Lib-Led DNR Stacks Advisory Group with Wolf Lovers

Only two of 10 appointees of a newly formed Midwest wolf advisory committee have direct ties to hunting or trapping.

Earlier this week, the Wisconsin DNR announced the formation of a new wolf advisory committee. The group, comprised mostly of DNR employees, also includes 10 volunteer positions. Those positions were awarded by a group of DNR officials.

**Blue Circle:** Household pets killed by wolves. **Red Circle:** Hunting dogs killed by wolves. **Brown Circle:** Livestock killed by wolves. **Blue Checkmark:** Pets threatened by wolves. **Brown Checkmark:** Livestock threatened by wolves. **Yellow Checkmark:** People threatened by wolves.

The committee, which had been disbanded in 2014 by state Republicans, is back on the table, thanks to Democrat Gov. Tony Evers-appointed DNR Secretary Karen Hyun. The new wolf committee includes 14 government employees and 10 citizen volunteers.

The 10 volunteers chosen from various stakeholder groups or at-large individuals are:

Peter David, Timber Wolf Alliance, a pro-wolf group based in Ashland.
Linda Nelson, Timber Wolf Information Network, a pro-wolf group from Eau Claire.
Amy Mueller, Sierra Club, a liberal organization based out of California.
Brandon Bleuer, representative from the Ho-Chunk Nation
Random resident Jose Navidad. (No background information provided)
Random resident Kevin Renley. (No background information provided)
Bob Mitchell, Wisconsin’s Cattlemen’s Association
Josh Calaway, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Luke Withrow, Wisconsin Bear Hunter’s Association
Kevin Quamme, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, a pro-hunting group from Poynette.

Withrow and Quamme are the only committee members with direct ties to pro-hunting causes in Wisconsin. Deer & Deer Hunting Editor-in-Chief Daniel Schmidt, a lifelong Wisconsin resident and 35-year Wisconsin outdoors journalist applied for an at-large position but was not considered. Furthermore, Chris Vaughan Wisconsin State Director from Hunter Nation was interviewed but not extended a position on the committee. Hunter Nation is a hunting rights organization that has followed the wolf issue closely and helped institute the last wolf season in Wisconsin.

Wolves have been protected, primarily through Federal lawsuits, since 2022. Wisconsin’s first wolf management plan more than 30 years ago included a caveat that would have allowed for hunting and trapping once the population reached 250 animals. That deal was denied by a federal judge and the population is now believed to be between 2,000 and 3,000 animals.

Wisconsin hunters and trappers who wish to ask that wolves be kept off the endangered list should contact DNR Secretary at Karen.hyun@wisconsin.gov.