Hunters and trappers blow past Wisconsin's wolf kill target

FILE – This July 16, 2004, file photo, shows a gray wolf at the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake, Minn. Wisconsin wildlife officials opened an abbreviated wolf season Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, complying with a court order to start the hunt immediately rather than wait until November. The hunt will run through Sunday, Feb. 28 across six management zones. (AP Photo/Dawn Villella, File)

By TODD RICHMOND Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Hunters and trappers have blown past Wisconsin’s wolf kill target, forcing an early end to the hunting season and angering animal rights activists and conservationists.

The Department of Natural Resources opened a season Monday that was supposed to run through Sunday, with a kill target of 119 animals. It became clear Tuesday that hunters and trappers were on pace to exceed the limit, so the agency moved up the season’s end to 3 p.m. Wednesday.

The department reported hunters and trappers had killed 178 animals at the close of the season. Hunters and trappers also exceeded state targets during the 2012, 2013 and 2014 wolf seasons.