Rob takes aim, copy; Jenni Jones
This Lansing State Journal editorial agrees with a Michigan Department of Natural Resources advisory panel recommendation (panel report - pdf) to increase the cost of hunting, fishing and trapping licenses. The LSJ says that the ultimate decision rests with the Legislature and that in the face of looming deficits:
Cosmetic fixes are unlikely to work this time. The advisory committee recommended doubling the cost of a hunting license, from $15 to $30. Out-of-state and senior citizen licenses also would cost more; other DNR-related fees also could increase.
User fees now cover about 76 percent of the DNR's annual budget, but the system needs adjusting. Michigan has lower fees than many other states while offering longer seasons, more state-owned land and more waterways.
Read DNR fees: Raising license costs would protect Michigan's valuable resources in the Lansing State Journal and then tell us what you think in the comments.
86 Comments
i find it very hard to swallow. the debt of the state should be absorbed by everyone not just sportsmen. to me it would make more sense to put a 20% tax on toilet paper. at least everyone in the state would have to pay. in a way it seems like the dnr is hoping that more people will poach deer so they can write more tickets. a small increase wouldnt be bad, but to go that far is just obsured. there hopes of getting more money in my belief with lower the number of hunters.
I agree that it's a bad idea to put all the burden for the DNR on sportsmen/women. What would you say if the increases included user fees for state campgrounds and the like?
Ok i could see a small incress, but doubling??? Come on. With the way the Michigan economy is, I feel that there will be a Poaching increase.
As I understand it, the panel was looking at what the DNR needs to cover expenses. The money has to come from somewhere and it seems like there's not too many untapped sources in the budget.
I'm not advocating for this increase, but it seems that if our parks and wildlife management are important, we need to figure out a way to pay for it.
I am amazed that this proposal will increase the money going to the DNR. All of the people that I talk to say they will only buy an over the couter doe tag and if they get a buck they will go buy the tag at that time. I also feel that we are really hurting the young hunters. now you have a law bidding hunter who has 2 kids it will cost him $135 dollars just for deer tags. I also know alot of people like myself that utilize our deer for meat. For the last few years venison is all the meat that I have in the Freezer. example 5 does a year fills a freezer pretty good. but at $30 a tag I might as well buy beef, and that's not including processing fees. I guess one good thing is there will be less people on state land hunting, since they are the ones that can't afford to hunt on private land and nobody is going to buy a buck tag unless they need to...
I HAVE HUNTED SENCE I WAS 14 AND HAVE ENJOYED THE OUTDOORS. I HAVE RAISED MY CHILDERN 3 BOYS TO HUNT. IT'S A GREAT TIME WE HAVE TOGETHER. IF THE HUNTING FEES GO UP TO THE AMOUNT THE DNR WANTS, I AND MY BOYS WILL NOT HUNT ANY MORE. WE REFUSE TO PAY ANY MORE MONEY, WHEN WE ALREADY THINK IT'S TOO MUCH. THAT INCLUDES FISHING ALSO. I KNOW ALOT OF PEOPLE AND WE ALL TALK ABOUT OUR HUNTS
WE HAVE AND ENJOY THE STORIES. EVERYONE I'VE TALKED TO HAVE THE SAME OPINION.
IF IT COMES TO HIGHER PRICES FOR A HUNTING LICENSES WE WILL LOOK FOR SOMETHING ELSE TO DO. AND BY BEEF. I LOVE THE SPORT AND BEING OUT THERE BUT I CAN ALSO
JUST GO FOR A WALK IN THE WOODS, OR WILL THEY TAX US FOR THAT. RAISING THE PRICE MAYBE, BUT THINK OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WILL QUIT HUNTING BECAUSE OF IT.
CAN'T RAISE REVENUE THAT WAY. OR IS THAT THE PLAN IN MIND?
Hi everyone. Nice to find a site where sportsmen can comment on something that is going to drastically effect them. Try making a post like this on the DNR site, won't happen. You see the DNR could care less what we the hunters and fishers think, they are far too busy with their own problems. I have yet to find a newspaper who is not biased in favor of the DNR! I have called my state representative several times, he is a hunter himself and has requested that the DNR hold public hearings..... Now that is an idea consult the public, don't just hold up graphs on inflation in relation to the cost of licensing! I encourage all who read this to contact their representatives, let them know you are outraged, let them know that the DNR's funding problems should not be the sole burden of the license purchaser! Make sure that your voice is heard before it is too late!
We're happy to offer this forum. Michigan is facing some tough choices and I think that all of us need to start telling our representatives how we'd like to see them made. It's surprising how much impact you can have if you talk to them.
Just one more reason for a family to find jobs in another state. There are a lot of unemployed hunters that still use hunting and fishing to feed their families. For me it would be the last straw.
In addition it would make cheaters out of honest people.
Here's an excerpt from Brian Town's column from the LSJ Big fee boost will hurt Michigan:
I have lived and hunted in the UP all of my life. I have seen the license fees increase over the last 20 years and also have seen the deer population decline, both in quality and quantity. If the DNR doubles the license fees, I will quit buying licenses. Last year I already reduced the number of licenses I bought. I think there will be more poaching as a result of the fee hike. I will start hunting deer with a camera, I suppose. I think what should be done for 2007 is that everyone should not buy a license period. This will show the State that we still own the resources of the State.
I TOOK OFF THE FIRST WEEK OF HUNTING SEASON TO HUNT WITH MY 14 YEAR OLD SON DANNY ON HIS FIRST YEAR HUNTING WHITETAIL AND DID NOT EVEN SEE A DEER NOW THATS PRETTY SAD BEIN THE DNR SAY THE DEER POPULATION IS UP THERE IS NO WAY I WILL BUY A HUNTING LICENSE NEXT YEAR IF THEY UP IN PRICE I COULD HARDLY AFFORD TO HUNT THIS YEAR
I buy multiple fishing and hunting licenses every year too. Yes! It is a huge sticker shock. However, we are buying more than just the right to hunt or fish. We are helping the DNR protect and manage the natural resources in this state. The DNR really got started after years of misuse of the natural resouces. At one time, our forests were cut and many of our species were at their lowest levels in history. Through the 50's and 60's, many of our states water systems were dead.
Now we enjoy millions of acres of public land and thriving wildlife populations.
I don't mind paying extra knowing that my kids might be able to see the same sites I did growing up.
I do agree that us hunters and anglers should not have to pay for the protection of our natural resources which all citizens enjoy and use. We should all have to pay for this through a sales tax or something.
We should protesting the price of gas, movies, food, houses, cars, etc. Those companies provide off us and pay a few people millions of dollars. At least it is nice to know that the few bucks we spend on hunting and fishing licenses go towards something useful.
I'v been hunting in michigan since a was 15 years old.I think when you reach the age of retirement you look forwards to a few benefits after paying your dews all those years.Now the state wants to take that away I don't mind paying a little more but the increase they are talking about is way out of hand.I buy five to six licenses every year. If that goes through i won't be buying that many licenses again.They will lose hunters and the money they think need.Why not put a user fee on all state land.Raise the fee for boat and atv, snowmobiles.Theres more ways than just making the hunters carry the load.If you look at the ones they want to raise the highest is the most popular.
