MADISON, WI  (WSAU)  -  A judge has issued a partial injunction involving the use of dogs for Wisconsin’s wolf season. Dane County Circuit Judge Peter C. Anderson's partial injunction makes it clear that Wisconsin’s wolf season will proceed. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources officials say some individuals may have decided to wait for today’s ruling prior to purchasing a wolf application. Today (8/31/12) was the initial deadline to apply for wolf permits.

“We’ve heard from hunters, trappers and conservation organizations that the uncertainty about whether or not there would be a wolf hunting and trapping season this year as a result of this lawsuit has caused some potential applicants to adopt a wait and see position,” said Kurt Thiede, DNR administrator of lands. “Since the judge’s ruling and the original application deadline happened to fall in the same day, Aug. 31, folks wouldn’t have much time to react if they did in fact want to apply for a permit. This extension gives them some breathing room to do that.”

Department of Natural Resources spokesman Bill Cosh issued the following statement on the ruling:

“We understand that some individuals may have decided to wait for today’s ruling prior to purchasing a wolf application. Considering the importance of getting a preference point in this initial season, we will be extending the wolf application deadline until September 7.

Regarding the use of dogs and the injunction, we will consult with our attorneys and assess all of our options. Further, it is important to note that this is a temporary injunction, that suspends the use of dogs in wolf hunting until the judge and parties have more thoroughly investigated, briefed, discussed an litigated the issue so the judge can make a final ruling. A schedule to do that will be set up with the judge, pending the results of the September 14 hearing on the State’s motion to dismiss.”

Wolf license applications did spike upward today.  DNR spokesman Bill Cosh says that there were 776 applications submitted just on Friday before 3:30 pm, and 18,301 applications for the month of August so far.

The department will issue 1,160 wolf harvest licenses through a drawing that will take place shortly after the close of the permit application period. A permit application costs $10 and can be purchased through any license vendor, online, by phone at 1-877-945-4236 toll free, or at a DNR Service Center.

People selected in the drawing will be notified by mail. Those not selected will receive one preference point toward future drawings. People selected in the drawing can then purchase a wolf harvest license for $100 for residents and $500 for nonresidents. The full season runs Oct. 15 to Feb. 28, 2013. More information on the hunt including the regulations is available on the DNR webpage dnr.wi.us search for the keyword “wolf”