MARQUETTE, MI (AP)-- Michigan's recent frigid weather has slowed down the state's first wolf hunt in decades, and a state official says he doubts that the hunt will reach its quota of 43.
The season opened in three sections of the Upper Peninsula on November 15, and 20 wolves had been killed by 6 a.m. Thursday. There have been no reported kills in recent days.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources biologist Brian Roell in Marquette says he doubts hunters will reach 43 kills by the December 31 deadline.
Eleven of the wolves killed were females. Upper Peninsula residents shot 13 of them, Lower Peninsula residents shot six and a Wisconsin resident shot one.
Before the season, the DNR estimated Michigan had 658 wolves.