Are there new hunting regs. for wolves?

David Anderson
MNR CO

David Anderson is the Enforcement Supervisor for the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) in Red Lake District and has worked as a Conservation Officer for 26 years.
Q. Are there new regulations to hunt wolves? Are the rules different for residents and non-residents?
A. The reason for the new regulations is to ensure wolves continue to play an important part in the natural ecosystems in all parts of the province for all people.
Wolves and coyotes may be hunted or trapped from September 15 to March 31, which means the season is closed April 1 to September 14. The closed season will protect both adults and young pups during the pup rearing season into the fall dispersal period. This is consistent with similar protection afforded other species hunted in Ontario.
Hunters are required to purchase a wolf/coyote seal in addition to their small game licence and to submit a mandatory report. The seal requirement will also limit the number of wolves that can be taken by hunters to two per calendar year. Both seals can be purchased at the same time.
The seals, which are good for the calendar year, will be available for purchase from Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) offices and selected Government Information Centres (GICs). Hunters who purchase wolf/coyote seals will be mailed a questionnaire, which is mandatory to complete and return. The questionnaires also can be picked up at MNR offices. Since seals must be obtained ahead of time it would be wise to get them early to ensure you have them when you plan to hunt.
Non-residents of Ontario will also be required to purchase a wolf/coyote seal in addition to a non-resident small game licence and be subject to mandatory reporting. The closed seasons will apply to both residents and non-residents.
Just to be clear, the seals are valid for a calendar year, so if you plan to hunt in January 2006 you will be required to purchase seals for 2006. This is because the Outdoors Card, which is essentially your hunting licence, is based on the calendar year.
Residents will pay a $10 fee per seal for a wolf/coyote seal and non-residents will pay a $250 fee per seal. In both cases a small game hunting licence is required at a cost of $18.50 for residents and $87.50 for non-residents.
The requirement for a game seal and mandatory reporting will take effect September 15, 2005. Hunters will have until January 15, 2006 to report.
Coyotes are treated the same as wolves under these regulations as there are parts of Ontario where their range overlaps with wolves. That is because distinguishing between a coyote and a wolf, especially an eastern wolf, is very difficult and it is very easy to mistake one for the other.
There is an annual limit of two seals per hunter per calendar year but there is no quota or limit proposed for trappers. Trappers have been annually reporting their harvest of wolf and other furbearers since the 1998-1999 trapping season.
I hope this helps clarify the new wolf/coyote regulations.
If you have a question for the Conservation Officer you may reach him at dave.h.anderson@mnr.gov.on.ca or telephone 807-727-1393.
All submissions are confidential.