DNR says prospects are good for the black bear hunting season

The Wisconsin black bear hunting season opened this week. About 9,000 Wisconsin hunters will participate.

DNR ecologist Kevin Wallenfang says the prospects look good for the hunters because this year’s mild winter and early spring made the animals thrive. Officials say there are large numbers of bears in northern Wisconsin, and they’ve expanded their territory to central and western Wisconsin.

Wallenfang says hunters are taking bears as far south as Trempealeau and Juneau counties.

Hunters who don’t use dogs have the first week of the season to themselves. The black bear season continues through Oct. 9.

Wolf hunt still on

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says the state’s first official wolf hunt will still begin the middle of next month, despite a ruling from a Dane County Circuit Court judge that dogs can’t be used.

The state could have called off the hunt to rewrite regulations about the training of hunting dogs and ways to protect those dogs from violent encounters with wolves during the hunt.

The hunt will start Oct. 15.

Judge Peter Anderson is scheduled to rule on the state’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit on Sept. 21 in his court.

Tags: wi sports, outdoors, sports