Dec. 31–The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has closed the second wolf season in the east-central zone after the number of wolves killed in all seasons was reached. The season ended Saturday after the 220 wolf quota was reached. The DNR says 237 wolves were killed and 3,433 hunters were licensed.
The latest season closed Saturday.
“Wolf season target harvest limits are set conservatively to not negatively affect Minnesota’s wolf population long term,” Dan Stark, DNR large carnivore specialist, said. “The targets for each hunting zone are used as triggers to close the season. Hunters and trappers have another full day in the field after a zone’s closure is announced.”
Minnesota’s wolf population was estimated at 2,211 wolves last winter. The target harvest is based on about 10 percent of the mid-winter wolf population.
The DNR will complete an assessment of Minnesota’s wolf population status this winter and summarize data from the 2013 wolf season before setting the 2014 wolf season.
The east-central zone had been scheduled to close at the end of January.
The late wolf season closed Dec. 18 in the northeast zone, where hunters and trappers killed 37 wolves, four more than the target. Hunters killed 88 wolves in Minnesota’s early hunting-only season. Altogether, late-season hunters and trappers registered 135 wolves by midday Friday, bringing the annual total to 223. With 14 more kills, the hunt ended.