EAU CLAIRE, 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, setting the stage for wolf-dog fights.
A judge in August barred using dogs while he weighs the case. The DNR hoped adopting emergency dog restrictions would convince him to lift the prohibition in time for this fall's wolf season.
The board did give the agency permission to draft permanent rules that include training restrictions, but those regulations wouldn't go into effect until next year.
The wolf hunt is set to open on Oct. 15 and run through February.
