House OKs Minnesota wolf hunting season

A wolf hunting season would be launched in Minnesota this fall — and would begin with the regular firearms deer hunting season — under a large game and fish bill approved Tuesday by the Minnesota House.Similar language is in a Senate bill expected to be voted on soon.The Department of Natural Resources had sought a wolf season independent of the firearms deer season, but lawmakers in both the Senate and House want to give deer hunters a chance to take wolves incidental to deer hunting.A wolf hunting or trapping license would cost $26 under the House bill. Nonresidents could buy a wolf hunting license for $250. The DNR could limit the number of hunters and trappers and set a harvest quota.A wolf trapping season could be in December, the DNR says.The bill also would lower the restitution value for wolves killed illegally to $500; it currently is $2,000.The bill also contains provisions that would:•Kill the state's venison donation program, and use the money to pay for the state's walk-in hunter access program.•Prevent the state from regulating venison donated for charitable purposes.•Require most publicly owned or managed shooting ranges to be made available for firearms safety instruction courses.