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On 20 March 2013, Senators Risser, Hansen, and
Carpenter, introduced Senate Bill 93 in the WI State Senate.
This bill prohibits the use of dogs for wolf hunting. (Read text here.)
Said
Sen. Risser in a
press release: “If hunting wolves is going to be
permitted in Wisconsin, we must strive to make the hunt as responsible and
humane as possible.The Natural Resources Board has failed to issue meaningful
regulations regarding this issue and the best option is to prohibit dogs in
this hunt. Using dogs in the hunt will provoke ferocious encounters with wolves
and is wholly inhumane. It is nothing more than state-sanctioned dog
fighting.” (Read entire press release here.
The
bill was cosponsored by Representatives Clark, Pope, Sargent, Pasch, Berceau,
Hesselbein, Hulsey, Hebl, C. Taylor, Johnson, Bernard Schaber, Wachs, Barnes,
Ohnstad, Hintz and Sinicki who, on 26 March 2013, introduced a companion bill,
Assenbly Bill 94, on the floor of the Assembly. Senators Risser,
Hansen, and Carpenter cosponsored the assembly bill. (Read text here.)
On 10
April, Sen. Miller was added as a coauthor, and on 29 May, Rep. Bewley was
added as a cosponsor to SB 93.
AB 94
added two cosponsors: Rep; Ohnstad on 29 April and Representative Bewley on 29
May.
BOTH
bills were stuck in Committee since: SB 93 was been referred to the Senate
Natural Resources Committee and AB 94 to the Committee on Natural Resources and
Sporting Heritage.
On April 08, 2014 both
bills "Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1."
The
majority of folks in Wisconsin OPPOSE using dogs to hunt wolves! Without a
legislative remedy, Wisconsin, in effect, is sponsoring and condoning
state-sanctioned animal fighting—the setting of packs of dogs on packs of
wolves with deadly and inhumane consequences.
Wisconsin is the ONLY state
in the country to allow the training and use of dogs to pursue wolves. This is
NOT the type of leadership that reflects well on our state!
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 Finding Your WI State Representative:
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.
Be
sure to write or phone the Governor, as well as your legislators. Our Governor
can be reached at:
Office of the Governor
115 East State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702
608-266-1212 (Voice)
608-267-8983 (Fax)
http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/Contact-Us
See
below for observations from the legal briefs filed by Wisconsin Mainstream
Hunters, the ASPCA, and the individuals and humane societies who originally
sought the injunction. Also,
please click here to
check out an affidavit filed by a mainstream hunter, an actual letter to the
DNR and a blog entry. Our new "Media/Articles" page contains links to
interesting and informative articles about the wolf hunt in general, as well as
annual reparations paid by WI for hunting dogs, pets, and farm animals killed
by wolves and also a link to the
WI DNR: Dog depredations by wolves in Wisconsin (describing
when wolves are the most aggressive toward dogs -- including the last two
months of the WI wolf hunt season!
These
may give you a starting point to let your representatives know, in your own
words, why you feel so strongly about this issue. Try to keep your message
brief, and .be sure to give your name, address, and phone number.
Remember, when contacting your
elected officials, ALWAYS be polite and respectful. Name-calling, and rude or
abusive letters or emails will hurt, rather than help, our cause.
NOTE: We are leaving the
Committee information for your information. You might want to keep these
representatives' names in mind during the upcoming elections.
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WI Senate Natural Resources Committee:
WI SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES
COMMITTEE
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*Co-Author of SB 93 |
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WI Assembly Committee on Natural Resources & Sporting
Heritage:
WI ASEEMBLY COMMITTEE ON
NATURAL RESOURCES & SPORTING HERITAGE
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* Cosponsor of AB 94
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Sample Message Format:
Below is a
sample message format to give you a starting point for your own sentiments
regarding the use of dogs for hunting wolves.. Feel free to put any of the
Talking Points or other resources provided on
this website into your own words as a starting point for your own sentiments
and experiences. Remember, PLEASE always be
respectful and courteous! Name-calling, and rude or abusive
letters will hurt, rather than help, our cause.
The Honorable (legislator's
name)
His/her address
City, State, Zip
Dear Sen/Rep Name:
I am writing
to ask you please to SUPPORT SB 93/ AB 94, which state in part, "No person
may use dogs for the purpose of hunting wolves."
[In one or
two short paragraphs, state why you feel the use of dogs to track and hunt
woves should be prohibited. It is important that you tell them this in your
own words!]
Thank your
representative for his support.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address
Please note: You
MUST include your name and address. Your legislator won't pay much attention to
what you have to say if this information isn't included--if your email or
letter even reaches his / her desk.
