Tribal lands closed to wolf hunting, trapping

When Minnesota's first regulated wolf hunt opens Saturday, not all lands in the state will be open.

Chippewa tribal lands are closed to wolf hunting and trapping, as is Voyageurs National Park. Affected Chippewa reservations include the Red Lake, White Earth, Bois Forte, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Fond du Lac and Mille Lacs reservations.

Most Minnesota Chippewa reservation boundaries encompass tribal, public and private lands. Tribal lands are not considered public the way state and county forest lands are considered public. They are subject to tribal regulation.
The DNR says anyone hunting wolves within a reservation boundary will need to ensure they are on public or private land open to hunting. Not all tribal lands are posted. The best source for information is county plat maps, generally available at county courthouses.
"The bands have the authority to control or ban wolf hunting on the land they own or is in federal trust status," said Jim Konrad, DNR Enforcement chief. "The Chippewa will be enforcing the wolf hunting ban on their tribal lands."
For more information on the wolf and deer hunting seasons, visit www.mndnr.gov/hunting/wolf