Wisconsin Hunter Claims Self Defense in Wolf Shooting

A Wisconsin waterfowl hunter says he shot a protected grey wolf in self defense. (Photo by ambquinn)

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) is investigating an incident in which a 19-year-old waterfowl hunter shot and killed a gray wolf while hunting with two children on public land in St. Germain.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, two wolves approached Chase Melton and his two companions, ages 14 and 13, on the morning of Saturday, September 21, 2024.

Melton said in an interview with WJFW that he initially tried to scare off the wolves.

“I tried making some noise, I was clapping, stomping, breaking some sticks, whatever," Melton said.

But the wolves were undeterred and one of them got as close as 5 yards, he said.

"I probably could have touched it with my hand, that was extremely scary," Melton said. "So now, we’re really panicking. We're like alright, we're surrounded and we have a wolf charging us right now.”

Melton said when one of the wolves continued to approach as close as 8 to 10 yards away, he shot it in the head.

The wolf died nearby, and Melton called the DNR to report the incident.

According to Randy Johnson, DNR large carnivore specialist, the investigation of the incident remains open so he is unable to provide many details.

He said a DNR conservation warden and wildlife biologist investigated the scene and confirmed the animal shot was indeed a wolf.

In Wisconsin, the gray wolf is protected under the Endangered Species Act, therefore lethal force can only be used against a wolf in defense of human life.

To determine if the shooting was justified, investigators will conduct interviews with the hunters and others in the area.

According to the DNR, no wolf attack on a human has been documented in Wisconsin in the modern era, however, wolves have caused reports of threats to human safety in the state.

In 2017, a man fired a handgun and reportedly hit a wolf that approached him on public land in Adams County, but the incident did not qualify as a wolf attack, the DNR concluded.

The wolf was never located and the man was not cited.

In December 2023, an Ashland County man shot and killed a wolf in his yard. The man reportedly claimed the wolf threatened his safety. The investigation into this incident continues.

According to the DNR, there have been two verified complaints of wolf threats to human safety in Wisconsin this year. No wolf was shot in either instance.

Livestock depredation is the most common form of wolf conflict reported in Wisconsin. There have been 73 confirmed or probable wolf depredations recorded in the state this year, most on livestock. Wolves have killed other domesticated animals, such as bear hounds and family pets.

This year’s wolf depredations numbers have already surpassed the annual totals in 2023 (69 confirmed or probable) and 2022 (49).

Johnson explained that wolf depredations have increased this year for a number of reasons, including a mild winter in 2023-24 that made it tougher for wolves to catch white-tailed deer, which is their primary prey. Wolves that are in poorer condition in spring and summer are more likely to attempt to kill livestock.

In April 2023, Wisconsin had 1,007 wolves in 283 packs, according to the most recent population estimate from the DNR.