As the new state wolf hunt approaches its break during deer hunting, area zones are approaching their quotas.

The Wisconsin DNR initially issued 116 permits which were further broken down into 6 zones in the state. Lincoln County was, for the most part divided into 2 zones, divided by the Wisconsin River.

Zone 2 is comprised of the area west of the Wisconsin River and extending throughout much of the northern portion of the state. The quota set for zone 2 was 20 wolves, and hunters have already harvested 15.

The eastern portion of Lincoln County falls into a much smaller zone 4, which is a narrow zone extending east to the UP border. This zone had a quota set at five wolves and 4 have been harvested.

So far statewide, 64 wolves have been taken, mainly from the northern portion of the state, labeled as primary range by the DNR.

The DNR may close a wolf harvesting zone to both wolf hunting and trapping if the season quota in a particular zone is likely to be reached prior to the end of the season. It is the hunter or trapper’s responsibility to determine the closure status of a wolf zone prior to attempting to hunt or trap wolf in that zone.