outdoors

What percent of foot traps had a leg in them but no wolf? Foot traps are perhaps the most inhumane of them all. From my experinece with my own trap line,animals frequently chew their trapped foot off to free themselves only to die later from infection and exposure. To control the wolf population by trapping really is instructive of the morality and mindset of the DNR and the hunting lobby. There will NEVER be agreement between ecologists, conservationists and today's DNR which is entirely dominated by the hunting and fishing industry. Dayton needs to be held acccountable for his choice of Commissioner and the bias he has perpetuated in the DNR.

Not sure how the wolf-trappers can even look at themselves in the mirror. It must be difficult for them to feel so tiny and afraid. I pity them for their weakness, and they are in my prayers.

Oh sure. There can't possibly be many more wolves than the DNR has been saying there is for the last 20 years. Just like there can't be any Mtn Lions in MN. Idiots with egos.

what the hell is going on here, the number of wolves killed is approaching 600 killed and the number of wolves hasn't changed since 2008 - well now it has and poachers and the wls will continue to kill - but he's talking about next years hunt. where do these idiots come from, this whole government needs to be overhauled starting with governor goofy and the dnr.

Sounds like the late season is going well. That's good to hear. Congrats to all the successful hunters and trappers out there. Very cool to be able to take part in the 1st modern wolf hunt! I was a successful hunter from the first season, one of the ones who targeted wolves. As for the cruelty of trapping?? The wolves caught in snares are dead very quickly. The ones caught in leg hold traps don't suffer as much as you think. A wolf is not going to chew its leg off like some would have you believe, and these traps do not crush bone and very seldom even break skin. It's like having on a pair of handcuffs. Tommurphy, the DNR knows what it is talking about. The fact that the population has remained stable means that it has reached its carrying capacity in the wolf range. The excess wolves die each year. Whether they die from natural causes or hunters/trappers makes no difference. Disease and prey populations will ultimately determine the number of wolves that will survive each winter. If 1 wolf in a pack gets shot, it means 1 more will likely survive the winter to replace it. Close to where I shot mine, the reports were that many of the wolves seen had severe mange. A sure sign of overpopulation. The truth is, regulated hunting and trapping will not hurt the overall population of wolves, will raise money to study them, and will provide a great recreational opportunity for many hunters througout the state!! If you feel the hunt is morally wrong, that's fine, but there are no facts that will back up your anti wolf hunting agenda. Learn to live with it. There are many things in society that I feel are immoral but are legal. That's life...

Trappers are immoral but legal but lots of moral people intend to change that. As for studying the dead wolves you kill in order to kill more next year--that is a whole lot more immorality! Governor Dayton all these dead wolves are your fault. How could you allow this to happen to a Minnesota icon? Please stand up and answer to your actions!

well said Willy 53...

Thanks for the great write up on the wolf hunt. Congrats to the hunters and trappers on the harvest. I sure hope that the 400 wolf goal is met!

You folks that are dead set against trapping and say that us trappers are un-caring do not understand the love we have for the animals we trap or for that matter all of the animals out there.

@Irolf23: The dead wolves can't all be left at Governor Dayton's door. He did sign the bill authorizing the hunting and trapping seasons, but it was Senator Klobuchar's relentless efforts to remove the species from federal protections that started all of this horrific business. Early on she (being a coward) was fearful of a challenge from the Tea Party (remember them?). To ease her fears, she cozied up to Shelly Bachmann and her Bridge to Nowhere, and threw the Right the additional bone of being able to kill wolves for grins and giggles. DFL'ers, you have only your own pathetic office holders to blame for this fall's lupine carnage. Remember that the next time you vote.