Here's the facts folks. When an entire season's hunting or fishing license costs less than one day's worth of golf, a ticket to a major sports event or concert, or a monthly cable TV bill, not to mention less than the yearly cost of deer bait (sorry all you deer slayers out there deer "feed", you will be getting what you pay for, which isn't much. You can't do wildlife or fisheries management (or any work of any kind) without money, and for way too long that's the budget state the DNR has been in. You may not like the DNR, and I have some serious issues with them as well, but it is OUR Natural Resources Department. The citizens of this state created to protect our natural resources, including game and fish, and we need to support it. Doubling license fees should only be a start, everyone in the state should pay toward natural resource protection via a constitutionally dedicated portion of the state sales tax (the state of Missouri's conservation department recieves substanstial funding through a 1/8 of 1% sales tax dedication). I lived in Michigan until I was 27 and have lived in Minnesota since. Good hunting and fishing here, but I still love to get home and hunt Drummond Island and my families land in the Thumb. The out of state license fees are steep, but they help pay to manage the resources I love. If all you want to do it take and not give back to the resource, good riddance to you and your license dollars. Most Michiganders really value their outdoor experience and want to protect thier resources, and it is up to us (even the ex-patriots like me) to help pay for them.
forget raising... common, i cant aford fricken paying like $30 for an lisences i just got my second and i still am paying that off. and i got ammo scent killer all that stuff i dont want to have to be adding in more money on some gay licences, thats bull! WE ALREADY PAY ENOUGH!!
If they raise fishing license more than $1 I'll quit buying fishing license, quit fishing, and DNR will lose hidden taxes in tackle and fishing gear. I've been fishing 3 / 4 times a week for past 40yrs.
If they up the prices on tags then the DNR are going to make their income on poaching.
I feel that if the DNR wants to get more new hunters, young hunters involved they should NOT raise the costs or they should come up w/a fee for families!!!! I know severl families ie: Father w/two sons, etc. Who wont be able to afford to let his sons get involved in hunting if the costs go up. It simply is not right to charge an arm & a leg to hunt!!
I have been hunting for two years know I still have not got my first deer. So I hope it makes you fell all fuzzy inside DNR, because if you raise the prices I quit hunting, all I can do is fish. because its free for me!!!!!!!!
I think that this is stupid that they have to charge us double for are licenses.
My dad has me and my little brother and he will have to pay $135 dollars just to hunt I think that is outratougos.
Regarding LICENSE FEE INCREASE proposed by DNR:
My thought is that the proposed license fee increases are simply too much too soon.
Michigan is already economically depressed and in crisis.
This action is sure too force many people on the "fringe" out of hunting and fishing.
It may even create a poacher or two.
What I don’t get is how a “BLUE RIBBON” committee (I assume of our best and brightest hunting and fishing community) can meet as long as they did and their only suggestion is to raise license fees?
They probably would have been better off picking sportsman at random and asking for idea’s.
Come on, there are plenty of opportunities out there to make $$$ without a severe increase in user fees and kill our hunting and fishing in the process.
My wife was going to go rifle & bow Deer hunting for the first time next year.
I can’t begin to tell you how excited she was until this increase came up.
But now that it would cost an extra $75.00 or so she says forget it!!!
Her thought is to take the money from our licenses and buy a meat bundle!!!
Of course I don't hunt simply for the "$$$ VALUE" of the meat I take.
If I hunted and fished strictly on the basis of monetary gain I would quit tomorrow.
However, there is a point where you can only take so much.
Every time I turn around some government agency has a hand out for an extra $100 they deem a “nominal fee” for whatever “privilege” I am allowed to pursue.
I like many “Michiganian’s” haven’t had a pay increase in many years due too slow economic conditions and so it will be hard to pay extra without giving something up.
I hunt on my own property.
The DNR has done nothing to support it that I can see!
I have planted trees, food plots, trapped and shot vermin and so on to improve wildlife habitat.
Therefore, WHY SHOULD I have to PAY anything to hunt it?
Every year I buy my stamps, licenses and read my rules to go hunting.
Every year I deer and small game hunt my own property.
And every year I place the money on the counter I have too ask myself why!!!
Beyond calculating a few Deer numbers, judging yearly harvest or herd health and giving us the much needed wolves in the UP/LP-> What has the DNR done for the wildlife on my land?
Even the fishing is becoming poor on our lakes and streams (Houghton LAKE is a BUST).
I wouldn’t mind an increase if I saw some return on my $$$ and simply not the status quo or additional competition in the form of wolves that I think few people want to see re-introduced.
If the DNR wants rate hikes they should be tied to improvements in services and opportunities.
Since the DNR claims that license sales are down (–22%) over the past (10) years or so I offer the following observations and comments.
The DNR has proved to be largely an unnecessary bureaucracy.
I think a lot of sportsman are still wondering what happened with the DOVE season?
Why did this ever get put to a statewide vote?
Why should we support a DNR so weak they can’t get their recommendations thru on our behalf?
Let’s get a strong leader in the DNR who will be “OUT FRONT” on the issues.
Someone who will not play politics that lead to putting HUNTING & FISHING issues up to a state wide vote where they are sure to fail over time as fewer people hunt and fish.
We need and deserve a true representative and advocate of sportsmen and women in this state and not another organization or boards “YES SIR or Me Too” mentality.
The DNR’s only purpose seems to be to hassle sportsmen and women by handing out tickets. Conservation Officer (CO’s) often issue tickets for minor infractions when a warning would suffice.
In the last (5) years I have noticed a marked increase in CO presence in the field and a marked decrease in their demeanor.
The spirit of the law has been replaced by the letter of the law in CO thinking & this should stop.
People who hunt and fish often simply misunderstand the rules.
Let’s face it some of the rules are more than a bit confusing.
We all have ethical dilemmas when in the field and look to the CO for help at times.
I know of an instance where a man was issued a ticket for shinning simply for backing up out of a field at night!!!
Therefore, I am sure that the DNR themselves have driven many folks out of hunting and fishing.
Let’s roll the CO’s into the State Police.
Let’s give them some discretionary perspective when handing out tickets.
That should save a few $$$ and improve public relations.
Let’s assign special task forces to take care of “REAL POACHERS” and avoid the DNR’s aim to make anyone who violates a minor game law for any reason a “POACHER”.
Who out there hasn’t violated a game law in a small but explainable way due to circumstances beyond their control? WHO????
The DNR has allowed ATV usage to take over the areas my partners and I used to hunt.
It is too the point where we have given up hunting on state land due to the competition we got from ATV users and the same goes with fishing and jet skis.
This is one reason I think some traditional users have soured on outdoors and given up on the sports of hunting and fishing.
Who wants to go out to the woods or water and put up with the constant ruckus these god awful things produce?
Again the DNR has allowed this to occur and it has certainly caused hunting & fishing participation to dwindle.
I am not saying to “Get Rid” of ATV’s-> My fellow sportsman an I just want “OUR TIME TOO”.
Let’s give a week or two in the summer where Jets ski’s are off the lakes or at least restricted and set aside the woods from Sept 15th the Dec 1st for foot traffic and hunting only!!!
