Doubling Hunting & Fishing Fee

[Ralph]

I heard the other day, it is in the legislature that they want to raise fees to at least double what they are now. Combo Deer licenses will be $70.00 and fishing licenses $40.00. Did I hear right?

[bullseye]

The other day my aunt told me she heard something about fees and stuff going up next year too....I didnt think it would be doubled. You would think that with that proposal being passed that they wouldnt need to raise fees since the money cant be used on other things

[Johnbear]

~S~

This is what is on the dnr site. Click on this link to view the details of the report. shows the are recomending the price doubling. Linkt is at bottom




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Hunting and Fishing License Package Development Work Group

In January 2006, I appointed a Hunting and Fishing License Package Development Work Group. This work group was chaired by Natural Resources Commissioner Frank Wheatlake, chairman of the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) Policy Committee on Finance and Administration, and was comprised of representatives from conservation groups throughout the state. The group was charged with developing revisions to the current hunting and fishing license fee structure, which would address the projected deficits in the Game and Fish Protection Fund and continue the state's work in conservation efforts. The work group met ten times over the course of the year and finalized its recommendations this fall.
The work group presented its recommendations to the NRC on November 9, 2006. The NRC accepted and approved the report, click here to view the report
. Some of the highlights of the report are:

The last hunting and fishing license fee package was approved in 1996.
If nothing changes, the Game and Fish Protection Fund will have a projected deficit of $9 million to $11 million by Fiscal Year 2007-2008, due to decreasing license sales and inflationary impacts.
Hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing contribute over $3 billion annually to Michigan's economy.
Cuts in conservation programs not only threaten our fish, wildlife and public land resources, they also threaten Michigan's economy.
Recommended fee increases will accommodate inflationary impacts and make Michigan's fees commensurate with surrounding states.
The Department of Natural Resources should seek legislative authority to discount license fees.
Senior discounts would be decreased from 60 percent to 20 percent to reflect the 2002 elimination of the General Fund subsidy and to be more in line with senior discounts in the private sector.
The NRC and work group will be working diligently to garner support for this license package as it progresses through the legislative process. Approval of the fee increase will begin to provide the financial support needed to continue the conservation, protection, management, use, and enjoyment of the state's natural resources. Please feel free to contact Teresa Gloden, Assistant to the NRC, at 517-373-2352, if you have any questions.
Thank you for your interest in Michigan's natural resources.

Sincerely,

Keith J. Charters
Chair
Natural Resources Commission


www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/final_report_177934_7.pdf

[thunderhead]

If you go to the DNR website you can print out the entire 31 page proposal.

[leadsquirter]

>If nothing changes, the Game and Fish Protection Fund will have a projected deficit of $9 million to $11 million by Fiscal Year 2007-2008, due to decreasing license sales and inflationary impacts. <

Well the above quote pretty much sums it up. >due to decreasing license sales<

Now how is doubling the fees going to help increase license sales? Have you noticed the rather hefty increases in price for ammo and bullets for reloading latley? I'm sure a lot of that has to due with the prices for heavy metals and shipping costs. But it all factors into the decline of hunting license sales.

We've kept all the entry fees for club shooting events at the same level for the coming year and our renewal fee remains the same. Which in my opionion is a bargin. Do some web surfing on gun clubs and you'll find we are one of the most reasonable out there. We're trying to help!

[rshaneck2002]

i was told that by dnr that because of the last election on nov 7th i believe,that when the proposal passed to take the dnr out of the states general fund it has to stand alone thank you jennifer and this is the reason for license increases,same old story grab more than you need for the future. all they will do is lower license sales across the board,thats a pretty steep increase for someone who is a resident of MI, how about slamming the out of staters like they do out west to shoot our whitetails,or canada with a rifle charge.i am moving when i retire to the south this keeps up and only the rich will be hunting legally anyway

[paul 'jake' jakubiak]

All the above is true. The proposal to allow fees generated by the DNR didn't spell out that the DNR would lose general funding. So those of us thinking we were doing a good thing in fact got hoodwinked.... again! You can buy this years license now as we speak for last years prices.... BUT only until the bill becomes official. So shop early. This includes hunting licenses.

[Johnbear]

~S~

I was talking to a guy when i was going in to buy my turkey tags and the dealer told me that the increase is only going to be 1 dollar a year for 5 years. I dont know if this is true or not but he said the new price goes into effect march 31st. So if the linces dealer know this much i would be hoping this is true. douobling the prise is insane. They are going to force some people to hunt less or not at all. Right now in just turkey and deer between my son and i I would be looking at 150 dollars fo 1 turkey and 2 deer each. that does not include the hike in fishing the fall turkey and bird and small game. These would become just to expencive for some people to be able to enjoy hunting year round. Not to mention camping and rec parks accross the state.

[Johnbear]

~S~



I called the dnr yesterday to get a str8 answer on what the prices were going to be. I asked them about it doubling and a dollar a year for 5 years. She told me that as far as any increase at the moment that is all rumors. She said they did do the study and they did recomend the increase but that in order for that to happen the must get support from the sen. She told me so far only a couple senators supported a raise that high. At this time there is NO INCREASE PLANNED and that it has to pass in the house before any increase happens.

I think now the the money raised is taking out of the gen fund a raise that high would not be needed.

[thunderhead]

MUCC is sponsoring a series of meetings on the fee increases throughout the State there is one scheduled to be at the Kalamazoo Nature Center on March 20th at 7:00 pm if anyone is interested. I am planning on being there.