50 wolves killed opener

[Lee Borgersen]

 Minnesota wolf hunt: 50 animals killed as of Sunday evening


Fifty wolves were killed in the opening weekend of Minnesota's first managed wolf hunt, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said Sunday, Nov. 4.

About 32 were killed on opening day, Saturday. On Sunday, 18 more were killed in three sections in the northern part of the state where the hunt was allowed.

In the northeast, 22 wolves were killed, 20 in the northwest, and eight in the east-central zone. The east central zone was closed after Sunday to limit the number of wolves harvested, the DNR said.

The quota of wolves was set at 400, with 200 for the early season from Nov. 3 to Nov. 18. Another 200 were set for the trapping season, from Nov. 24 to Jan. 31.

The hunt has been contentious: Billboards in the metro area call the hunt unjust; other groups said that the DNR did not offer enough opportunity for public comment on the wolf season.