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  Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies

Wisconsin Wolf Hunt in Brief

There is so much debate about whether wolf hunting with dogs should be allowed in the State of Wisconsin.  The Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project has tried to break the facts down into bite-size pieces with links to more detailed information.  Please see its WI Wolf Hunt Overview page for the full history of the Wisconsin Wolf Hunt controversy.

Support Senator Risser's Bill

April 24, 2013

Senator Fred Risser, 26th Senate District, is introducing a bill banning dogs from the Wisconsin wolf hunt.  Dog-wolf conflicts, especially during the denning season, are guaranteed to lead to death on both sides.

Please support Senator Risser's bill by signing this petition to The Wisconsin State House, The Wisconsin State Senate, and Governor Scott Walker.

http://signon.org/sign/wisconsin-wolf-hunt-no?source=s.em.mt&r_by=451973

Appeal Filed in Wolf Hunt Lawsuit

April 12, 2013

Plaintiffs filed an Appeal Friday morning with the Wisconsin Court of Appeals from the final judgment entered by Dane County Circuit Court Judge Peter C. Anderson on January 16, 2013, regarding Wisconsin DNR regulations governing the use of dogs to hunt wolves.

Read the full press release

Action Alert:  DNR Spring Hearings

Updated March 23, 2013

On Monday, April 8, there will be 72 public hearings, one in each county starting at 7:00pm, where individuals interested in natural resources management have an opportunity to provide their input by non-binding vote and testimony to the Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Board, and the Conservation Congress on proposed hunting and fishing rule changes and advisory questions.

WFHS stresses that this is a critically important opportunity for supporters to express concern over the controversial issues of expanding hunting in state parks and the use of dogs to hunt wolves.  A strong turn-out would help to secure far-reaching support for legislative reform.

More Information
  • Wake Up Wisconsin:  DNR/Conservation Congress Election & Vote
  • http://dnr.wi.gov/about/wcc/springhearing.html 

Risser Bill Will Prohibit Use of Dogs in Wolf Hunting

Updated March 4, 2013

State Senator Fred Risser is proposing legislation that would prohibit the use of dogs in the wolf hunt.  Wisconsin is one of seven states that allow wolf hunting but the only state that allows dogs to be used in the hunt.

More Information
  • Press Release
  • Bill

Action Alert:  Contact Your Legislators

Updated January 9, 2013

On January 4, Dane County Judge Peter Anderson ruled that the use of dogs in training for wolf hunting will not be permitted. We are pleased that dogs will not be used in training, but disappointed that under this decision, dogs will still be permitted during wolf hunting season. Wisconsin is the first state to allow the use of dogs in wolf hunting.

WFHS opposes the use of dogs in wolf hunting because it places dogs in dangerous, inhumane confrontations with wolves that will lead to injury or death. Quotas for Wisconsin’s wolf hunt were met in the first half of the allotted season without the need for, or use of, dogs, and the season was terminated earlier than originally planned.

Please reach out to legislators, asking them to introduce legislation banning the use of dogs in wolf hunting.  In Wisconsin, you can easily find your representatives and contact information by going to: http://legis.wisconsin.gov and clicking on the "Who Represents Me?" link.

Without a legislative remedy, Wisconsin, in effect, will be sponsoring and condoning state-sanctioned animal fighting--the setting of packs of dogs on packs of wolves with deadly and inhumane consequences.  The majority of Wisconsin citizens oppose even the idea of enabling unleashed, radio-collared dogs to pursue wolves for their owners’ thrill as antithetical to their values and a threat to both their private property rights and safe use and enjoyment of public lands.  This dangerous, unnecessary, and unprincipled hunting practice is outlawed in every other state in the country--for good reason.

As Circuit Court Judge Anderson stated in his ruling, the majority of folks in Wisconsin believe using dogs to hunt wolves makes no sense and is wrong, but that lawmakers and DNR sought to satisfy special interests, a small number of dog owners interested in engaging in this extreme conduct.  This can and should be remedied.

See the Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project

Headlines

December 1, 2013
Wisconsin Sport Hunters Can Throw Their Dogs To The Wolves Monday
The Political Environment
  • Sport hunteres in Wisconsin will be able to hunt wolves with their dogs Monday, December 2.

March 4, 2013
Democrat Wants Block Dogs in Wisconsin Wolf Hunt
Madison.com
  • A Democratic state senator is circulating a bill that would prohibit wolf hunters from using dogs.

March 4, 2013
Senator Wants Dogs Out of Wolf Hunt
Fox11
  • A Democratic state senator plans to introduce a longshot bill that would prohibit Wisconsin wolf hunters from using dogs, marking another chapter in a months-long battle to stop the practice before it begins. 

February 27, 2013
Public Hearing Sees Vehement Opposition to Use of Dogs in Wolf Hunt
Ron Seely, Wisconsin State Journal
  • At a tense hearing Tuesday on using dogs for hunting wolves — at which one anti-hunting advocate was ordered out of the meeting — critics of the state's controversial wolf hunt argued that violent and fatal fights between dogs and wolves will be impossible to stop if the agency goes ahead with plans to allow dogs in the next hunt.

February 12, 2013
Groups Sue to Restore Wolf Protection, End Hunts in Midwest
Wisconsin State Journal
  • The Humane Society of the United States and other animal welfare groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday to restore federal protections for gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region that were lifted last year.

