Minnesota hunters have killed at least 110 wolves in the first eight days of the state's highly controversial wolf hunt, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The statewide quota for the early hunting season is 200 wolves, which runs through Nov. 18 or until hunters reach the limit.

The Game and Fish bill signed into law Thursday allows Minnesotans to legally hunt and trap wolves for the first time in nearly four decades. The legislation gives the DNR authority to set harvest limits and conduct a hunter lottery. About 3,000 wolves live in Minnesota right now and the agency plans to reduce the population by about 400 this fall. The gray wolf was removed from the Federal Endangered Species List in January.

Without comment, the Minnesota Supreme Court on Friday rejected an effort by two groups – Center for Biological Diversity and Howling for Wolves – to block the state's wolf hunting season, which begins Nov. 3, the Associated Press reports. The state plans to let hunters and trappers kill 400 wolves out of an estimated population of about 3,000.

Minnesota's first – and highly controversial – wolf hunting season began Saturday morning, and already 50 wolves had been killed as of Sunday night, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. The state has set a quota of 400 wolves.

Hunters in Wisconsin reported killing four wolves in the first 24 hours of the state's wolf hunt. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has set a statewide overall quota of 201 wolves. On Monday, two groups filed a 60-day notice of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the delisting of Great Lakes wolves.

Two groups against the upcoming wolf hunt in Minnesota, Duluth-based Northwoods Wolf Alliance and Twin Cities-based Howling for Wolves, organized an event dubbed the "Wolf Walk" in Duluth on Saturday, the WDIO reports. Minnesota's first wolf hunt in nearly 40 years is set to begin on Nov. 3rd.

Wisconsin's first hunting season since the gray wolf came off the endangered species list begins Monday. Hunters and trappers will be allowed to take 201 wolves by the end of February, although nearly half of those are set aside for tribal members. Unlike their Minnesota counterparts (whose season begins Nov. 3rd), Wisconsinites will be able to hunt at night and use dogs.

The Minnesota Court of Appeals will not block Minnesota's wolf hunt scheduled for Nov. 3. The three-judge panel said The Center for Biological Diversity and Howling for Wolves failed to show that the season would cause irreparable harm. About 6,000 hunters will receive permits for the first ever organized wolf hunt in the state. Experts say wolves are much smarter than deer or ducks and it's unlikely Minnesota will reach their target harvest of 400 wolves.