Minnesota Hunters Register 45 Wolves Since Saturday

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota hunters have killed at least 45 wolves since Saturday when the state opened its state's second wolf season since the animals came off the endangered list.

The Department of Natural Resources says hunters registered 30 wolves in the northwest zone and 15 wolves in the northeast zone as of Monday morning.

Much of the northeast zone is forest and is considered prime wolf country. The harvest target there is 33 wolves for the early season, which runs concurrently with the firearms deer season. The northwest zone is more agricultural. The target there is higher at 73 wolves. The DNR will close each zone separately if a target is reached or nearly met.

The DNR has set a total target for the state's two-part season at 220 wolves.