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     In the wake of the disastrous 2021 Wisconsin Wolf Hunt, when the finally tally of wolves killed was nearly 100 over the set quota, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, in their new Wolf Management Plan, is refusing to set a numerical population goal. Instead, they are recommending the more sensible alternative of the agency working with advisory committees to determine whether local packs should be maintained, grown or reduced. Needless to say, the wolf hunters are not happy with this arrangement.

     SB 139, relating to: establishing a statewide wolf population goal was introduced on March 23, 2023 by Senators Stafsholt, Cowles, Felzkowski, Marklein, Quinn, Stroebel, Testin and Tomczyk and cosponsored by Representatives Green, Armstrong, Behnke, Bodden, Brooks, Callahan, Dallman, Edming, Gustafson, Magnafici, Mursau, Penterman, Pronschinske, Sapik, Schutt, Summerfield, Tittl, Swearingen, Schraa and Rozar.  It was assigned to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage. A public hearing was held on September 21, 2023; on September 29th, the bill was moved out of Committee with a reccomendation for passage by a vote of 3 - 2, along party lines. It was also PASSED in the full Senate on October 17, with a vote of 22 - 10, also along party lines. 

    Record of Committee Proceedings       Public Hearing Testimony and Materials   

     On March 31, 2023, a companion bill, AB 137, was introduced by Representatives Green, Armstrong, Behnke, Bodden, Brooks, Callahan, Dallman, Edming, Gustafson, Magnafici, Mursau, Penterman, Pronschinske, Sapik, Schutt, Summerfield, Swearingen, Tittl, Schraa and Rozar; and cosponsored by Senators Stafsholt, Cowles, Felzkowski, Marklein, Quinn, Stroebel, Testin and Tomczyk. It was referred to the Committee on Sporting Heritage. A public hearing was held on Nov. 8. On Nov. 15, the committee voted 8 - 4 along party lines to recommend passage by the Assembly. On January 25th, the Assembly "tabled" AB 137, but "concurred in" SB 139. In other words, it has passed in both houses and will be sent to the Governor for his signature in April.

    Record of Committee Proceedings       Public Hearing Testimony and Materials   

     This bill simply states: "If the wolf is not listed on the federal endangered list and is not listed on the state endangered list, the department shall allow the hunting and trapping of wolves and, shall regulate such hunting and trapping as provided in this section, and shall implement a wolf management plan that establishes a statewide wolf population goal." [Emphasis ours]

     WE STRONGLY OPPOSE this bill that would essentially make any number of wolves over that "population goal," which the DNR has chosen NOT to set in the new Wolf Management Plan for good reason, fair game for hunters when -- not if -- the wolf is once again delisted from the federal Endangered Species list. (Please click here for an Interesting article on "Wolf killing and the consequences of disturbing pack dynamics.")

Bill Summary (by the Legislative Reference Bureau):

     "Current law requires the Department of Natural Resources to implement a wolf management plan. This bill requires DNR to establish a statewide wolf population goal in its wolf management plan."

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

     General guidelines for contacting your representatives: Try to keep your message brief, and be sure to give your name, complete mailing address, and phone number. Let your representative know that you are a constituent. Please, ALWAYS be polite and respectful. Name-calling, and rude or abusive letters or emails will hurt, rather than help, our cause.

• SB 139 PASSED in the full Senate on October 17, with a vote of 22 - 10, also along party lines. The Assembly "tabled" AB 137, but "concurred in" SB 139. In other words, it has passed in both houses and will be sent to the Governor for his signature in April.

• PLEASE CONTACT GOV. EVERS ASAP and ask him to VETO SB 139/AB 137, relating to: establishing a statewide wolf population goal!   Once again, the supporters of this bill will be VERY vocal. We are hoping that those who wish to leave the management of WI wolves in the hands of experts at the DNR will be even MORE vocal. All you really need to say is, "I am a constituent, and I am asking you please to VETO SB 139/AB 137: relating to: establishing a statewide wolf population goal." You can add your reasons for asking if you wish to do so. (Scroll down this page for more info on the bill and Talking Points, if you need them, and, as always, please keep your tone polite and respectful.)

  Since Gov. Evers has no public email address, the best way to reach him is through this form on his website: https://wi.accessgov.com/public/Forms/Page/governor/voice-an-opinion/. You will be asked for your name, address, phone # and email address, then there is a box to type in your message.

     Gov. Evers Voice An Opinion Form    

  You can also contact his Madison office by phone and leave a message: 1-608-266-1212. Again, you will be asked for your name, address, and contact info. If phoning, it's best to keep your message as simple as just asking the Gov. please to VETO SB 139/AB 137: relating to: establishing a statewide wolf population goal.

  If you prefer to write a paper letter, P.O. Box 7863, Madison, WI 53707. Please be sure to give your first and last name, street address, city, state and zip and, as always, please keep your tone polite and respectful.

       WE STRONGLY OPPOSE this bill that would essentially make any number of wolves over that "population goal," which the DNR has chosen NOT to set in the new Wolf Management Plan for good reason, fair game for hunters when -- not if -- the wolf is once again delisted from the federal Endangered Species list. We believe that the Wisconsin wolf population should be left up to the discretion of wildlife experts in the WI DNR, who are qualified to decide, on a pack by pack and area by area basis, where an annual hunt will/should be held and what the quotas in each zone should be -- instead of putting WI wildlife at the mercy of politicians, special interest groups, and lawsuits by out-of-state hunting groups, as happened in the January 2021 wolf hunt.

• Please see our Talking Points for more resources.

    Find your WI State Representatives      What To Expect At A Public Hearing   

Talking Points:

• We believe that the Wisconsin wolf population should be left up to the discretion of wildlife experts in the WI DNR, who are qualified to decide, on a pack by pack and area by area basis, where an annual hunt will/should be held and what the quotas in each zone should be -- instead of putting WI wildlife at the mercy of politicians, special interest groups, and lawsuits by out-of-state hunting groups, as happened in the January 2021 wolf hunt.

• "Wolf killing and the consequences of disturbing pack dynamics."

• Wisconsin DNR Proposed Wolf Management Plan

• The January 2021 forced wolf hunt (slaughter)

• Assembly Committee on Sporting Heritage Record of Committee Proceedings and Public Hearing Testimony and Materials

    Bill Text      Bill History      Bill Summary   

   TAKE ACTION       Talking Points   

    Find your WI State Representatives   

    What To Expect At A Public Hearing