This would allow a more harmonious hunting & fishing experience and maybe bring a few folks back in or attract new folks to out door activities.
Let me make it clear that I do not advocate the ATV people paying more because than in affect the true sportsman have given up our right to use these resources and loose our voice as a primary input (not that it hasn't been diminished already).
Similarly, I do not want to see berry pickers or morrel’ers picking up the slack by buying licenses or permits because this is a family activity and often people’s first introduction to the outdoors. More permits only add another layer of bureaucracy we simply do not need nor can we afford.
That brings me to my biggest point and that is the trouble with the DNR.
The trouble with the DNR in one word is “Mismanagement”.
The people who run this organization are biologists and not business people.
They have no idea what it takes to run a successful organization (records keeping, budgeting, public relations, etc…) and keep it flourishing and growing.
They only know how to ask for more $$$ and set up puppet committees that vote their way.
Alas, they only seek to protect their own “Kingdom” and the same old hierarchy that has brought us to the problem to begin with.
If you look, all they key players listed on the “BOARD” have a direct economic interest to see that the fee hikes pass.
Surely anyone can see thru this facade????
Who decided that these increases would only cause 5% loss in overall sales and participation?
Who decided that this was acceptable?
Shouldn’t we seek proposals that are known to ADD people and not reduce participation?
Besides, make it 10 or 15% overall loss and maybe you are in the ball park.
My thought is that first the DNR eliminate whatever positions or programs it can and than move ahead with a small increase over time to license fees if needed perhaps tied to inflation.
With a staff of around 1700 people and a budget of $288 million it’s time they too tightened their belts in this “global” market place.
“MORE WITH LESS” is something we sportsman and woman are used to hearing everyday at our jobs!!!!
Michigan with the Great lakes and large amount of State land is unique.
It is a GREAT STATE to hunt and fish and I am proud to live here.
If resources are managed efficiently there exists an unlimited opportunity for growth and expansion.
However many columnists reiterate that Michigan pays less comparatively speaking to other states for license fees (this really isn’t true).
But it seems to me the shear number of people who hunt and fish in this state merits a “volume discount”.
We should get more bang so to speak for our BUCK$$$.
For example, many states allow for reduced license fees for “PROPERTY owners” but NOT MICHIGAN.
And some of our “compare too” states offer not only “deer” hunting but moose, elk, ram, antelope and buffalo hunting. So the overall “opportunity is improved.
And some of these states entire population doesn’t equal the number of sportsman and woman who simply “DEER HUNT” in Michigan.
So let’s not compare what we pay with other states-> There is simply no relationship….
Some state DNR’s charge more, some less but it should have little if any bearing for discussion as no other states can possibly compare to Michigan in outdoor opportunity at this time even if license sales have reduced.
Therefore, we in this state have a decision to make:
Do we do the same old thing (raise rates & cut services) and expect different results in 10 years?
Or
Do we seek effective leadership and try something new to increase efficiency within the DNR?
Too me the choice is clear-> Let’s put some new and innovative ideas on the table!!!!!
I am a 17 year old kid who has loved the whole hunting experience from when i was 5 helping my dad track, to my first time out in the woods when i was 12. It is what i love and look foward to every year. some kids love winter because it is closer to christmas, i love it because i get the thrill of hunting. these increases are going to hurt me very badly. at 17 you barly make enough money to drive after gas and car insurence. now if i have to pay double for the thing i love the most, i simply dont know how i am going to do it. i was raised strictly against poaching, but we'll see what happens come fall, because i WILL NOT stop hunting.
I"VE BEEN HUNTING FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS IN MICHIGAN. I MOVE TO FLORIDA 2 YEARS AGO, AND I'VE BEEN BACK TO MI. TO HUNT. MY LIC. FEE WAS $135.00. SO THAT MEANS THAT MY LIC. WILL COST $250.00 NEXT YEAR. I THINK THAT IF THE FEES DOUBLES ALL OUT OF STATE HUNTERS SHOULD NOT BUY ANY LIC. AND THE STATE WILL LOSE REVENUE DURNING THE HUNTING SEASON. MICHIGAN HUNTERS SHOULD NOT BUY LIC'S EITHER.
I too will not buy hunting licenses again in Michigan if this is passed. The committee that is recommending these fees are academic in their findings with no real fact basis to support their recommendations.
Yes there will be extensive poaching!
Yes the state will see revenues from license fees decline!
Yes more will retire from hunting and fishing in our great state!
And yes our natural resources will be greatly compromised by this type of short sited action.
Write letters to your elected officials. This is gross imcompetance at its finest.
Let me see if I understand this. User fees cover only 76% of the DNR's budget so we are going to have to double most user fees. Now I am not a financial wizard but that tells me that unless many more citizens than the 7% projected to quit do quit, we will be financing the DNR at the rate of almost 150% of their budget if these increased rates go through. What am I missing besides my future income??
I tend to be one of those people that kicks the tires before buying something and I can plainly see that the Michigan Sportsmen are not getting a fair deal on this one.
We have all seen the numbers of perch drop in most areas around the state. We have seen how difficult it is to canoe, kayak, or power around most lakes to fish in our favorite holes but have been pushed aside by the power boaters and those on sea doos and jet skis. Does your canoe dump oil in the lake everytime you fire it up?
We are all watching our rivers and streams run just a little lower as water bottlers are pumping more and more of "OUR" water. Atleast residents of Alaska get a little something for their oil being pumped across the state. In Michigan we just bend over and take it.
To get right to the point I would say that I am just fed up with the State of Michigan! I pay and pay and don't see any return for my dollars. Why are we losing water at an alarming rate through the St. Clair River, why do we have to identify flying carp from China, gobies from God knows where, why do I cut my feet on zebra mussels, why is Ice Mountain pumping our water away, why do I have to pay so damn much to hunt my own property that I stock with game birds every year just to see them killed by feral cats?
So here's my open letter to the DNR, Jenny Granholm, and the rest of the tits on a bull state employed/elected individuals that are supposed to make the outdoors something for us, all of us rich and poor, to enjoy:
YOU SUCK!
Hi fellow sportsmen. I Was just enjoying all the comments and did not intend to wright anything, until I got to comment # 15 made by Jeff. Everybody, I believe our friend Jeff sees about as good as Stevie Wonder,because he sure is hell don't see the big picture in the state of michigan. He needs to just stay in Minnesota and worry about thier problems. We do not need sportsmen like him in our state!!!!!!!! Bottom line is waaaaaaaaayyyyyyy more people enjoy michigans great outdoors than just us hunters and fishermen. Lets take the hit all across the board with everyone -hikers, bikers, cross country skiers,hunters,fisherman,atvs, snowmobiles,etc. Don't just bend over sportsmen. Spread the vasoline evenly. And save a little bit for comment #15 Jeff. Thank You.
Suggestions to make $$$ for DNR
1) IMPLEMENT DOVE SEASON.
Let’s get this proposal thru somehow and avoid the rhetoric.
400 million or so doves migrate thru Michigan every year.
80% or so of these would die due to natural causes whether hunted or not.
