A man shot and killed a gray wolf Saturday morning while he and two others were waterfowl hunting near St. Germain. Two wolves reportedly approached as close as five yards to their blind.

Paul A. Smith

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/columnists/paul-smith/2024/09/26/waterfowl-hunter-shoots-and-kills-wolf-near-st-germain/75368477007/

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The Department of Natural Resources is investigating an incident in which a man shot and killed a gray wolf Saturday as he and two others were waterfowl hunting on public land near St. Germain.

Chase Melton, 19, of Sugar Camp, said about 6:15 a.m. Saturday two wolves approached the hunters’ blind.

Melton was accompanied by hunters aged 14 and 13. Saturday was opening day of the 2024 Wisconsin duck hunting season in the north zone.

He initially attempted to scare the wolves off, Melton said in an interview with WJFW in Rhinelander.

“I tried making some noise, I was clapping, stomping, breaking some sticks, whatever,” Melton said.

One of the wolves got as close as 5 yards to the hunters, Melton said. “I probably could have touched it with my hand, that was extremely scary,” Melton said. “So now, we’re really panicking. We’re like alright, we’re surrounded and we have a wolf charging us right now.”

Melton said he picked up his shotgun and when one of the wolves kept coming he shot it in the head; he estimated the animal was 8 to 10 yards away.

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The wolf died nearby.

Melton said it was not what he wanted but the hunters “felt harmed” so he pulled the trigger.

He called the DNR to report the incident.

Randy Johnson, DNR large carnivore specialist, said Wednesday an investigation of the incident remains open so he could not provide many details.

Johnson said a DNR conservation warden and wildlife biologist traveled to the scene to investigate. They confirmed the animal was a wolf.

The gray wolf is under protections of the Endangered Species Act in Wisconsin and most other states. As a result of its status, lethal force can be used against a wolf only in defense of human life.

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The investigation will use information from interviews with the hunters and others in the area to try to determine if the shooting was justified.

No wolf attack on a human has been documented in Wisconsin in the modern era, according to the DNR.

However, wolves have caused reports of threats to human safety in the state.

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A 2017 incident on public land in Adams County, in which a man fired a handgun at and reportedly hit a wolf that approached him, did not qualify as a wolf attack, the DNR concluded.

An investigation was not able to find the wolf; the man was not cited.

A December 2023 incident in which an Ashland County man shot and killed a wolf in his yard remains under investigation. The man reportedly claimed the wolf threatened his safety.

There have been two verified complaints of wolf threats to human safety in Wisconsin this year, according to the DNR. The incidents were reported April 30 in Washburn County and May 30 in Price County. No wolf was shot in either instance.

In another hunting-related case, a ruffed grouse hunter in October 2012 in Minnesota shot and killed a wolf that approached him and his dog. The wolf was 8 yards away when the hunter shot. He was not cited.

The most common form of wolf conflict reported in Wisconsin is with livestock producers. As of last week, 73 confirmed or probable wolf depredations were recorded this year in the state, most on livestock. Other animals killed by wolves include bear hounds and family pets.

The number of wolf depredations this year already has surpassed the annual totals in 2023 (69 confirmed or probable) and 2022 (49).

Johnson said wolf depredations are likely higher this year for multiple reasons, including a mild winter in 2023-24 that made it harder for wolves to catch their primary prey, white-tailed deer. When wolves come into spring and summer in poorer condition they are more likely to attempt to kill livestock.

In addition, lethal controls have been unavailable to wildlife staff since the February 2022 ruling that put the wolf under protections of the Endangered Species Act. Johnson said non-lethal abatement methods such as visual and auditory deterrents lose their effectiveness over time.

In April 2023, Wisconsin had 1,007 wolves in 283 packs, according to the most recent population estimate from the DNR.

An updated population estimate is expected sometime this fall.

Waterfowl hunting safety tips

The south zone duck hunting season opens Saturday in Wisconsin. Waterfowl hunters should follow best boating safety practices as they hit the water this season, according to the DNR.

The top safety tips include wearing a life jacket, avoiding overloading boats, safely transporting firearms, making sure boat lights are working, and sharing your hunting plan with someone on land, including your expected return time and location.

For 2024 waterfowl hunting regulations, visit dnr.wi.gov and search for the 2024 Wisconsin Hunting Regulations booklet.