Investigative Reporters Track Hunting Dog Replacement Payments

Powerful hunting lobbies have made sure Wisconsin bear hunters benefit from a hunting dog replacement cookie jar the Madison-based Center for Investigative Journalism says extends even to hunting scofflaws.

The Center has provided a detailed data base about the payments, here, which pay for up to $2.500 for a bear-hunting dog killed by a wolf.

No other state in the country has a similar reimbursement program and a 2008 survey, published in 2009 and cited in September showed little public support for payments under those circumstances.

In fact, bear hunters in Wisconsin can get those state payments even if a bear hound is lost to wolves tin territory the Wisconsin Department of Natural Respurces had publicly warned bear hunters to stay away from because wolf attacks on other animals had been reported there, also noted in September.

In point of further fact, wolves and bear hounds could confront each in those areas because the wolves were attracted by bait left by bear hunters or hunting dog trainers.