State board says no dog rules for wolf hunt

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The state Natural Resources Board has refused to give state wildlife officials permission to draft emergency restrictions on training dogs on wolves.

The board voted 6-1 in Eau Claire Wednesday to deny the Department of Natural Resources' request to begin work.

The move comes after a coalition of humane societies filed a lawsuit alleging the DNR's current wolf hunt rules don't include any restrictions on dogs. The coalition says that lack of regulation will lead to deadly wolf-dog encounters. A judge issued a temporary injunction in August barring dogs in the hunt while he weighs the lawsuit.

The DNR hoped to convince the judge to lift the injunction by adopting emergency restrictions on training.

The wolf hunt is set to open on Oct. 15 and run through February.