They are a renewable resource and that is what the DNR was set-up to manage.
Somewhere between 40,000 to 100,000 hunters would hunt doves in MICHIGAN. They would buy licenses and spend money instead of going to another state.
LOOK I don’t Dove hunt but I know many people who do.
They aren’t the crazed killers who only shoot doves for target practice.
Doves are excellent table fare and a challenge to hit.
Assume a $20.00 license fee
100,000 Times $20.00= $2,000,000.00 (IN LICENSE SALES ALONE)
2) IMPLEMENT A CROSS BOW SEASON
The last 2 weeks of BOW SEASON would also allow “Cross bow” hunting.
A special license would be required.
Normal bow hunting would be allowed and the seasons could overlap.
MI DNR estimates that 725,000 people purchased deer hunting licenses in MI.
3 out of 10 sportsmen and women I know have cross bows and those that do express interest in cross bow hunt.
If this holds true in our normal hunting populace that would mean:
725,000 divided by 3 equals about 242,000 perspective cross bow hunters.
Let’s say only half of the 242,000 would cross bow hunt and purchase license
Again assume a $20.00 license fee.
121,000 times $20.00 = $2,420,000 (In LICENSE SALES ALONE)
3) Lakes with BLUE RIBBON fishing ONLY!!!
This is going to be controversial.
But I say set-up lakes where NO JET, water SKING would be allowed.
These would be “BLUE RIBBON” fishing lakes managed solely for that purpose.
Sportsman could buy a special stamp to enter and fish these lakes.
I don’t know about the rest of the sportsman out there.
But I miss the old inland lakes the way they used to be without all the commotion.
I would suggest this and stamp would cost an extra $10.
Look the above ideas may not be perfect.
They would require further study.
At least this shows there are ideas out there that could readily be explored and make $$$ without affecting anyone else’s outdoor experience.
I love the Blue Ribbon Lakes idea. Is that yours or is it being proposed by an organization?
In response to comment 30.
Farlane,
BLUE RIBBON LAKES is my idea (as far as I know).
Only issue is it is somewhat of an "elitist approach" in a sense.
This approach gets rid of "MULTIPLE USE".
But as they say "MONEY TALKS".
If people are willing to pay for an extra service maybe this better alternative than HIGH rate accross the board?
I guess what I would like to suggest instead of just complaining about higher fees is come up with (3) real alternatives that could make money with as little negative impact as possible.
If the state would do this I am sure that they could come up with a list of 50 or so that are 'REAL WORLD' ideas. They would make money, have no or minimal impact and ensure outdoors activity for future generations.
Let's face it, most people DON'T hunt or FISH in this state anymore.
I came up with (3) viable idea's in about 10 minutes today.
I urge my fellow sportsmen and women to do the same.
This is only way hunting and fishing will survive.
If we don't pay $$$ developers are sure to buy up the state land and waters and end public hunting and fishing forever.
We all have to realize that as sportsman and women we can be very proud of the fact that we and we alone have kept and maintained Michigans woods and waters. If we allow other groups (like hikers, developers and ATV'ers) to intervene than their agenda is what will be considered as high priority by our state since they pay $$$ for it.
MRM...
Two other ideas I forgot to add
4) BRING BACK the “Sportsman’s License”
Everyone likes a “BARGAIN” (especially sportsmen and women).
It seems no small coincidence that license sales and participation began to decline about 10 years ago when the DNR eliminated the “Sportsman’s License”.
For those of you to young to remember, this was a “discount or value” license.
You bought this license & it was good for anything (expect bear, elk, turkey).
It was like getting one or two license’s for free (similar to buying a value meal).
FYI-> You can still get a discount for buying ALL the SAME licenses.
But there is no specific “VALUE LICENSE” per say.
As many of the people who sell licenses are inept in their jobs they do not know about the discount and explaining it to them takes forever.
Look McDonald’s, Burger King and Taco Bell have a “value menu” for a reason.
It draws customers and it is much easier for the “system” to order a “Number 1”.
You simply state “give me the Sportsman’s license” and done.
Also, my wife (like most people) loves a discount.
Talking her into a discounted item is always easier than paying full price.
I imagine many men and women out there who like to hunt or fish are on a budget and must get permission from their significant other to spend $$$.
If you tell your mate that this is cheaper in long run it usually greases the wheels so to speak.
Also, if “value priced” some people may try NEW outdoors activity they may never have because now they have the license to do so. Therfore, we create new market. I myself would have never tried STEEL HEAD fishing if not for the sportsman’s license.
5) OFFER A LOTTERY or drawing
The idea here is that when you purchase your license you would be asked if you would like to be placed into a monthly drawing.
If you say yes maybe we charge $5, $10, $20 dollars for this.
One time/month assume 5 people would win lifetime hunting or fishing licenses.
Other prizes could be given out like spending sprees at BASS pro shops or whatever.
Look ALL sportspeople are gamblers.
The very act of putting a wax worm in a hole in the middle of winter or sitting in a tree for hours waiting for a deer to “happen by” is almost the definition of gambling.
Money generated from this activity would go directly into the DNR FUND.
Even non-sportsman and woman could get involved if they simply assigned a $$$ value to each prize given and they could take cash payment instead of prize.
This is sure to generate an enormous amount of $$$ and is better than money for nothing.
Again, I have given (5) viable idea's to raise $$$ and bring people into outdoors.
What was the DNR's answer-> Oh yeah raise rates and cut services and be in same place ten years from now.
FYI, we have an update on what the DNR is thinking regarding license fee increases that you may be interested in!
Personally, I feel the new fee proposals are very reasonable, with the exception of the senior rates. I don't think my grandfather (living on a very,very limited budget) should have to choose between buying meds and getting a hunting/fishing license - the current fee for senior citizens is adequate, even if it means an extra dollar from me.
But for the rest of us:
There has been a whole lot of whining about this small fee increase. Yes, the percentage is large but the actual dollars are really quite small. An extra $15 to hunt, and an extra $12 to fish? Hell, I have fishing lures that cost that much! I can't even sight my rifle in for that kind of money. It costs me more money than that in gas to get to my favorite hunting ground. I have multiple fishing rod/reel sets and firearms, which are all a significant investment (dont even get me started on the cost of bowhunting!!). I think most of you will find you also have spent a considerable amount of money on these pieces of sporting equipment, as well as hunting clothes (and maybe on bow stands and fishing boats). Please do not cry poor when you are hunting with a $300-500 weapon that costs around $2 each time you shoot it.
I believe we have benefited greatly from the deer management and fish stocking efforts of DNR, and if the legislature isn't smart enough to pay for them, I am willing to pick up more of that cost because I love to hunt and fish! It has always been the tradition in Michigan that the sportsmen/women pay to protect the natral resources they value. If we save $12-15 but is costs us the DNR programs, we have not done that, and I believe our future generations will judge us for that.
Those that are talking about poaching to 'show the DNR' what sportsmen you are, I am ashamed to share the woods with you. You better believe I will turn you in if I see it.
And for those of you talking about walking away from hunting altogether, you should really reconsider what your heritage and culture is worth - would you sell it for so little as $15?
