States Ring in New Year with New Hunting Laws

Written by HLRBO| 1/26/2021

The new year is a time for a fresh start and resolutions. It also brings with it new laws and changes to existing laws. When it comes to hunting, each state regulates hunting, and most states make minor tweaks to their hunting laws each year, like offering a new tag or moving a hunting season back two weeks. But, certain states make major changes to hunting policy by allowing new animals to be hunted. Hunting Goes to the Wolves in Wisconsin
 A big change is happening for Wisconsin hunters in 2021— they will be allowed to hunt wolves for the first time in more than a decade. The state of Wisconsin announced late last year that it would participate in its first wolf season since 2014-- taking place in November of 2021. This decision comes after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lifted federal protections and took gray wolves off the endangered species list.
 The Wisconsin DNR says the framework for the new season will include public input and consultation with the state's Native American tribes. Then they will figure out a harvest cap for the first season.   "It is tremendously important to us to have a good, robust, strong population of wolves, and we know we can do that," said Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Division Administrator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Keith Warnke. "We've managed hunting seasons in the past, and we've maintained a good, strong population of wolves." According to the DNR, more than 1,000 wolves are estimated to be in Wisconsin, which is a steady increase from recent years.

Missouri Approves Framework for Black Bear Hunting 
2021 will mark the first time that a bear hunt will be held in the state of Missouri since the state's conservation department was founded nearly a century ago. The decision comes after the state determined its black bear population is growing 9% per year. 
 Under the plan, only Missouri residents will be allowed to bear hunt, and only in three Bear Management Zones located in southern Missouri. The state also says the black bear season will start on the third Monday in October every year and run for 10 days or until BMZ-specific quotas are reached, whichever comes first. The harvest limit will be one bear per permit. State officials say the state of Missouri has between 540 and 840 bears currently. Permit and quota regulations will be determined in the spring, with the hunt scheduled for October.   The department has been given final approval from the Missouri Conservation Commission to start planning a bear hunt for the season starting this October.

2021 Means "Opportunity of a Lifetime" for Boar Hunting in West Virginia  2021 will also be a historic year in West Virginia, where the state announced its first wild boar hunting lottery.  
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources announced a change to the state's wild boar hunting program. Though certain hunters have been able to hunt wild boars in West Virginia during previous seasons, the state will implement changes for the 2021 season. The West Virginia DNR will hold a lottery for wild boar hunting on private land. The DNR will grant 200 permits through the lottery for the upcoming season, which runs from February 5-7. Director of the West Virginia DNR Stephen McDaniel said, "We are so excited to be offering this lottery to resident hunters because there are limited places in West Virginia where you can hunt wild boar. Most of the wild boar range in West Virginia lies within the confines of private land, so this lottery could end up being the opportunity of a lifetime for a few lucky boar hunters." 
In wild boar seasons before 2021, resident hunters could only participate if they had a certain hunting license class or were exempt from buying hunting licenses. Hunters were also able to buy conservation stamps and resident big game stamps to participate in the hunt. No matter where your hunt takes you in the new year, HLRBO is there for you. Search our nationwide database of hunting leases or if you’re a landowner, list your land with HLBRO today!