Conflicting wolf hunt plans floated in St. Paul

Two competing plans for a Minnesota wolf hunt in the fall will be discussed at a hearing today at the state Capitol.

Up to 400 wolves would be killed by up to 6,000 hunters and trappers under a Department of Natural Resources plan to be introduced to lawmakers in Senate and House committees.

According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the DNR will present its ideas to the House before a hearing on the competing bill, which has support from some deer hunting groups.

The competing bill introduced by Rep. David Dill, would allow wolf hunting during the popular deer firearms season. The DNR's plan would begin in late November and specifically avoid the firearms deer hunting season. Officials with the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association have objected to that.

The Obama administration earlier this year sought to remove federal protections from gray wolves. The decision allows states like Minnesota to manage the species, starting Friday.

Because wolves were hunted nearly to extinction in the state, their population rebound was seen as a success of the Endangered Species Act. But the notion of legally hunting the iconic animal stirs a spectrum of emotions.

The DNR believes some 3,000 gray wolves live in Minnesota and considers its proposed initial quota of 400 wolves conservative and cautious.

The DNR's plan envisions a lottery for hunters and trappers to apply for a special wolf license. Hunters could use a variety of firearms, as well as archery and tactics that involve calling the wolves and attracting them with bait.

Any wolf killed would have to be registered that day. The season would close as soon as the number of wolves killed reached 400.