Use of dogs for training to track or trail free ranging wolves is prohibited under Judge Anderson's order of August 31, 2012
Bill Cosh - DNR Spokesman, 608-267-2773
MADISON – On Friday, August 31 Judge Peter C. Anderson issued a temporary injunction involving the use of dogs for tracking and trailing of wolves AND for the use of dogs for training to track or trail free ranging wolves.
As part of his order, Judge Anderson ordered the DNR to make reasonable efforts to notify hunters and/or trainers that the use of dogs to train to hunt wolves is not authorized. In addition, Judge Anderson’s order requires the DNR to submit within 14 days of his order documentation of the actions that the agency has taken to notify hunters and/or trainers that they are not allowed to use dogs to train to hunt wolves.
The DNR is taking a number of steps to notify hunters of Judge Anderson’s order, including providing the following information to members of the media.
A recent judicial ruling has temporarily prevented or enjoined the use of dogs for hunting wolves, and also the use of dogs to train to hunt wolves. As a result of this ruling, please be advised that the use of dogs for tracking and trailing of wolves is not authorized when hunting wolves under a wolf harvesting license. Also, the use of dogs for training to track or trail free ranging wolves is not authorized at this time. As this is a temporary injunction, the injunction on the use of dogs for wolf hunting and training could be lifted at a future date. Therefore, please contact the department for updates or changes later this fall.