Wisconsin hunters killed four wolves Monday during the opening day of the state's wolf hunting season.
Hunters shot the wolves across a wide area of north central and northwest Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The hunters were likely specifically targeting wolves, according to DNR spokesman Kurt Thiede, since the firearm deer season hasn't opened yet.
"It appears we've had a successful first day and it was safe, so that's the main things we always look for," he said.
More than 2,000 hunters applied for the 1,160 wolf licenses available. So far just over half of those have been purchased. The Wisconsin season runs through the end of February.
Minnesota's wolf hunting season is scheduled to open Nov. 3. Both seasons became possible after the federal goverment removed wolves from the endangered species list in January. There are court challenges to the wolf hunts in both states.