The official wolf season will begin Nov. 6, 2021, in Wisconsin, according to the DNR. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will remove Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in the lower 48 states on Jan. 4, 2021, returning management authority to state and tribal governments.

Under Wisconsin law, once the wolf is delisted, annual hunting and trapping seasons can resume.

The recovery of gray wolves is an example of the success of the Endangered Species Act and stands as a testament to the cooperation of federal, state and tribal agencies, as well as other conservation partners working together to support wolf recovery, according to the DNR. There are currently 1,034 wolves in Wisconsin (at minimum), primarily across the northern third of the state and the Central Forest region.

The Wisconsin DNR has successfully managed gray wolves for decades and will continue to base their management practices on science and laws. All wolf management, including hunting and trapping, will be conducted in a transparent and deliberative process, in which public and tribal participation is encouraged.

After Jan. 4, 2021, the DNR will work collaboratively and transparently to create a new, sustainable wolf management plan to reflect their increased understanding of the biological and social issues relevant to wolves. 

The DNR will also create a new Wolf Management Plan Committee comprised of government agencies, non-governmental organizations, tribal interests and conservation perspectives representing diverse interests.  

Following delisting – and until the official season begins – it remains illegal to shoot a wolf unless there is an immediate threat to human safety. However, if on private land, you can shoot and kill wolves that are in the act of killing, wounding or biting a domestic animal.

Implementing a wolf season will require ample time not only to develop a science-based harvest quota but also to work with public and tribal partners in the development of a season plan that adequately reflects the interests of diverse stakeholders throughout Wisconsin. That said, the DNR is focused on planning a wolf season that begins Nov. 6, 2021.

The federal delisting of wolves on Jan. 4, 2021, once again gives Wisconsin the ability to implement an integrated wolf conflict abatement program. Each instance of wolf conflict is unique, and the DNR works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services to assess the best management approach on a case-by-case basis. Moving forward, the department will be able to implement the most effective abatement measures as wolf conflicts arise, including both nonlethal and lethal options where necessary.