UPDATE: Judge orders DNR to hold wolf hunt

Posted at 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2021

SEE UPDATE BELOW

The Brillion News

JEFFERSON - Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Bennett Brantmeier issued a writ of mandamus on Thursday, February 11, order the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to hold a gray wolf hunting season this month.

The judge ruled that the DNR violated state law that requires a wolf hunt when the wolf was taken off the federal Endangered Species Act listing. The wolf was delisted on January 4.

The DNR had said it would hold the first hunt next November.

State law says the hunt will be held between the first Saturday in November and the last day of February once the wolf is taken off the Endangered Species List..

The suit against the DNR was filed for Hunter Nation and its president by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty. Judge Brantmeier's order requires the DNR to hold the hunt before the end of this month.

He also scheduled a followup hearing for February 16 to assess the DNR's compliance with his order.

UPDATE: The state Natural Resources Board has now scheduled a special meeting for 11 a.m. on Monday, February 15 - by electronic conference - to address the court-ordered wolf hunt.

The action item on the agenda: "Request that the Board take action to consider approval of a quota for a February 2021 wolf hunt."

The meeting may be viewed live on-line. See http://dnr.wi.gov/about.nrb/public.html.