Left over Wolf tags GONE

[Gbro]

I did not get drawn for the 1st ever Minnesota Wolf hunting season.
Today at 12 noon the left over tags for the 1st season went on sale. I applied for the late season and there will be a sale if any of those tags are not purchased but my cousin a few towns west of me called to insure i was aware of the sale. I was but then got interested in how long it would take, so i drove over to the only store in town with an ELS on site and there were 4 folks waiting on the clock to strike 12.
Well one was a trapper that wasn't drawn and he backed away when he learned that sale if necessary would happen after the deadline for those tags to be purchased.
One was a young feller that hadn't applied and wasn't eligible to buy.
then the other 2 got to buy a Wolf tag and were happy as can be.
One of them got on the phone with his son and learned that the son didn't get one as when he got done entering in all the info the sale was over.
I called my cousin and he got his as he was 1st in line even though he didn't know about the sale and stopped in 20 min prior to buy a light bulb and talking to the store manager learned of the sale.,
the next guy in line behind him got a tag, but the next one lost out. In less than 10 min. the sale was all over.
I have been looking for a number of left over tags were up for sale.
The state is selling like 7,000 tags for all seasons and a number of 600 was told but I do not know where that originated.
i will be in line for the next sale if there is one.
And my cousin forgot to buy the light bulb!

[FrankenMauser]

Be sure to put a nice dog collar on it for the victory photos.

[Sure Shot Mc Gee]

Second season is best anyways. Colder weather makes them more active and snow on the ground by then will help. The only ones going to fair well in this wolf hunt I believe. Are those who trap. Little easier to snare one than spot one in the old rifle sights. No doubt about that. And of course our State DNR. At $30.00 for the license plus application fee of $4.00 for a resident and $250.00 for non- resident. And only 7000 licenses to be sold with a limit of 400 wolves to be harvested. That rounds up to about a 1/4 mill on my calculator.
I wish you luck Gbro in drawing that 2nd season tag. I really hope you get a nice pelt out of it. _

[Gbro]

Thanks Sure Shot,

The paper had an article this morning that there was more than 600 left over tags that were sold in under 5 min.
I agree with the second season and the fur will be better then also.
The trappers are under much stricter regulations when setting Wolf sets. That will make it much more difficult when there can only be one set at a bait.
I see Wisconsin hunter have bagged 35 so far.
I will be very surprised if Mn takes over 100 animals in the entire season, but then this being the first I may be wrong.
The only way a reasonable number could possibly be taken is for any Deer hunter to sacrifice his/her tag to take a Wolf.
In fact 20+ years ago when the DNR was holding public meetings around the State we had one in my region at the local community college and it was standing room only. Anyone desiring to speak had to have made reservations to do so and I did. Before my name was called there were several others that said just what I was planning to say so I had to add lib, I stated that no matter what numbers the USDA or the MN DNR tell us we will never believe any of you and that WE Deer hunter if given the opertunity to sacrifice out buck tag, We will give you something to count! I got aa standing ovation for that.
Then another impressive thing happened that has me amazed to this day.
There was an old Tree Hugger there that had signed up to speak and he had no comment on the Wolf, his agenda was the MN DNR s policy's on harvesting the old growth white pines that he referred to as PaPa Trees. Well the officials there right away tried to shut him up because it being the wrong forum, but the hunters in attendance all banded together with the old Hugger and we all insisted they let him have his say. The staff wasn't happy loosing control like that!
I wasn't long after that I heard from an outgoing conservation officer that the USDA fish and wildlife used deception in the counts so that MN would over populate and the Wolf would then establish the numbers they wanted in Wisconsin and Mich, all at the expense of the residence of MN.

[Sure Shot Mc Gee]

the USDA fish and wildlife used deception in the counts so that MN would over populate and the Wolf would then establish the numbers they wanted in Wisconsin and Mich, all at the expense of the residence of MN.

I can believe that. Not surprised at all.
You say only one set per bait. You'd have to get lucky then. Oh well >back to mink. At least mink pay for the gas used.
Have you heard what the fur buyers will offer for a Gray? I haven't heard a word. Nothing!

[Gbro]

Well I really felt that I should have spent the night outside the only store in town that issues licences, but my sleeping bag was left at the Deer Shack.
Anyway at 12 noon the few left over tags will go on sale and I sure would like one!
this is the news release from the DNR on this sale;

DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 16, 2012
Media contact: Dan Stark, large carnivore specialist, 218-999-7802.

Surplus late wolf season licenses go on sale Monday

Applicants not selected in this year’s early or late season wolf license lottery can purchase a surplus hunting or trapping license on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at noon on Monday, Nov. 19, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said today.

There are 187 surplus hunting licenses and 130 surplus trapping licenses available for the late season. The late season begins Saturday, Nov. 24, and concludes Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, provided late season harvest targets in each of Minnesota’s three wolf zones are not met.

Eligible hunters and trappers may purchase a surplus license of their choice regardless of the season they selected when applying for the lottery. When buying a surplus license, purchasers must specify a firearm license to hunt or a wolf trapping license to trap. An individual may purchase only one wolf license.

Surplus late season wolf hunting and trapping licenses are valid when the late season is open in any of the state’s three wolf zones.

Trappers born after Dec. 31, 1989, must have a trapper education certificate to purchase a surplus wolf trapping license if they have not purchased a trapping license in a previous license year.

If all licenses are not purchased by unsuccessful applicants, any eligible hunter or trapper, regardless of whether he or she entered the wolf season lottery, may purchase a remaining late season license beginning at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 21.

Surplus wolf licenses are available from any DNR license agent or online at www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense. Online buyers should proceed to checkout immediately after selecting a surplus wolf license and quickly submit payment information to improve their chances of obtaining a license.

The DNR allocated 2,400 wolf licenses for the late hunting and trapping season.

Complete wolf hunting regulations are available online at www.mndnr.gov/hunting/wolf.

No tag for me.
The sale was over in 30 seconds!