February 12, 2013
Wildlife Protection Groups File Suit to Restore Federal Protection for Great Lakes Wolves
Humane Society of the United States
  • A  coalition of wildlife protection groups, including The Humane Society of the United States, Born Free USA, Help Our Wolves Live and Friends of Animals and Their Environment, filed suit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over its decision to remove the protections of the Endangered Species Act from gray wolves living in the western Great Lakes region.

January 17, 2013
Wolf Lawsuit Wrinkle
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  • Dane County Judge Peter Anderson convened a special session Wednesday to clarify his ruling in the lawsuit over wolf hunting with dogs.

January 14, 2013
WI DNR Wants Wolf Rules on Spring Ballot
WKOW

January 11, 2013
Wisconsin Judge Rules: Dogs Allowed To Hunt Wolves
Examiner.com
  • Last week, Judge Peter Anderson of Dane County, issued a ruling that is two-fold.

January 9, 2013
WI Wolf 'Harvest' Without Dogs Proves Lobbyist Wrong
The Political Environment

January 4, 2013
Judge Allows Wolf Hunting with Dogs
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Associated Press
  • Wisconsin is the only state to authorize the use of dogs to hunt wolves.

January 5, 2013
Ruling Reopens Doors for Use of Dogs in Wolf Hunting
Ed Treleven, Wisconsin State Journal
  • Wolf hunters can use dogs to hunt wolves during the 2013 season, a Dane County judge ruled Friday, but he threw out state rules that allow the use of wolves in the wild to train hunting dogs.

January 4, 2013
Judge Allows Wolf Hunting with Dogs
Leader Telegram
  • Wisconsin hunters can chase down wolves with dogs during the state season but cannot train them to pursue the animals during the rest of the year, a judge ruled Friday in a victory for animal advocates.

January 4, 2013
Concerns Persist About Dogs Tangling with Wolves
WUWM News
  • A bevy of animal rights organizations is leading a crusade to prevent confrontations between wolves and dogs, including a new group Environmental Reporter Susan Bence learned about called “Wisconsin Mainstream Hunters.”

December 10, 2012
Hunters:  Voice Your Opposition to the Use of Dogs for Hunting Wolves
WFHS
  • On December 20, Dane County Judge the Honorable Peter C. Anderson will hold a hearing on the DNR's request to lift the injunction on the training and use of dogs to pursue wolves.

December 9, 2012
Outdoors:  Wisconsin DNR Proposes Wolf/Dog Hunting Rules
Associated Press
  • Wisconsin wildlife officials have proposed new regulations governing when wolf hunters can train their dogs as they grapple with a lawsuit alleging their current wolf hunt policies will create bloody wolf-on-dog brawls.

December 5, 2012
DNR Proposes Few Alterations to Wolf Hunting Rule
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  • The Department of Natural Resources will present a wolf hunting rule next week that is little changed from the version that drew a lawsuit and temporary injunction this fall.

November 29, 2012
ASPCA Files Amicus Curiae Brief in Wisconsin Wolf Hunt Case
ASPCABrief supports plaintiffs' motion seeking to stop the use of dogs to hunt wolves without necessary restrictions

November 13, 2012
Mainstream Hunters to Enter Wolf Hunt Fray:  Wisconsin hunters voice opposition to use of dogs for Hunting Wolves
WFHS

August 31, 2012
Judge Rejects Use of Dogs During Wolf Hunt
Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel
  • DNR officials earlier this week said the wolf hunt may be canceled if the judge issued an injunction.

August 20, 2012
TV Host and His Choice of Game Diminish Pleasure of the Hunt
James Gorman, NY Times
  • Several states, including Montana and Wisconsin, have sanctioned wolf hunts.

August 16, 2012
Opinion:  Handling of Wisconsin Wolf Hunt Illustrates Troubling Trend
Ron Weber, Journal Sentinel
  • The state’s first regulated wolf hunt is scheduled for this fall.

August 10, 2012
Plain Talk:  Let’s hope lawsuit stops wolf hunt
Dave Zweifel, The Capital Times
  • Three cheers for the coalition of humane societies, including our own Dane County Humane Society, for filing a lawsuit this week against the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ plan for a wolf hunt this fall and winter.

August 9, 2012
Wisconsin is Sued Over Dogs in Wolf Hunt
Adeshina Emmanuel, The New York Times
  • The wildlife agency in Wisconsin, the only state that allows people to use dogs while hunting wolves, faces a lawsuit contending that it is permitting state-sanctioned animal fighting.

August 8, 2012
Lawsuit Filed to Stop Wisconsin Wolf Hunting Season
Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel
  • Citing “state-sanctioned” animal fighting and violations of the state’s animal cruelty law, a lawsuit was filed Wednesday in an effort to stop the wolf hunting and trapping season scheduled to begin this fall in Wisconsin.

August 8, 2012
Wisconsin DNR Sued Over Wolf Hunting Rules
WFHS
  • Plaintiffs object to regulatory void as state-sponsored dog fighting.

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  • About
    • Board of Directors List
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      • Pam McCloud Smith
      • Chuck Wegner
      • Vicki Prey
      • Eilene Ribbens
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      • Jessica Farley
      • Lisa Leitermann
      • Gina Mason
      • Cheri Wegner
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