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Steve Porter of Hunters for Hunters welcomed a crowd of around 100 people to the Babbitt Municipal Center on Feb. 22.
He explained the organization started about a year and a half ago. The first meeting in Squaw Lake had 400 people in attendance along with six elected officials.
Porter said the audience was largely made up of deer hunters whohadspenttheseasoninthe woods without seeing any deer.
“Minnesota is in a crisis with an epic failure of wolf management,” said Porter. The volunteer organization did 20 meetings last year across the state.
“We have never had one DNR official show up at a meeting and we invite them all the time,” said Porter who asked if there was one at the Babbitt meeting. No one raised a hand.
The board is made up of Republicans and Democrats, Porter said the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association has not participated in Hunters for Hunters.
There were several stories of people not seeing a deer during hunting season and being frustrated with their hunting experiences.
Hunters for Hunters board member Tammy Tisland, also a realtor, hammered that point home.
“What makes me sad is the thought that you all may have to one day say goodbye to that hunting family hunting property that you have had for decades in your family because you can no longer show your grandchildren a deer, and they have to listen to stories that you told about deer hunting. So I’m here to protect that legacy. I am here to stand up for you as well,” said Tisland.
Other board members of Hunters for Hunters were also on hand and described their reasons for volunteering with the organization.
Board president Dillan Porter said he helped start the organization “becauseIwantedto see a change in the way things are being managed in the state of Minnesota. The wolf issue is a huge issue, but there are a number of issues that need to be changed to make hunting grade again in the state.
Successes of the young organization include holding 20 meetings across the northern part of the state with up to 700 people attending one of the largest meetings. And, the group also participated in a Congressional hearing put on by Rep. Pete Stauber on the wolf issue.
Missing from that federal hearing held in Minnesota was DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen who said she had a scheduling conflict. The group later found out Strommen was meeting with Ron Schara.
StevePortersaidtheDNRblames the federal government for the wolf not being delisted. He said they pushed the agency to say the state is ready for the delisting and said the DNR is “deceitful and they don’t want wolves delisted.”
A federal bill known as the Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025 is being considered this year and may finally be passed. Steve Porter said the bill includes language that says “reissuance of the final rule under this section shall not be subject to judicial review. What does that mean? It means that a court can’t overturn it.”
He said this language is similar to a law passed previously involving the delisting of wolves in the western United States.
If the federal legislation is passed the state already has a wolf management plan in place. However, the plan doesn’t kick in until the DNR thinks the state wolf population exceeds 3,000. The DNR currently says there are 2,700 wolves in the state.
Bill Porter said the state plan is really a wolf protection plan and that Gov. Tim Walz (D) has said there will never be a wolf season under his watch.
Hunters for Hunters believes the plan will not work and that board members were disappointed when the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association endorsed the state plan.
Minnesota’s plan said the DNR may have a season whereas over in Wisconsin the statute says when they’re delisted, they must have a season.
Bill Porter said there is also a major problem of livestock producers losing calves every year and fewer than five percent being paid for by the government.
“Shame, shame, shame. Livestock producers and pet owners need to be protected and they’re not being protected,” said Porter.
He also told a story of a child who had a service dog. The family let the dog outside to go to the bathroom and it was disemboweled by wolves.
Bill Porter advised attendees to know the laws regarding nuisance wolves and whether a wolf can be shot legally or not.
“We were happy to come to Babbitt. As far as I’m concerned, Babbitt, Minnesota is the epicenter of wolf problems, you guys. I think it is, okay? So we’re happy to come here.
“I’m sure you guys all have horror stories, and that’s why we picked about. We wanted to come here and try to give you guys some spotlight and connection with your elected officials. The importance of building relationships with elected officials, okay?"
Bill Porter also told a story about a phone call he received and he wasn’t sure who it was.
"Who is this guy? And finally, the light bulb went off, it was Ted Nugent. It called me at eight in the morning to congratulate us on the work door.
“Ted Nugent was in the White House last week having closed our meetings with Donald Trump. I text him on a regular basis. We talked on the phone,” said Porter.
Porter said Hunters for Hunters needs support from people to keep working on problems involving wolves and deer.
“We need your membership, we need your 35 bucks, we need your support, and we need your tips, call us, we need your complaints, we need your messages, your photos, we need everything, okay?” said Porter.
Next week: Elected officials at the Hunters for Hunters meeting in Babbitt.
