MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Hunters killed seven grey wolves in the first four days of Wisconsin’s inaugural wolf season.

The DNR said all of the animals were taken in the northern third of Wisconsin, in Iron, Vilas, Oneida, Rusk, Taylor, Lincoln, and Eau Claire counties.

Five of the wolves were shot, and trappers took the other two.

The season began Monday. And it will continue until the end of February, or until the quotas are reached, or until the courts halt the season – whichever comes first.

A Dane County judge has ordered a temporary ban on the use of hunting dogs until a court hearing December 20th. And two national groups say they plan to file suit to put the Upper Midwest wolves back under federal protections.

Until then, 116 grey wolves are open to hunting in Wisconsin. 1,160 people won a lottery to get wolf permits – and as of Thursday, 669 of them bought hunting and trapping licenses.

Some permit-holders say they’ll wait until it snows, so they can see where the wolves leave their tracks.