MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - More than 23,000 people have applied for permits to hunt wolves this fall when Minnesota opens its first season since the gray wolf came off the endangered species list.

Almost all the applicants were from Minnesota, but state officials say they got paperwork from 33 states. North Dakota led in non-resident applications.

Department of Natural Resources spokesman Chris Niskanen says a computer lottery will award 6,000 licenses by the middle of next month. The statewide hunt has a quota of 400 wolves, and after it's reached the hunt is ended.

Minnesota's early wolf hunt starts Nov. 3 to coincide with the deer firearms season.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved)

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