UPDATE, 2/10/26: SB 665 is scheduled for a vote by the full Senate on Wednesday, Februsary 11. PLEASE phone or email your state senator and ask him/her to vote NO on SB 665!

  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. Please put something like "NO to SB 665" in the subject line. All you really need to say is, "I am a constituent, and I am asking you please to vote NO on SB 665, 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.)

     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.

   Find your WI State Representatives       Talking Points   

    Bill Text      Bill History      Bill Summary   

   TAKE ACTION       Talking Points   

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

     It's back, after being vetoed by Gov. Evers last sesson.

     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 665, relating to: establishing a statewide wolf population goal was reintroduced on November 20, 2025 by Senators Senators Stafsholt, Nass, Quinn and Tomczyk; and cosponsored by Representatives Green, Behnke, Brill, Callahan, Kreibich, Krug, Melotik, Moses, Mursau, O'Connor, Penterman, Summerfield, Swearingen, Wichgers, Knodl and Gustafson.  It was assigned to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage (of which, Sen. Stafsholt is the chair.) 

     On 1/22/16, the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage held a hearing. You can view the testimony and other hearing materials using the link below. On 1/27/26, the bill passed out of committee, Ayes 3, Noes 2, along party lines and is now available for scheduling for a vote by the entire Senate.

    Senate Committee Public Hearing Materials   

     On November 26, 2025, a companion bill, AB 687, was introduced by Representatives Green, Behnke, Brill, Callahan, Kreibich, Krug, Melotik, Moses, Mursau, O'Connor, Penterman, Summerfield, Swearingen, Wichgers, Knodl and Gustafson; and cosponsored by Senators Stafsholt, Nass, Quinn and Tomczyk. It was referred to the Committee on Sporting Heritage.

     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, 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. In regulating wolf hunting and trapping, the department may limit the number of wolf hunters and trappers and the number of wolves that may be taken by issuing wolf harvesting licenses. " [Emphasis in the bill text.]

     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.

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.

• PLEASE contact your WI State Legislators and ask them to OPPOSE SB 665 / AB 687, 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. Please put something like "NO to SB 665 / AB 687" in the subject line. All you really need to say is, "I am a constituent, and I am asking you please to vote NO on SB 665/ Ab 687, 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.)

       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.

• Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan 2023: A Plan For Stewardship, Conservation And Management Of The Gray Wolf In Wisconsin from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Bureau of Wildlife Management, Madison, WI, October 2023. There is a LOT of information here, along with documentation.

• Team Wolf's 3 Things Every Wolf Management Plan Must Have in Mind explores mandatory wolf hunts (using WI's disastrous 2021 wolf slaughter as an example), "A pro-active, well-funded non-lethal strategy," and full transparency and full access to wolf data. This document is well worth the read.

• Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage 1/22/16 Public Hearing Testimony and materials

• The January 2021 forced wolf hunt (slaughter)

• Historical information: Assembly Committee on Sporting Heritage Record of Committee Proceedings and Public Hearing Testimony and Materials from 2023 attempt.

• Historical information: Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage 2023 public hearing  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