Thank you.
I'd like to add that alternative funding approaches can and should be implemented to support our great sports, and I like the alternative ideas that Mickey proposed above of the sportsman license and the blue ribbon lake, and I would likely participate in both.
Michigan State property owners pay property tax....for what???? What benefits do they receive? They have purchase their own private property....pay property tax only for the State government to infringe and regulate what they can and cant do on that property?? They cant hunt on in....unless they pay for a hunting license.....and that doesnt cover it........they have to have a small game tag for rabbits, deer tag, turkey license, duck and goose tag....how many licenses does one have to purchase to be legal when hunting on ones own personal and private land. The state makes money on the sales tax for guns, ammo, hunting apparel. They make alot more than the six percent sales tax on the gas it takes to get to your hunting locations. But they need more.......so they want to add to the already expensive sport of hunting........hunting is not a cost effective way to obtain food....thats not what its about....its about escaping everyday pressures and stress ....a way to relax and enjoy yourself or other hunters company...to share with your kids......educating them on the environment....I firmly believe that the hunters contribute more to wildlife than the state.....many hunters plant food plots.......when winters is in full swing I set out carrots and corn for both turkeys and deer to help them out.
I FIRMLY BELEIVE THAT ANYONE HUNTING ON PRIVATE LAND....LAND THAT THE OWNERS ARE PAYING THE STATE PROPERTY TAXES ON....SHOULD NOT EVEN BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A LICENSE...........BUT ONLY IF ONE IS HUNTING ON STATE LAND SHOULD THEY BE REQUIRED TOO.
Citizens of this state have to live within their budget.....go without certain things, adjust their spending, when money gets tight cut back........the State and DNR should have to also.......
In response to comment 34 and 35:
Steve, I appreciate your comments regarding this debate and issue.
I agree that it is large % increase.
I also agree that "overall" it is relatively small amount of money.
I am lucky enough that I could afford this increase.
I make a good living and have the money.
However, I do know of very many people who are not so lucky.
Where I live (Northern Michigan) this increase is akin (for many residents) of the state simply saying "if you are not from southern Michigan or have BIG PAY JOB quit hunting and fishing".
My brother for example makes "just enough" to pay his bills.
He works for well above minimum wage (semi-skilled) so he isn't exactly a pauper.
But he lives on a what I can only describe as a "suicide budget".
If one thing goes wrong in a month he is out collecting cans or working odd jobs.
He does manage to buy his licenses to hunt and fish (legal for now).
He has to borrow a rifle and ammunition just to go hunting.
He dig's his own worms and bought his fishing pole on sale at WALMART.
I had an old row boat I gave him.
He is a small part of a large segment of what I like to refer to as the "JOE SIX-PACK" group of sportsman.
They represent the true "GRASS ROOTS" or "HEART AND SOUL" of sportsmen and women.
For these folks this is major deal.
For my brother his only recreation is hunting and fishing.
If they raise fee's the amount they are talking about he and many others are effectively priced out of hunting and fishing (legally that is).
His daughter is now 13 years old. She has expressed interest in deer hunting. Therefore, next year (considering the fee increases) he has to come up with (4) times the money previously required for extra licenses or I guess we loose another generation of outdoorsmen.
We can ill afford to loose even one sportsperson in this state given the loss of so many already.
In and of itself, I do not think an increase will secure hunting and fishing for future generations. Only more numbers of people enjoying outdoor activities like fishing for brook trout can ensure that.
My point is (and what I guess bothers me the most) in this whole thing is the commision that presented this increase couldn't even come up with alternatives and accepted a loss of sportmen and women resulting from it. The reason I prefer alternatives to fee increases is that they tend to bring people into the outdoors and make $$$ at the same time. Increased participation is the ONLY way to ensure the future of public outdoor activity. Because if the current trend continues I guess-timate by the end of my lifetime (30 or so years from now god willing) public access hunting and fishing will be a thing of the past.
I do think most people would agree to pay a reasonable increase (20-30%).
But I think people have a right to see a plan of what the DNR would do with more $$$. This is the problem with government, they raise fee's but keep services the same or reduce them. No business could ever operate this way.
Before I could support an increase above 30% I would need to see a firm 10 year plan on the table. I towuld have to detail what increased services or opportunity we sportsmen and women could expect as well as where future funding and participation targets would come from in 10 year intervals for next 30-40 years.
Respectfully,
Mickey...
If they double the fee's than I will quit hunting and fishing in this state. I was planning on introducing my daughters to hunting next year as they already love to fish however with this increase I will not be able to afford the cost. Maybe this is phase one of the liberals plan to eliminate hunting altogether and rid the population of their 'surplus' firearms. I am sick of this woman trying to take the money that we do not have.
I don't want to come off as partisan, Tim, but I don't believe this a liberal plot. This is an agency that does not have the money to do its job.
Somehow, we have to pay for the things that we ask our government agencies to do.
Whoops! Sorry about that Tim. Hadn't read the paper yet. Guess it is a liberal plot.
And why don't they have the money to do their job? Are you getting a 100% raise this year to do your job? I can understand a 25% increase, maybe 30% or 40%, but 100%? I am sick of the government and big business raising the cost of everything exponentially. Most people who I know are getting 2%-3% salary increases every year (if they are lucky). A lot of companies are not giving raises at all and are telling their employee's that they are lucky to have a job at all. In a time of crisis, we have to work within the resources that we have available. Maybe the DNR and our Governor should look at streamlining their operations and reducing spending.
I don't remember asking the government to manage the hunting and fishing in this state. Maybe we should have some corporations quote managing the DNR for our government. I have a feeling that they could do it better with a smaller budget.
What a bunch of crap, just another means of extorsion as I see it. Why the hell are we always the ones floating the bill and seeing the increase?
Why not raise camping fees? Those that hunt and fish are not the only ones that us these services and the DNR. There needs to be a more level playing field on all services and usage fees. People that hunt mushrooms, pick berries and generally walk through state and federal land should have to take some of the burden. Perhaps as a part of your drivers license fee you have the opportunity to pay an extra $8 for state land use? This allows a small code on your license that allows you to use state land for nature walks and mushroom hunting. If you are caught without the stamp or code, you get a stiff fine of a couple hundred bucks to keep people honest.
I have hunted all of my life and always done it by the rules, all the state of Michigan is doing is raping the sportsman in this state for the states own short fall of not being able to handle the budget more people in this state are losing there jobs and the healh of this state really sucks anymore and all they can say is lets grap it from the pockets of the little guy what a great big suprise NO SHOCK TO ME.
why not just stop sports altogether the insurance tells you how many dear need to be taken anyway and as far as small game huntings the state tried the bird program as well and the sportsman got the big bill and nothing to hunt there either
Welcome to the great state of michigan where you used to be able to hunt and fish but not anymore
I would have no problem with it if they used the money to get more DNR officers into the field and for game management. Out state is light years behind others in managing the fish and game. When I hunt in other states I get a survey in the mail asking numerous questions about what I saw, harvested, etc. One state requires you to take a phone survey, to get a confirmation number, for your kill tag after harvesting deer. Our state's imaginary herd population and harvest numbers are laughable. They have no idea what the numbers really are.
