These rules are applicable to individual sportspersons and impose no compliance or reporting requirements for small businesses and no design or operational standards are established in the rule.
Wisconsin’s six Ojibwe tribes, which reserved hunting, fishing and gathering rights in territory ceded to the United States in the 1837 and 1842 Treaties, and the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, which provides off-reservation resource management and regulatory assistance to the Ojibwe Tribes, have an interest in how the department manages and regulates wolves.
A variety of organizations have expressed an interest in a wolf season during previous legislative and rulemaking efforts. It is likely that these same organizations will have a renewed interest in this topic.
The Department is committed to a transparent and deliberative process, in which all interested parties will be encouraged to participated, as we review our existing emergency rule and propose a permanent rule pursuant to this scope statement.
7. Summary and preliminary comparison with any existing or proposed federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the proposed rule:
The US Department of Interior announced in November 2020 that gray wolf populations across the lower 48 states have recovered and no longer require the protection of the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a final rule in the Federal Register that removed gray wolves across the lower 48 states from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. The rule went into effect on January 4, 2021.
Federal law requires the states to monitor wolf populations for at least five years to ensure the species continues to thrive. If it appears, at any time, that the gray wolf cannot sustain itself without the protections of the Endangered Species Act, the service can initiate the listing process, including emergency listing.
8. Anticipated economic impact of implementing the rule (note if the rule is likely to have a significant economic impact on small businesses):
In the long term, it is expected that new wolf hunting and trapping opportunities, and continuing wildlife watching activity, will contribute positively to Wisconsin’s existing tourism economy. Even though the total number of participants in hunting and trapping will be low, these unique opportunities will bolster Wisconsin’s image as a premier destination for wildlife and outdoors oriented activities.
These rules, and the legislation which grants the department rule making authority, do not have a significant fiscal effect on the private sector or small businesses. Additionally, no significant costs are associated with compliance to these rules. Re-implementing a wolf season will have a direct positive economic impact to both the department and various small businesses. During the first three years in which the department had the authority to conduct a wolf harvest season, an average of 17,000 people per year submitted applications for a wolf license. This brought in an average of $247,781 in annual revenue for the department. People who hunt or trap wolves may reside anywhere in the state but are likely to hunt and trap in the northern third of the state where most wolves are found. This will result in increased purchases of lodging services in those areas. Some hunters/trappers will need to be assisted by paid guides in order to have a high likelihood of success. The gear used for wolf hunting will be similar to that used for deer or furbearers and that, combined with the low number of hunters, means there will be limited new retail expenditures even though this is a new opportunity. Successful hunters and trappers will contribute economically through the sales of wolf pelts or, more often, the purchase of taxidermy services. These will be minor contributions overall but for an individual taxidermist, guide, or motel owner who receives extra work, the impact is worth noting.
This rulemaking may allow Wisconsin to manage wolves to population levels that will be lower than the current population. A lower wolf population may result in fewer wolf conflicts and reduced wolf depredation on domestic animals. Under previous requirements of law, the department reimburses owners for the fair market value of domestic animals killed, or veterinary services, in wolf depredation incidents. A reduction in depredation will result in less time investigating damage, filling claims, and working with agency staff who administer the program. Individual producers who are concerned about livestock depredation are likely to view a hunting season as very important to them economically.
The department does not anticipate that there will be significant conflict in the field between people pursuing different outdoor recreational opportunities. It is possible that some wildlife watchers who seek wolves for viewing opportunities may be concerned about user conflict, however, and will be less active. They may initially spend less money travelling and pursuing these activities.
Contact Person:
Scott Karel, Wildlife Regulation Policy Specialist, 101 South Webster St., Madison, WI 53707. (608) 267-2452. scottr.karel@wisconsin.gov
