Recent wolf hunting and trapping in the Great Lakes region of the United States

Abstract Following temporary delisting from the Federal Endangered Species Act, members of the public legally hunted and trapped gray wolves ( Canis lupus ) in the Great Lakes region of the United States during 2012–2014 and 2021. We used wolf harvest (i.e., killing wolves by public hunting and trapping) data to analyze outcomes of these seasons across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, USA, to evaluate demographic, spatial, and temporal patterns of wolf hunting and trapping, method efficiency, and potential relationships to livestock depredations. Despite variability in season duration and methods allowed among states, hunters and trappers mostly met or narrowly exceeded harvest targets, and wolf harvest did not appear to impact long‐term abundance of wolf populations. About 76% of harvested females that had their breeding status assessed were non‐reproductive in the previous parturition period, and we observed no sex bias. Trapping methods were generally more effective than hunting methods. However, high effectiveness of hunting with dogs led to higher harvest rates, contributing to strong target exceedance in the 2021 Wisconsin season. Conversely, the 2013 Michigan season allowed hunting only (no trapping) and was the only season not to meet its target. Wolf hunting and trapping were greater on weekends and in areas with greater natural cover. Hunting and trapping locations were not closer to livestock depredations than expected by chance, which suggests a spatial distribution of harvest that may not contribute to a reduction in livestock depredations. Indeed, there were no consistent negative relationships between hunting and trapping seasons and livestock depredations the following year. Our results demonstrate that harvest targets, harvest methods, and reporting requirements influenced season outcomes, underscoring the importance of understanding the effects of regulations to achieve wolf management goals.