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Talking
Points:
WI Natural Resources Board
member Dr. David Clausen OPPOSES the use of dogs in hunting
wolves. At a special meeting of the Natural Resources Board held
on Tuesday, February 26, 2013, Dr. Clausen asked that he go on record as saying
he did not think there was any way this could be accomplished without violent
confrontations between the dogs and the wolves. To quote the meeting record in
part, "...His personal opinion is that this is dog fighting.... He
believes a lot of the rules the department has in place for this...are not
enforceable. He sits in a position of not being able to find a rule that this
Board could adopt and people could accept that would prevent these
confrontations. .... He does not know what kind of further rulemaking that the
Board could go ahead and do that would solve this issue." (Read the entire statement as included in the meeting
records.)
We
are finding that even most mainstream hunters OPPOSE the use of dogs to pursue
wolves, as they feel it doesn't give game the opportunity for fair chase, poses
a threat to both private property rights and safe use and enjoyment of public
lands by everyone, and increases the opportunity for dog to wolf
conflict...bloody and awful. Bird dogs and even pets may be put at risk as
wolves come to see ALL dogs as a threat.
Wisconsin Mainstream Hunters
(“WMH”), a group of Wisconsin hunters, landowners, and sport business
owners is opposed to the unrestricted use of dogs to hunt
wolves.
Dogs are NOT necessary to
hunt wolves -- DNR reports that there were 83 wolves killed in
the initial five weeks of the 2012 hunting season (nearly 75% of the quota in
25% of the season); and two of the six hunting zones were closed before dogs
could have been used under the new law even without the injunction. The 2012
hunting season actually closed early as quotas were met in all zones.
Dogs cannot discern property
boundaries, and will not obey “no trespassing” signs.
No reasonable rules are in place to prevent unleashed hounds (whether hunting
or training) from crossing on to private property, infringing on private
landowners' rights.
Unregulated hunting of
wolves using dogs may harm Wisconsin's economy and negatively
impact the thousands of jobs which Wisconsin hunting supports. Even the
possibility that packs of unrestrained and unsupervised dogs may be allowed to
run at large across public lands, whether for hunting or training, will have a
significant deterrent effect upon non-wolf hunters.
Unrestricted use of dogs in
hunting wolves violates the letter and spirit of Wisconsin’s animal
cruelty and animal fighting laws by guaranteeing bloody and
violent encounters between wolves and dogs.
WI DNR: Dog depredations by wolves in Wisconsin states:
"Wolves are probably most aggressive toward strange wolves and dogs at den
and rendezvous sites when their pups are small, during the breeding
season in January and February [emphasis added] and when they are
protecting a fresh kill." Note that two out of the three months when dogs
are allowed in wolf hunting (2 December - 28 February) are two of the most
dangerous for dogs.
Hundreds of large bear
hounds have already died horribly in dog/wolf confrontations while training for
or hunting bear. The
DNR web site keeps a tally of
dead dogs.
Hound trainers can use
Captive LIVE BAIT Animals to train hunting hounds. Raccoon, Fox,
Coyotes, Bobcats and Bear can all be kept in captivity and owners can (for a
fee) allow hunters to bring in their hounds and terrorize those animals in pens
or roll cages for up to 16 hours a day. While any zoo, rescue, rehab-center or
sanctuary that allowed this practice would risk being fined or closed down for
inhumane treatment of wildlife, in the name of "live bait training"
it's legal for hunters in our state to do so. How long will it take before they
add captive wolves & wolfdogs to that live bait list?
As wolves become
acclimatized to being pursued by dogs they may begin to view all dogs as
immediate threats. As such, wolves which had previously not
posed a problem to bird dogs will now attack all dogs when
encountered. The possibility that wolves will effectively be taught to attack
bird hunters' valuable and beloved dogs will deter hunting participation by
bird hunters. (Read Affidavit from a Grouse Hunter for one bird hunter's
views.)
Deer hunters are concerned
that unrestrained packs of dogs running through public hunting grounds will
harass and disburse game and disturb hunters.
Wisconsin is the ONLY state in the country to allow the
training and use of dogs to pursue wolves. This is NOT the type of leadership
that reflects well on our state!
Click here or keep scrolling for the latest updates on
the legal brief filed by mainstream WI hunters, and for comments made by some
of those hunters.
Rules for Wolf
Hunting in Wisconsin were posted on the DNR's website at the end of November.
You
can read them here. A good commentary on these rules can be found in
AP Article: Wisconsin DNR proposes wolf/dog hunting rules.
