Email Update: Wolf season extended; LCCMR recommendations
State Representative Tom Hackbarth
July 12, 2012
Dear Neighbor,
Citizens spoke up, the DNR listened and now our state's new wolf-hunting/trapping season will be extended by 25 days, from Jan. 6 to Jan. 31.
The Legislature passed a law this year allowing Minnesotans to hunt and trap wolves. The DNR is responsible for implementing corresponding rules and regulations. Citizens expressed concern over some of the DNR's proposed rules, leading to modifications.
Primarily, Minnesotans objected to the early closing date. Our goal in creating the wolf season is to help manage our state’s wolf population for depredation purposes. The additional 25 days will encompass a greater portion of prime wolf season and help us achieve our goal with no biological drawbacks; it will not extend into the breeding season.
The DNR reports it received 7,351 citizen responses to a survey conducted to help implement the wolf season. Changes in addition to the longer season also are in place. Click here to see the full report.
We will revisit this issue in 2013, after the first season is conducted. The Legislature and the DNR will both come forward with ideas for additional improvements after we have time to take a look at the results.
Until then, thank you to all the people who provided the DNR with input to bring about these initial changes. You have made a real impact.
On a different natural resources note, the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) has finalized a list of recommendations to receive funding through a constitutionally dedicated fund supported by the lottery.
I co-chair the LCCMR, a bipartisan panel of 17 legislators and citizens. We trimmed a list of 170 proposals we received earlier this year down to 48 recommendations, totaling approximately $31 million. That is roughly $2 million less than we had available. We will present the list to the Legislature during the 2013 session.
Here is a link to the LCCMR home page with more information.
Sincerely,
State Rep. Tom Hackbarth