Updated: 01/06/2012 03:23:30 PM CST
Minnesota wildlife officials are moving ahead with plans for a hunting and trapping season on the iconic timber wolf.
Today's announcement by the Department of Natural Resources that a November-to-January season is in the works follows last month's announcement by federal officials that they plan to remove federal protections from the animals, which have reached stable and healthy populations in the northern Midwest.
Barring any legal action to block the animal's de-listing, the DNR needs no further authority to open the predator to hunting and trapping. Officials said they do need state legislative approval for a number of aspects of their vision, such as a special wolf permit, and they plan to seek public input.
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Other specifics, such as what sorts of techniques - luring the animals with food or decoys, for example - had yet to be discussed, officials said.
Boggess and Stark said the decision to allow hunting was driven by a combination of factors, including the desire from hunters for the opportunity and the need to reduce conflicts with humans, especially livestock in some areas.
"It's a sustainable resource out there that can be harvested," Boggess said.
Landwehr said allowing the animal to be hunted and trapped should not be seen as a diminishment of its stature.
"This animal is a trophy animal...trophy from the standpoint that it is a worthwhile species and not vermin," he said.
I just hope a season can go off without any legal challenges to slow this process down. I would LOVE the opportunity to apply via lottery to take one.
Wonder how much a full body mount is gonna set me back if I get lucky