Some will say that not everyone will buy a license, well then get more officers in the field finding these POACHERS!!!
The cost is really insignificant compared to the other costs people spend to enjoy fishing and hunting. The real problem is how it is going to be spent.
Folks, this issue (lack of funding) has nothing to do with hunting or fishing. It is a result of our government spending more money than it has. I have hunted for 50 years and remember the days when there were far fewer DNR officers, many more hunters and much better hunting. It seems to me that the DNR should be mostly involved in wildlife planning and analysis, not wildlife management. We don't need large numbers or people checking boat registrations, fish size, shotgun capacities, etc.
Update: License fees to stay put: Legislature working to fund natural resources from the Daily Mining Gazette.
Enough! The people in this State are taxed to death as it is and all we do is keeping sticking them with more and more. Why don't we just put a meter on their chests and charge them for the air they use?
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE DNR DO WITH THE MONEY THEY GET FROM THE LICENSE FEES. I HEARD THAT THE STATE HAS PURCHASED A RANCH IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN THAT WAS FOR SALE FOR WELL OVER 2 MILLION DOLLARS, TO MAKE IT AVAILIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. DOES THE STATE HAVE EXCESS MONEY FOR THAT? IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT. IF THE STATE HAS THE MONEY, LETS LOOK AT GETTING OUR NATURAL RESOUCES BACK IN ORDER. THAT WOULD MAKE IT MORE APPEALING FOR OUR YOUNGSTERS, AND OUT OF STATERS TO HUNT AND FISH IN MICHIGAN. IF I KNEW THAT THE MONEY WAS GOING TOWARDS OUR DEER HERD OR SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT ALONG THE SAME LINES, I WOULD GLADLY PAY THE INCREASE, TO INSURE THAT MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THE OUTDOORS THE WAY I AM.
if any thing they should lower the liscense fees
i think the idea of making hunting licences cost more is bad, there always complaining about the deer population, and how it is so high, so i dont see why they would raise the cost again
I,too, am a firm believer that the license fees should not go up. If you havent noticed, someone in the Big Office is lowering the age limits for licenses,waiveing the hunter safety courses for young hunters under a "apprentice program" for two years, and now proposeing to count what my 9 year old son catches while fishing as part of my fish limit while raising my license fees! Beside that,for one night stay at Holland State park it costs $31.00. Thats nuts! I havent checked into it yet but I'm sure the State Park stickers will be around $30 also. Include fuel to get there and back, fuel for the boat and cost of food and were talking $150 bucks for one day easy. For the person who deer hunts and doesnt own land, I figure it will cost at least $24 a day (8 gallons @$3.00/gallon) not including loss of work and the price of the license to hunt. That reminds me, check out the Opening date for deer hunting and you will see that season has been extended and it is to open on a friday every year. I like Friday openers but if that promotes more hunters then why raise license fees? I agree that if the fees go up, there will be more poaching. Its a shame but a fact and you cant say the DNR is not aware of it. I hope the CO's have nerves of steel because the poachers have two missions... get meat and dont get caught. The increased fees are going to have to pay for someone crazy enough to step into the woods and hand a armed person a violation slip if you know what I mean. There are other ways we could generate like raise the non-resident fees, charge a higher fee to the non-resident youth hunters that come into our state,lower the license fees so more family members can enjoy the outdoors. Sell more of the "Life Long Sportperson" packages like they did about 15 years ago. Best of all, have an outside auditor do an "explicite" report on where the money is going in the DNR Department.Thank-you for allowing me to vent.
I am a 3rd generation sportsmen of my family. I agree with many other hunters the licenses should not be doubled in price. First the state funnels money away from my childrens educational funds, and now you want to take the only meat I can afford and take it away too. I have to supplement my food bill by hunting venison rabbit and fishing. I guess that someone in the state could STOP USING A STATE OWNED VEHICLE AND USE THEIR OWN. I find it absolutely ridiculous that you not only think its fair, but claim there are no other areas to make cuts. If michigan licenses would raise where it would be more expensive for hunters to hunt in other states the income generated from their spending would hurt not only the DNR in License fees but the tourist and hunting associated buisnesses would lose money also. Therefore depleting the state of much needed additional revenues. BY RAISING FEES WE INCREASE THE POSSIBLY OF POACHING IN AND OUT OF SEASON.
-Why take hunter safety as a kid... When your father will say " (son/daughter) I am sorry we cannot hunt or fish together because I cannot afford 2 licenses." Because of this burden of higher fees placed on families, we will lose the next generations of sportsmen.
I can barely meet the $125.00 plus money for supplies to hunt and fish.
All people who feel raising license fees should be raised have to be aware of the fact that it may cause an increase in car deer accidents raising the cost of automobile insurance for everyone and increasing the loss of human life on the road.
I support the non-raising of hunting and fishing fees so that all incomes can participate in sportmen activities.
There are so many families who in todays economy can't afford food and have to rely on hunting and fishing to survive.
good job Jennifer Granholm, you sure put the environment first like you said you were. Also good job with the education "no school cuts" every child got a 209 dollar cut from the state. At least at my school. We dont have enough money in our school to run heat during the winter and we just got new "energy efficent" heaters. I live in Burton and the more time goes by the more i think on how you say one think and the other happens. Michigan is falling apart, and the only thing going for it is the hunting and fishing and now, your raising the prices in hope that the state debt will go down. Maybe you shouldnt spend like 4 mill on parks that no one is going to go to. This increase it so rediculous it make me sad knowing that my children might not be able to go fishing or hunting as much because i would have to pay so much per year for something we should get for free anyway. I understand that the state needs money but a 100% increase well come on. Already there was an increase to get in to a state park and now you have to pay to do what you would do inside of it.
I think it is just another way for grandholm to get money out of the state without breaking into the budgets of what she likes. And for those people who say that it is nt her fault it is the same with President Bush. That is just my opinion of course.
All the DNR is doing is encouraging people to poach, I wont be able to afford to hunt if the prices go up like they are talking. Three people in my family hunt and if we buy all the tags we need it will cost well over $400 you can buy beef for that!
All,
Great stuff but nothing happens if you don't call the govenor's office.
Call the Govenors office and tell her people that you are voter and do NOT support the proposed fee increases and that you do not support new service taxes here in Michigan.
Here number is 517-373-3400. Call anytime day or night and leave your name and phone number so they know you are a registered voter. This is serious stuff people and we need to flood her office with calls, faxes and emails.
If i can't afford a license i will probably end up having to poach because that is all my family lives on during the winter. But if the prices skirocket then i guess we will have no coice but to poach.
Editor's note Personal attacks are not permitted.
Just a comment for Dean Watkins: Thanks for your post (which was deleated from this forum). You more than made my case with your attacks which were so far in right field they are out of play. Just so you know, Their are many things I don't wish my children to experience the top of that list is a bigot, homophobe, and a racist. Larry
Larry,
I'm not a bigot or a homophobe. I'm just someone that is tired of liberals like you trying to push your agenda on other people. People can do what they want but it's not part of our natural world and not part of our constitution to marry the same sex. I wouldn't teach my children to hate of fear anyone. Especially people like you.