 DNR Wolf
Harvesting Information
AP Article: WI DNR proposes wolf/dog hunting
rules
Wisconsin Mainstream Hunters Amicus Brief
(pdf)
ASPCA Amicus Brief (pdf)
Plaintiff's Brief Seeking Judgement on Merits
(pdf)
Plaintiff's
Reply Brief (pdf)
WI Wolf Hunt Overview
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 A group of mainstream Wisconsin hunters received
permission on 13 November 2012 to file a legal brief with the Court voicing
their opposition, as life-long hunters and land-owners, to the unrestricted use
of dogs for hunting wolves and training for such hunting. Their
brief lent support to a lawsuit currently underway against Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources ("DNR") and Natural Resources Board seeking to
stop DNR from authorizing the use of dogs to hunt wolves without the
regulations necessary to prevent deadly confrontations between dogs and wolves.
WI Wolf Hunt Overview
Although the use of dogs
to hunt wolves has been barred on a temporary basis under a ruling by Dane
County Circuit Court Judge Peter A. Anderson, the DNR is seeking to vacate the
Court's earlier ruling and asking that dogs be allowed for wolf hunting and
training purposes this season.
In
opposition, a federation of over 40 humane societies from across Wisconsin as
well as private citizens and conservation organizations, will be asking the
Judge to find that DNR's rule violates Wisconsin law by failing to include
restrictions to prevent deadly physical encounters between dogs and wolves and
will be seeking a permanent injunction until such restrictions are implemented.
Now other Wisconsin hunters and landowners are seeking a
voice in this action.
 "Mainstream Wisconsin
hunters are concerned that the lack of reasonable rules currently governing the
use and training of dogs to hunt wolves will interfere with established deer,
turkey, grouse and other hunts," states Henry Koltz, who represents a
group of Wisconsin hunters. "Any interference with Wisconsin's established
hunts has the possibility to negatively impact thousands of Wisconsin jobs and
the reported $1 billion economic impact of hunting in Wisconsin. We strongly
recommend that DNR approve reasonable restrictions on the use of dogs for wolf
hunting in order to protect Wisconsin jobs and preserve Wisconsin landowners'
rights."
One
such hunter is Ed Mathwig, who has hunted ruffed grouse with bird dogs every
year in Wisconsin for over 50 years but will not be hunting this year as a
result of the disputed DNR rule. "Never before now, have I had to worry
about my bird dogs being placed in jeopardy while hunting." Mathwig
states, "However, this year, for the first time, I will not be taking my
dog grouse hunting, because I will not put him at risk of injury or death posed
by packs of dogs running loose in pursuit of wolves."
Other
Wisconsin hunters, including a number who share ownership in a 700 acre hunting
camp in Bayfield County, support restrictions on the use of dogs for wolf
hunting, contending that unleashed dogs in pursuit of wolves will trespass upon
their lands, disrupt habitat, and degrade their hunting experience.
"Whether we are hunting, hiking or just enjoying the forest, we don't want
our space disrupted by packs of dogs," states Bobbi Rongstad, who hunts
deer with rifle and bow on private lands she owns in Bayfield and Iron
Counties. "By allowing unrestricted, year-round training of dogs on wolves
across much of the state-before, during and after the hunting season-DNR is not
being fair to the majority of Wisconsin hunters."
"Dogs know no boundaries and are
out of their owners' control for much of the time," states Jeff Baylis, a
lifelong deer and small game hunter, "Besides leading to trespass
situations and conflicts with landowners, DNR's failure to set limits on
running dogs on wolves will drive wildlife from the areas that I hunt and
disrupt my hunting enjoyment."
Baylis
adds, "While there is some logic to using dogs on animals that can be
treed, wolves cannot be treed but instead will be cornered by a dog pack, which
is likely to be a bloody, violent and cruel business."
If
you are a hunter who opposes using dogs in wolf hunts, let your voice be heard
NOW! Please email Info@NoWisconsinPuppyMills.org
and "cc" the DNR (Kurt.Thiede@Wisconsin.gov) and
Natural Resources Board (liaison Laurie.Ross@Wisconsin.gov)-- your
comments may make a crucial difference for dogs, landowners, AND hunters in
Wisconsin!
2013
Wisconsin Wolf Hunt in Brief
Wolf Hunting in Wisconsin: Mainstream Hunters Speak
Out
WI Wolf
Hunt In the Media
WI Wolf Hunt Overview
Wisconsin Mainstream Hunters Amicus Brief
(pdf)
ASPCA Amicus Brief (pdf)
Plaintiff's Brief Seeking Judgement on Merits
(pdf)
Plaintiff's Reply
Brief (pdf)
DNR Wolf
Harvesting Information
AP Article: Wisconsin DNR proposes wolf/dog hunting
rules
Wolf Photos on
this page from All-About-Wolves.com
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