Hunters reminded of coyote season closures during gun deer hunts
MADISON – With the first of the gun deer seasons just around the corner, hunters are reminded that coyote hunting is closed in approximately the northern third of the state during gun deer seasons, including the Oct. 16-19 antlerless gun deer hunt, the Nov. 22-30 gun deer season, the Dec. 1-10 muzzleloader deer hunt and the Dec. 11 – 14 antlerless gun deer hunt. The lone exception is that the coyote season remains open statewide during the Oct.11-12 youth deer hunt.
gray wolf
Gray wolf in Iowa County, a few miles north of Yellowstone Lake in 2004.
Photo by Kate Cassidy
“Coyote season closes in the north to avoid misidentification and unintentional shooting of gray wolves,” says Adrian Wydeven, mammalian biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources. “Although there are documented wolf packs in the mid-state region, the majority of wolf habitat is in the north and that is where misidentification is most likely.”
Wildlife biologists caution that lone wolves can occur almost anywhere in the state, and especially in forested areas. In those areas of the state where coyote hunting is still allowed during the gun deer hunts, it is the hunter’s responsibility to accurately identify their target.
See page 52 of the 2008 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations for the southern boundary of this special closed area or check regulations online dnr.wi.gov.
The gray wolf was returned to the federal endangered species list following a Sept. 29, 2008 Washington, D.C. U.S District Court decision making any shooting of gray wolves illegal. The wolf had been taken off the federal endangered species list in the Midwest states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in February 2007. Groups sued the USFWS claiming the agency violated the Endangered Species Act in the way in which the delisting was promulgated.
As with all hunting seasons, hunters are reminded to be absolutely sure of their target before they shoot. Mistakes in identification can be very costly.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Adrian Wydeven (715) 762-1363
