DNR Closes Northwest Wolf Zone; 1 Zone Still Open

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Department of Natural Resources is closing the late wolf season in northwestern Minnesota, where hunters and trappers have exceeded the season target.

Hunters and trappers in the northwest zone had registered 96 wolves killed by dark Tuesday evening, 14 more than the zone's nonbinding target of 82. DNR wolf specialist Dan Stark says it's not clear why there's been a surge since late last week.

The DNR last Friday closed the northeast zone, where hunters and trappers registered 40 wolves, five over the zone's target of 35. The small east-central zone remains open. One wolf has been registered there with a target of nine.

Late-season hunters and trappers have now registered 137 wolves statewide. Hunters killed 124 in Minnesota's early hunting-only season.

The combined statewide harvest target was 250.