Footholds are not killer traps FYI Fairly unbalanced.
fishhead
Are you the one that killed his own dog in a conibear trap last year? So you could get attention? I was told you took money from an animals rights group. Apparently it is the one you list. Are you the one that had many many game violations and now want to be an anti trapper? Are you?
That's just one of the lies
That's just one of the lies that a few radical fringe trappers are spreading about me. Probably the same ones that misled the legislature into thinking that the regulation changes would protect dogs.
They won't.
If you wanted to kill dogs you would use sets made according to the new regulations.
Here are the videos that show
Here are the videos that show how worthless the MTA changes to body grip traps are at protecting dogs. Basically the MTA changes mirror the way a few board members of the MTA set their own body grip traps.
http://www.doglovers4safetrappingmn.org/videos
The Carlson Death Trap is named after Senator John Carlson from Bemidji. The body grip trap box is built according to the bill he authored. It provides NO protection for dogs.
Watch the first video to see if you can spot the dog running in the woods less than 50' away or if you can spot the hidden body grip trap box before your dog would find it and be killed.
It's too bad that the radical fringe is running the MTA because they are turning hunters against trappers with their "don't give an inch" position in spite of how many hunting dogs are killed each season.
One more thing. Dog Lovers 4
One more thing. Dog Lovers 4 Safe Trapping MN is not an "animal rights group".
See for yourself. http://www.doglovers4safetrappingmn.org
We are a fast growing group of hunters/hikers/dog owners and trappers who are trying to get body grip trap regulations changed so that no more dogs will be killed in them.
Trappers in other states and Canadian provinces don't kill dogs in body grip traps and there is no reason why MN trappers need to set them where dogs can find them and be killed.
We promise that once we get the necessary changes our group will dissolve and we we go back to doing what we enjoy the most; being in the woods with our dogs.
“I wouldn’t mind having one wolf pelt on the wall...
...from that perspective you have something on the wall to brag about."
What an incredibly stupid and self-serving reason to kill !!
Get a real life.
tampering
you know what I'm talking about.
Backfiring!
I don't get these people who claim to be trapper or trapping supporters that continue to attack Fish on the dogs caught in traps issue.
They come out painting trappers in an awful bad light and if they really are trappers, do more harm to their cause than they know. I think the majority of people generally support trapping--they absolutely will not continue to do so when they understand people's dogs engaged in legitimate activities are being killed.
This is a legitimate problem that has many hunters highly concerned and talking to legislators about. You might try to propose a solution rather than react with such callous disregard for the reaction your words incite.
hans that is another the lie
hans that is another the lie the radical fringe trappers are spreading about me.
You've crossed the line into slandering me.
Windyhills has it right. The radicals within the MTA and their "don't give an inch" no matter how many dogs are killed position, are going to hurt the majority of trappers who support changing the regulations to protect dogs. Responsible trappers need to start contacting their legislators and say they support protecting dogs. They also need to contact the MTA and tell them to back off while we can still use body grips off the ground and under water.