Total zones increased from 3 to 4 zones because the Central Forest was separated from the Northern Forest and called Zone 2. Although major differences did not exist in regulations between Zones 3 and 4, the wolf committee recommended maintaining separation to emphasize the need to protect and encourage dispersing wolves in Zone 3. Wolves causing depredation could be relocated from Zone 3 but would be destroyed in Zone 4 under threatened status and until the statewide population reached a minimum of 350. This zone would not contain any wolf core areas. Coyote hunting would not be closed in this zone during the firearm deer season.
Many people are very concerned about the establishment of wolves in central Wisconsin.
The need to close coyote hunting during the firearm deer season has not been demonstrated in this area as it has in northern Wisconsin. The wolf committee felt the Central Forest should be treated differently from northern Wisconsin, allowing for more flexible control activities. These agencies would be allowed to kill wolves that pose threats to health and human safety, and wolves that have become habituated to people and act very tame. Law enforcement officers normally are allowed to destroy animals that pose threats to human safety, and this authority should be expanded to wolves when the population becomes secure. Some wolves may occasionally become habituated to humans, and captive wolves or wolf-dog hybrids will present special concerns that should be controlled, based on unusual behavior.