UPDATED: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 --- 10:00 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A fourth wolf-hunting zone is closing in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says hunting and trapping of wolves in Zone 5 covering parts of central Wisconsin will be closing at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

With that closing, only Zone 3 and Zone 6 remain open to wolf hunting.

The DNR says it expects Zone 6 to close soon as it is one wolf away from meeting its quota. The DNR encourages hunters to check daily for updates.

The quota in Zone 5 was 23 wolves. The 23rd wolf was harvested on Monday, which triggered the closing process.

The goal was to harvest 116 wolves during the state's inaugural hunt this year which began Oct. 15 and will close Feb. 28 or when harvest goals are reached.

Copyright 2012: Associated Press
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UPDATED Sunday, December 2, 2012 --- 1:31 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Wisconsin is closing a third wolf harvest zone.

The Department of Natural Resources says Zone in far northwestern Wisconsin will close to hunting and trapping of wolves effective 5 pm, Sunday. The zone's quota of 32 wolves was reached Saturday. Zones 3, 5, and 6 remain open but the DNR expects zones 5 and 6 to close soon because both are within two wolves of their harvest quotas.

The DNR says wolf hunters and trappers should check daily for additional closures.

Kurt Thiede, DNR Lands Division administrator, notes that the state's ultimate goal is to reduce the wolf population by 116 animals, distributed across the landscape. He says wildlife managers are learning much about hunter and trapper success rates in this inaugural season that will help in drafting permanent rules.

Copyright 2012: Associated Press

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UPDATED: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 --- 7:55 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- It looks like Wisconsin's wolf hunting season is winding down fast.

Department of Natural Resources officials say hunters had reported killing 90 wolves as of Tuesday afternoon. According to DNR data, hunters trapped 55 of the animals.

The agency plans to end the season when hunters have taken 116 wolves or on the last day of February, whichever comes first.

The DNR already has closed two wolf hunting zones in far northeastern Wisconsin because hunters have nearly reached the zones' quotas.

Copyright 2012: Associated Press

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UPDATED Thursday, November 15, 2012 --- 4:18 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Wisconsin is closing the wolf hunt season in two zones in the northeastern part of the state after quotes have been reached.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said Thursday it was closing the zones Friday when hunting and trapping hours end.

The quota for Zone 2, which encompasses the far northeastern corner of the state, was set at 20 wolves and the decision to close it came after 18 were killed.

The quota for Zone 4, which is just to the south of Zone 2, was just five wolves and four have been reported killed.

All of the four other zones remain open.

The hunt began on Oct. 15. It's set to run until hunters kill 116 wolves or until the last day of February, whichever comes first.

Copyright 2012: Associated Press

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UPDATED: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 --- 10:05 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Hunters have reported killing four wolves over the opening 24 hours of Wisconsin's first organized wolf hunt.

According to the state Department of Natural Resources, hunters reported taking one wolf in the far northwestern management zone, one wolf in the far northeastern zone, one wolf in the mid-northwestern zone and one wolf in the central zone. Hunters haven't reported killing any wolves in the mid-northeastern zone or the southern zone.

The hunt opened Monday and is scheduled to run through February, although it could end sooner in management zones where hunters meet zone-specific kill quotas.

The DNR has set the overall statewide quota at 116 wolves.

Copyright 2012: Associated Press
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Posted Wednesday, October 10, 2012 --- 1:04 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Hunters in Wisconsin and Minnesota are gearing up to take on the ultimate predator in the states' first organized wolf-hunting seasons.

Wisconsin's season begins Oct. 15 and runs through the end of February. Minnesota's season opens Nov. 3.

The states established wolf seasons earlier this year after President Barack Obama's administration removed Great Lakes wolves from the endangered species list. Animal advocates complain the wolf populations aren't strong enough to support a hunt, but farmers in both states have long complained about wolves attacking livestock.

Hunters will have their work cut out for them. Montana hunting guide Bud Martin says wolves are the most elusive animal he's ever hunted. He says most hunters will come back with nothing.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.