Wolf seasons will proceed as planned

The Minnesota Court of Appeals on Wednesday gave clarity to the wolf seasons this fall and winter: The seasons will go on.

The court denied a request for a preliminary injunction from the Center for Biological Diversity and Howling for Wolves. Those groups had asked the court to stop this year's wolf hunting and trapping seasons. The groups' suit will go on, but it likely won't be heard until next year, after the hunting and trapping seasons are over.

Even before the ruling, hunters and trappers had begun to buy licenses to hunt and trap wolves in Minnesota. Through Oct. 9, the DNR had sold a total of 854 licenses for the early wolf season, which begins with the deer-hunting opener on Nov. 3. That’s about 24 percent of the 3,600 licenses available for the early season. Those drawn in the lottery have until Oct. 24 to purchase a license.

The agency also had sold 245 licenses for the late hunting season, which begins Nov. 24. Trappers had bought 130 licenses for the trapping season, which also begins Nov. 24. Late-season hunters and trappers have until Nov. 15 to purchase their licenses.

Duck update

Duck hunters have purchased 78,826 state duck stamps so far this season, which compares to 78,579 sold at the same time last year.
Last year, if you remember, broke an eight-year streak of declining duck stamp sales. For those who want to see more duck hunters in the fields and sloughs, another increase in sales would be welcome.