Hunting Lobbies Target WI DNR Policies

The veteran investigative journalist Bill Lueders offers a strong report about influences on Wisconsin hunting policies:

In February, the state’s Wolf Advisory Committee took a surprising stand against a controversial state program that compensates the owners of dogs killed by wolves while hunting other animals...

At the February meeting, committee member Al Lobner, president of the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association, opposed ending the payments. Attendee Melanie Weberg, a semi-retired teacher, says Lobner warned the group, according to her notes, “This is not a threat; be careful of what you do or this could get ugly.” She considered it a threat.

At the committee’s next meeting, in late April, DNR administrator Kurt Thiede told members they should not be making recommendations that require statutory changes, like ending these payments.

More context and a route to other posts on these issues, here.

Powerful bear hunting groups benefit from a unique WI program that pays them for hunting dogs lost to wolves during various hunts. They also back wolf killing quotas challenged as unsustainable by some conservationists, wolf advocates and scientists.