Wisconsin DNR to ask Supreme Court to review night deer ruling

MADISON, Wis. - Attorneys for the state Department of Natural Resources are planning to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review a federal appellate decision ordering a judge to revisit a decades-old ruling barring Wisconsin's Chippewa tribes from hunting deer at night.

U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled in 1991 that night deer hunting is dangerous and the state's ban on the practice extends to the Chippewa as well. The tribes renewed their push for night hunting in 2012 after legislators angered them by allowing hunters to kill wolves at night.

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in October ordered Crabb to revisit her decision, saying there's little reason to believe any longer that night hunting is dangerous.

Attorneys representing the DNR planned to file their request with the Supreme Court on Wednesday.