UPDATE: DNR announces early closure of wolf season across all of Wisconsin Wednesday

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - UPDATE: State wildlife officials have announced they will close the gray wolf hunting and trapping season Wednesday afternoon across all six zones in the state of Wisconsin.

Shortly after 3 p.m., the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced wolf harvesting would end at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12 in zones 1, 3, and 4.

Earlier in the day, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources had announced the February 2021 wolf harvest season would end Wednesday in zones 2, 5, and 6 at 10 a.m. on February 24.

As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, the state says hunters and trappers had harvested 82 wolves.

The state’s total harvest quota for the February 2021 season was originally set at 200 wolves, however, the state says 50% of the harvest quota within the ceded territories was reserved in response to a declaration by the Ojibwe bands.

The result of the declaration meant a quota for state hunters and trappers dropped to 119 wolves.

CLICK HERE for updated harvest numbers for the February 2021 wolf season.

The hunt was launched Monday morning, and was originally scheduled to run through Sunday.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Wisconsin wildlife officials plan to end the state’s wolf season across most of the state on Wednesday after hunters and trappers filled half of the statewide quota in a little more than 24 hours.

The Department of Natural Resources launched the hunt on Monday morning. It’s scheduled to run through Sunday.

As of Tuesday morning, hunters and trappers had taken 60 wolves, filling 50% of the 119-animal state quota.

Department officials announced that they will end the season in three of the state’s six management zones effective 10 a.m. Wednesday. The zones include the southern two-thirds of the state as well as a swath of far northeastern Wisconsin.

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