Lawsuit Filed to Stop Minnesota Wolf Hunt

Posted on September 21, 2012

On Tuesday September 18th, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Minnesota-based group, Howling for Wolves, filed a lawsuit in the Minnesota Court of Appeals against the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). That lawsuit attempts to block the state’s upcoming wolf hunting and trapping season.  The anti’s are asking the Court to issue a preliminary injunction, seeking to stop the wolf season while the rest of the case is decided.

The lawsuit claims that the Minnesota DNR failed to follow technical rulemaking procedures in adopting the wolf hunting and trapping season.  Particularly, the groups are claiming that the DNR should not have adopted the wolf season under its expedited rulemaking powers and should have given more opportunity for public comment on the rules.  These claims are based solely on procedural grounds and do not challenge the science behind the state’s management of wolves through hunting and trapping.

Minnesota’s wolf hunt is scheduled to open on Saturday, November 3rd.

“For years, anti-hunting groups have fought state wolf management at the federal level and through the federal courts,” said Jeremy Rine, U. S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation in-house counsel.  “Now they’re taking the fight into state courts, using procedural arguments to try and block the wolf season.”

Last month, anti-hunting organizations in Wisconsin filed a lawsuit attempting to block Wisconsin’s upcoming wolf hunting season.  In that case, a Wisconsin Judge granted an injunction barring a portion of Wisconsin’s wolf hunt.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation, through its Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund, is evaluating the lawsuit.

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