SB 602

This bill makes changes to the laws regulating wolf hunting and the laws

authorizing funding for wolf management activities.

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources is required to allow

the hunting and trapping of wolves if the wolf is not listed on the U.S. list of

endangered and threatened species and is not listed on the state endangered list.

This bill prohibits a law enforcement officer from enforcing a federal or state

law that relates to the management of the wolf population in this state or that

prohibits the killing of wolf in this state. The bill also prohibits DNR from expending

any funds for the purpose of managing the wolf population in this state other than

for the purpose of making payments under the endangered resources program to

persons who apply for reimbursement for certain damage caused by wolves and

prohibits DNR from taking any action to inform or support federal law enforcement

officers regarding the enforcement of any federal or state law relating to wolves. The

bill specifies that these prohibitions apply only if wolves are listed on the U.S. list of

endangered and threatened species. Under the bill, if wolves are removed from that

list, the prohibitions in the bill will no longer apply.