Wisconsin plans on opening a wolf season this fall and so far, more than 8,000 people have already applied for tags. But, a lawsuit filed last week looks to make a regulation change an prohibit hunters from using dogs to chase down wolves.
Right now, Wisconsin would be the only state that allows wolf hunting with dogs.
The plaintiffs, including the Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies and the National Wolfwatcher Coalition, argue that “encounters between wolves and hunting dogs commonly result in fierce fights in which both wolves and dogs are maimed and killed.”
The case argues that allowing wolf hunting with dogs is illegal under the statute that bans state-sanctioned animal fighting.
While Wisconsin may be the only state that would allow wolf hunting with dogs, a handful of states allow hunters to use hounds and greyhounds to catch and bay coyotes.
Wisconsin will continue to accept wolf hunting applications despite the lawsuit.