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U. P. Wolf Hunt Coming This November

State officials hope 43 wolves will be killed in the hunt. PHOTO: Wisconsin DNR
State officials hope 43 wolves will be killed in the hunt. PHOTO: Wisconsin DNR

There will be a wolf hunt in the Upper Peninsula this fall. Hunting will be allowed in three separate zones beginning November 15th.

The state Natural Resources Commission approved the hunt Thursday. State officials hope 43 wolves will be killed in the hunt.

Until recently the Gray Wolf was listed as an endangered species, but state officials say numbers have grown dramatically since the year 2000. A total of 658 of the animals were counted in the U.P. this winter. Some have complained that's lead to an increase in attacks on livestock and pets.

The decision to allow the hunt comes after months of passionate debate.

“I really worry about our state’s legacy if we allow wolf hunting,” says Carol Smith. She’s one of many people who urged the Natural Resources Commission to reject the proposed wolf hunt in the U.P.

A group called Keep Michigan Wolves Protected vows to continue a ballot campaign against wolf hunting, even though the Governor Rick Snyder earlier this week signed a law that circumvents their efforts.

But at the meeting in Roscommon Thursday, there were also people who urged approval of the hunt, and in the end, the commission voted six-to-one to authorize it.

“You can tell by the amount of people who come to meetings like this, there’s a lot of people and a lot of interests. We’re looking forward to going forward,” says Commission Chairman J.R. Richardson.

The wolf hunt is set to coincide with the opening of firearm deer season this fall.