Larry do you hunt? If you don't then you don't have any place to call hunters pathetic. Some of us live in rural areas and rely heavely on the natural resources. I think a more fair solution would be for you to pay a higher driver license fee to support our DNR. Why should we be the only ones to bear this burden.
Have you even ever been in the woods before? And I mean not your local park, the woods. Wouldn't you rather see the money that is allocated spent properly rather then impose an irresponsible tax on a small demographic of the population.
How can you be so snow balled by what is going on? Then you have the audacity to get online and ramble on with your garbage. You'll be exposed soon none the less.
Seek the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. I forgive you for your irresponsible transgressions into matters you aren't educated on. By the way, you have a computer, could you not have taken the time to spell properly? Or I guess you need to complain to someone about your own spelling.
our governor must have been born with a silver spoon in her mouth. our economy is in the toilet. yet she again wants to raise fees on the people who cannoy afford to hunt to bolster there food supply for the winter. do we hear maybe a 10% increase?. again she wants to double license fees and taxes. as a senior i cannot afford this governor anymore. send her back to lah lah land maybe they can
How do we pay for the DNR Albert? Game & fisheries management, enforcement, trails?
Should I pay for your hunting and fishing?
Grow up, youngster - there's no free lunch and you're paying less than most other people in the country for 20 times the natural resource.
The Michigan DNR is a fat bloated tick. Full of arrogant staff that could care a less if you fish or hunt. Fire the deer biologist right off the bat, they are sucking the blood off the sportsman for made up numbers. The UP use to be full of deer now you are hard press to see one in western UP. Lots of wolves but the only deer you see are in town to get away from the wolves. The whole wolf program is costing millions as our DNR sucks the life out you, outright lies on deer numbers. Oh yea the DNR is lying about the true cost of wolves. It is real easy to tell when the DNR is lying every time they talk about wolves or deer numbers.These corrupt arrogant bureaucrats need to be fired and never allow to work for the state again. I remember all the lies on how the wolves won't hurt the deer population. Well 200,000 deer hunters quit hunting because of no deer. Fire the whole DNR the state would be better off. Hell a 12 year old boy scout could count deer better then the lying experts the DNR hired. Feed up move out of state it is lost cause to much corruptions in the DNR, jobs heading to China, housing market failing, property taxes going up every year. Now double the license fees so the DNR can pay all the crooks to lie to the sportsman. Yep your right hell just make license fees $100 who care the DNR sure doesn't. You are granted the privilege to hunt from blood sucking corrupt bureaucrats.
Price increases!? We, the Yooper's, of the OTHER Michigan, are still waiting for the MDNR to step up and control the wolves. Wisconsin and Minnesota have quota's to get rid of the problem wolves but to this day the MDNR has not had ONE CO kill a problem wolf, they leave it up to the federal trapper from the USDA.
License fee increaes only makes criminals out of good honest people. Maybe you overpaid GM Union workers can afford a $100 deer license increase but it'll just be a farse and like car insurance scams...More people not being able to afford that too so they drive without while the Ins fat cats and the union rep's drive new cadillac's and puff on that fat stogey. Ya can't take it with you, or soon we'll drag ya out in the street and whip the living tar out of ya like the old days!!??
License fees are high enough already, this will only increase poaching. Other states are less expensive for tags and have longer seasons in some cases. Michigan is so depressed now and this is not the answer. There are less hunters now and this will only speed the process of more people not hunting. The northern communities will suffer even more, with less hunters going north to hunt. The price of gas is enough to keep hunters home, let alone raising the cost of licenses. Layoff some of the do-nothing beurocrats in Lansing and use their pay to subsidise the DNR! We pay enough taxes now. I just purchased land in another state for hunting and the fees will be less as a non-resident than in Michigan if the fee increases take effect. Looks like I'll become a resident there also and pay even less!!!!
I agree Doug L.
I know a lot of people who have up and left because of the poor state Michigan is in. I'm in the U.P. because it was better, but thats changing too...
In response to the letter from CJ about the economy is getting worse even the license for hunting going up. You don't know what you are talking about when you bring GM union workers into this letter of yours. I am a retired GM worker and had to relocate numerous time to keep my jobs that are going and gone to Mexico and overseas. Get your facts straight before you go sounding off of what you know nothing about. We are not called the middle class any longer, and do not drive the luxury cars like you state, if you want to pick on a business leave the car industry out of it because all the labor force will eventually get paid less than $20 hr/skilled not what you come close to implying, and being able to drive cadillacs. Michigan has gone to hell that I grant you because the government in Lansing, DC is greedy and want to fill their pockets more and more. Smear your government not the working innocent people. 50 % of the manufacturing workers have either took the buy-out or moved out of state after the industry down-sized. To me that is running away with the problem and not the solution. Upper management was to blame of how these car companies were run, and now there is 50% less than what we had in the work force making good damn money that was ruined by the so-called greedy upper managment.
Most do not even work for the automotive industry anymore which was a skill that no one off the street could even imagine
how complex the jobs were and how hard we all worked for our money. And I mean 10-12 hrs 6 days a week in order to be able to make ends meet. After uncle sam and all the taxes we pay in Michigan get paid there is little left for the luxuries, especially if you have a family.
Come on you automomotive workers, GM workers/retiress enlighten CJ it was not all a bed of roses to work for the automotive company no matter if it was GM, Fords, Chryslers.
If the work did not leave you crippled or some other ailment due to the hard work we entailed it brought on stress enough to not want to live any more. And that is sad, because I was there and done that. Any person that worked for so-called sweat shops (factories) no matter automotive or otherwise was and is living a grueling sad aftermath. We were not over paid for jobs we had to do to make a living, we had to do the overtime in order to get that good money, when it was available. Upper management had favorites that did the OT and all they did was stand around and do nothing and get huge pay checks, that is what went wrong with the industry. You do not know the inside story or the knowledge to smear the GM workers. At least we had a job and only the skill that we learned for that good money and some did not have the education to do anything else but the factory work. We were not classified as the low life that can't/won't work for a living, we are union and proud of it.
But did not deserve to have the jobs taken from underneath them by foreign countries. If you know so much tell us what went wrong in Michigan of why so many jobs have gone overseas. Look at our government that will tell you. It's not hard to figure out the big picture.
No, I do not agree that the license fee be raised. There should be a reward posted for civilians reporting poachers, and the poachers need to pay for the reward...plus....a stiff fine. That will equal out the over payment of $15 on the license fees for 2007 and in the near future. Hunting is a sport, fishing etc. is a sport. It should not be classified as otherwise and if it turns out to be otherwise (poaching), you play you pay. It would all equal out for everybody.
Sorry to here you aren't in the middle class anymore GM. Yeah, i know what it's all about. I spent 20 years in the military and only get 50% medical and you'se guys bit@h because you don't want to pay 25% of the medical cost share. Yeah, you're not middle class alright. LOL
CJ
Thank you CJ for at least being compassionate enough to say your sorry.....
