Wisconsin Bear hunters read this and anyone else

[blackpaws]

May 15, 2012


The Natural Resources Board (NRB) meets next Wednesday, May 23rd. They will be discussing the wolf hunting season as it was passed and signed earlier this year.

The NRB has been receiving comments from out-of-state animal rights activists who oppose any kind of wolf hunt. It is important that as Wisconsin hunters we show our support of this wolf hunt and help our state retain the right to manage our expanding wolf population.

If you can spare a moment of your time please consider contacting the NRB to submit comments in support of the wolf hunting season.

Please mail or email written comments to:

Laurie J. Ross, Board Liaison
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
608.267.7420

Or:

Laurie.ross@wisconsin.gov

Comments must be submitted to the Board Liaison no later than 4 p.m. on the Friday prior to the meeting.

Some potential talking points include:

1 – We support a wolf hunting season this year. We support the bill as passed with overwhelming bipartisan support by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.

2 – Wolves number more than double our stated goal for Wisconsin (800 v. 350) and we are EIGHT TIMES what the USFW defined as recovery (100).

3 – There was plenty of public input on the hunt, with both the Assembly and Senate holding well-attended public hearings and the DNR will have more public hearings on the rules.

4 – The hunt will be designed with the best science in mind. The DNR will determine the number of tags and the quota based on the count and an estimate of the hunter success rate. The department will be able to close the season immediately when the quota is reached in order to maintain a sustainable population.

5 – Merely eliminating depredating wolves will not eliminate the problem of wolf/human contact. The only way to manage the wolf population at goal is to implement a harvest season.

6 – Wolves need to be managed just like any other species that co-exists with humans. To set aside refuges or to ban certain types of harvest methods is trying to manage based on emotions not science. Trapping and hunting with dogs are two very well established means of harvesting predators (like bobcats and coyotes in this state). Both are carried out under regulations that assure a humane outcome.

7 – Without using all the tools to harvest wolves that are included in the proposal, a wolf hunt might very well not be successful. Opponents of hunting with dogs or trapping are merely trying to stop the wolf harvest altogether.

8 – Wolf hunter and trappers may become the strongest advocate for wolf preservation and management as their sport will depend on a healthy wolf population. No one wants to see wolves back on the endangered species list.

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Here is a general e-mail to send to Laurie Ross if anyone wants to use it. i just took the points from the above email and formed a general e-mail.
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Laurie,

I support a wolf hunting season this year. I support the bill as passed with overwhelming bipartisan support by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. Wolf numbers more than double our stated goal for Wisconsin (800 v. 350) and we are EIGHT TIMES what the USFW defined as recovered (100). I believe there was plenty of public input on the hunt, with both the Assembly and Senate holding well-attended public hearings and the DNR will have more public hearings on the rules. The hunt will be designed with the best science in mind. The DNR will determine the number of tags and the quota based on the count and an estimate of the hunter success rate. The department will be able to close the season immediately when the quota is reached in order to maintain a sustainable population. Merely eliminating depredating wolves will not eliminate the problem of wolf/human contact. The only way to manage the wolf population at goal is to implement a harvest season. Wolves need to be managed just like any other species that co-exists with humans. To set aside refuges or to ban certain types of harvest methods is trying to manage based on emotions not science. Trapping and hunting with dogs are two very well established means of harvesting predators (like bobcats and coyotes in this state). Both are carried out under regulations that assure a humane outcome. Without using all the tools to harvest wolves that are included in the proposal, a wolf hunt might very well not be successful. Opponents of hunting with dogs or trapping are merely trying to stop the wolf harvest altogether. Wolf hunters and trappers may become the strongest advocate for wolf preservation and management as their sport will depend on a healthy wolf population. No one wants to see wolves back on the endangered species list.