You do not know what it is all about or you wouldn't be laughing in other peoples faces implying us GM retirees are less than middle class anymore. You just like to see yourself talk, and not human enough to come forth and say that to a real man. Sorry to hear about you only getting 50% medical care, who's fault is that you staying in the armed forces for that long. No brains to do manual labor????? lol
Kidding aside, a part-time job may suffice the other 50%. Would you like me to forward the protocol to enlighten you of what GM workforce, retirees had to lose due to the economy? Or would you rather keep thinking for the rest of your life the grief you are experiencing of what other people are paying for their health care and feeling slighted? Feel bad for people like you that cannot accept life for what it is worth and be happy your still alive and not in Iraq getting killed.
We have a summer house in Michigan on a chain of lakes. We believe that a small increase would be ok, but if it becomes a ridiculous increase, we will have to seriously think about whether we want to keep the house in Michigan. Our kids love to come and fish , but they would not be able to afford very expensive licenses. We can't afford to pay for everyone's license that comes to enjoy the fishing and the surroundings. Over the years we have spent a lot of money in this community and feel that we have truly contributed to the good of this state. It hasn't been a "one way street" that we have taken and given nothing back. Right now we are paying extra to control the weeds in the lake- which isn't working so far. We can't take on very many more expenses before we have to decide whether to just give up our "second" home. I do hope that wisdom is used in this decision - Michigan could lose more money than made on this one.
You own a "summer house in Michigan on a chain of lakes" and you are going to have problems paying a doubled license fee?
I'm sorry, but I find that utterly impossible to believe.
Michigan is going to lose its fish and water if the people who enjoy them don't step up on their behalf. We're in a battle with rising pressures on our water at the same time the cost of employing people to respond to these pressures is also going up.
Math is hard, but it gets easier if you open your eyes.
Don't you think that there is enough poaching and people shooting deer and not buying a tag and just cutting the deer up thier self going on already?? If they double the price of deer licences then people will not buy tags and still hunt.
Plus money is already a tight budget for the blue collar folks. I think that they are just greaty mother fuckers that want more money. (another quick way to earn an extra buck).
I don't agree with doubleing the price of licences
Hello, my dad and I live just across the border in Ohio but have a friend in the Sturgis area who let us hunt his land this year. I've never gone deer hunting in Michigan, my dad did up until a few years ago. He suggested that we get a buck and doe tag between us and that it might cost 130 or 140 bucks total.
So the guy at the counter processes 1 tag and asks for $98 or $99. Okay no biggie, I pay it. He lays the tag out and I realize...THAT WAS THE DOE TAG! A hundred dollars for a doe? Buck tag of course was $138. The guy says: It's a shame isn't it? You're doing them a service and they're gouging you for it.
In the end we had a good hunt, deer were everywhere. We threw some money together to get another tag and came home with 2 bucks and a doe. I don't plan to come back, though. I can get the same results in southern Ohio at a fraction of the price.
I am in the middle of a self initiative on behalf of the Michigan Outdoor motorized and consumptives sports enthusiast. Simply put, I dont believe the MUCC, MSA, and other "associations" if you will, are taking this latest fiasco to task as they should be. Rather they are participating in the watering down of the real issues within Michigan's DNR. That said, without a long history lesson, I urge you to visit the below website, which is snowmobile oriented. Scroll down the homepage a bit to the FRIDAY DECEMBER 21st UPDATE.
Just below that is a video you can watch w/a high speed connection directly from a "youtube" page. The video is from "Buck LeVasseur's" outdoor show, December 17th, 2007, broadcast out of Marquette. it's 10 minutes long.
If you have seen this or your members are familiar with it, I apologize for taking up your time. On the other hand if you havent, it's a bigtime eye opener.
Our goal, at this point is to get EVERYONE on the same page and take the DNR to the woodshed so to speak. We dont feel this is a mere oversight, rather, a hiccup within the DNR that has left a crucial door open to their operations. All these years, one would like to believe an attitude like this is paranoia. Well, at this time, I would like to see the DNR PROVE that paranoia.
you can view the video here:
http://www.biskitscloset.com/home.htm
To the person who posted that they should have free reign to hunt without a license on private land... That is rediculous. You may own the land, you do not own the animals just because they walk onto your land. Give me a break, so you should be allowed to shoot every deer that steps foot on your property and if not, how would that be controlled if a license wasn't required?
well i have to say i am not at all happy with this decison that might or might not be made dy the DNR Becuse 1.when you see the prices go up on somthing then with those chances you won't want to buy that product, so if you think about it if the price goes up then people will start turning off to this subject.
There is a new link regarding my post above to view the first video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96l4mZsCKI0
Following that video, a meeting was held in Marquette in February. This link will take you to Delta County Conservation District website where a video is posted documenting that meeting. Click on the link and then click on the video on the upper right.
http://www.deltacd.org/get-involved.aspx
Additionally, there is a meeting scheduled this weekend in Gaylord, a "downstate" spinoff of the Marquette meeting. The effort is to build momentum culminating in a rally in Lansing near Memorial Day.
You can find that information at this link:
http://www.theoutspokensportsman.net/
There are many things going on with the DNR and the DEQ that are not making it to mainstream media, and certainly, southeast Michigan sportsman are in the dark about what is taking place. We are losing a lot just a little at a time. Get involved, or the outdoors as you know it will be gone. This is VERY serious.
35 years of living in michigan and hunting every year is something i'll always remember' having to move to ohio in 1990 and trying to continue to hunt in michigan's up @ $100 to $132 i think this year 2008 is something that just might drive me to hunt in ohio stop the nonsense. 1 buck taken from 1990 on.
Yes raise them. When some one retires and moves away and hunted for 50 yrs in Mich. They sould not pay a full price non resident fee.I could not hunt this year with my sons for the first time since they were 14yrs.old. In most states fl.for one they do not charge for a senior over 65. Charge for adds in your rule books not just a selected few. Gun mfg,bow. ammo,pay to hunt places clothing mfg. on &on get with the times. DO SOMETHING see fl. rule book.
what is the fine for hunting without a License with my father,he had his but me and my brother didnt buy one,so my dad got the ticket for us not haveing one. ?
I think that this would be a terrible idea. I a have lived in Michigan all my life up until 1 Year a go. My job took me right over the boarder so i moved to help with the cost of gas. I relized that i would have to pay extra for a non resident license. but come on 300$ just to have a chance to kill to deer that outrages. If i have to pay that much i might as well go out to a ranch and have a 99% chance of killing a monster buck. Or just go buy a half a cow which tastes much better
Want to know what's bull? My husband, son and I paid $4 each for the anterless deer application. We were approved and now have to pay $15 for that license. My husbands buddy just went up and bought one at the counter for $15. We paid $19 because of the $4 application fee. How is this fair? We applied early and so we get penalized? Unbelievable!!
Hunting should be free! Taxes should absolutely not be raised! Not a penny more!
I think the American animal is the only animal that can be skinned over and over again .
Enough already!
I think the powers that be have the general public figured out by now. If I tell you I’m going to double your license fees, you say that’s ridiculous and bitch and moan. Then I say ok I understand, we’ll just raise them a few dollars then. You say ok I can deal with that, that’s not to bad. Guess what moron, who do you think got what they wanted?
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