DNR proposes Minnesota license fee increases

[Mayfly]

Published February 15, 2011, 05:05 PM

DNR proposes Minnesota license fee increases

Under the proposal, a resident angling license would go from $17 to $24, and a resident deer license would go from $26 to $30.

By: Sam Cook, Duluth News Tribune
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/191527/

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources launched a campaign today to increase fishing and hunting license fees. The license fee increase is also part of Gov. Mark Dayton’s budget proposal that was released today.

Under the proposal, a resident angling license would go from $17 to $24, and a resident deer license would go from $26 to $30. Several new kinds of licenses would be offered as well, such as 90-day resident angling license ($18), a half-price ($12) youth fishing license for 16- and 17-year-olds and an $18 spearing-only license.

License revenue is the primary way Minnesota pays for fish and wildlife management. Tax money from the state’s general fund pays for only a tiny fraction of those operations.

Any fee increase would have to be approved by the Minnesota Legislature. Leaders of the Environment and Natural Resources committees in both the Senate and the House have said they would consider fishing and hunting price increases, but not for a couple of years.

The DNR’s Game and Fish Fund, derived from license fees, is dwindling and is projected to have a negative balance by 2014, according to DNR officials. Minnesota’s $17 basic fishing license ranks 36th among all states. At their annual roundtable meeting with stakeholders in January, DNR officials laid out the case for raising license fees. Without raising those fees soon, they said, the agency would have to make “significant cuts” to programs.

Fishing license fees were last raised in 2001, and hunting license fees were last raised significantly in 2000. Currently, the DNR is operating with 100 of about 600 full-time positions unfilled. The Division of Enforcement is down 25 conservation officers.

The governor’s budget also includes a new Hunting and Fishing Heritage Initiative that recommends allocating $6.4 million to the DNR in fiscal year 2012 and $9.4 million in fiscal 2013. Those funds would be used to pay for basic DNR operations, said Ed Boggess, director of the DNR’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. Some of that money would be used to fill positions that currently remain open.

Following is a sampling of other license proposals:

- Add a three-day resident angling license (no trout stamp needed), $12

- Add a youth darkhouse spearing-only license, $12

- Combination (husband/wife) angling license would increase from $25 to $40

- Eliminate the conservation and conservation combination licenses that allow anglers a half-limit of fish

- Increase non-resident individual angling license from $39.50 to $41

- Increase resident small-game hunting license from $19 to $22

- Add a three-day resident small-game license for $14

- Add a resident small-game annual license that includes state stamps, $37

- Increase resident turkey license from $23 to $26

- Add a resident individual Super Sport license package (angling, small game, deer, duck, pheasant and trout) for $99

- Increase resident sport license (angling and small game) from $29.50 to $43

For a complete list of license proposals go to the DNR website at www.mndnr.gov and look for “Hunting and Fishing Heritage Initiative.”

[Mayfly]

Luckily this will never pass... Right!?

[proangler16]

I say increase every single non-resident licenses too, pretty much all I see is the resident side and while there at it increase the penalty fee's if people get caught by the DNR, it's usually the few that wreck it for the many and also vote in some new judges that will impose the high end penalties and jail time.   

[FireRanger]

I have no problem paying a little more for my licenses as long as the money stays here and benefits the outdoors. If it ends up lining the pockets of politicians.....I have a problem with that. I say increase the non-resident licenses like other states do. I used to travel around and hunt but can't afford to because of license costs, MN should do the same, imho.

[Bobby Bass]

Not a big deal I feel in rate increases but I would like to see the non resident rates increases at the same % as the resident rates. A few dollars is not going to stop some one from coming here to fish but will sure help programs that the money supports. I understand the non residents rates are low compared to other states but we get their money off their tourist dollars. The 90 day resident license is interesting, would be just about long enough to cover some anglers from holiday to holiday.

[beeker]

I don't mind paying my share, but would like to have the choice.. personally I wouldn't mind if they sold some "permits" for deer feeders, extra lines and so forth.. some of the states in the west auction off mountain goat tags maybe they could auction off some special tags. montana has a hunt of a lifetime where you win the lottery and get tags for elk,mule deer antelope... something they could try

[Go Big Red!]

A few dollars more to spend time with family and friends in the outdoors is worth it.

I have no problem paying a little more for my licenses as long as the money stays here and benefits the outdoors. If it ends up lining the pockets of politicians.....I have a problem with that. I say increase the non-resident licenses like other states do. I used to travel around and hunt but can't afford to because of license costs, MN should do the same, imho.

I hear you.  And we've had this conversation before about hunting in Wisconsin and hunting in general.  I'll keep spending the $160 on a non-resident deer tag as long as Dad keeps hunting.  That's worth every penny....

[FireRanger]

Not a big deal I feel in rate increases but I would like to see the non resident rates increases at the same % as the resident rates. A few dollars is not going to stop some one from coming here to fish but will sure help programs that the money supports. I understand the non residents rates are low compared to other states but we get their money off their tourist dollars. The 90 day resident license is interesting, would be just about long enough to cover some anglers from holiday to holiday.

I agree with the tourist dollars but they will still come as long as the fees don't get out of hand. Back home (Canada) people pay a  load to come into the country and fish and hunt.

[redbull135]

Im sure this has been said but there is no reason they couldn't raise non resident rates little higher I dont mind paying little more but to hunt in mn for non resident is the cheapist state to do it in maybe Im wrong. ok I had to look up other states here is iowa NR prices NR DEER BOW APP $298.00 NR DEER REG GUN1 APP $298.00 NONRESIDENT HUNTING 18+ $112.00 WI Gun Deer 160.00 Small Game 85.00 Fishing, Annual 50.00  and SD is a different critter

[Lee Borgersen]

As a non-resident I purchase a family full season fishing License every year ($53.50). I have no problem if the rate is raised substantially. I figure the license is well worth it compared to the rates I pay for all the rest of the vacation expenses.

[sandmannd]

I really don't have a problem with an increase to have those that use it pay for it. Wish they would do that for the artsy fartsy crap too but I digress. What gets me are the bigger $5 or more increases with a couples license going up by $15 yet small increases to non-residence. I just don't understand that.

[The General]

With the economy the way it is, cuts are needed not rate or tax increases.  Yes those of us who already participate in the outdoors probably will continue and pay the increase.  But the article right next to this on in the paper will be something in the form of getting new people interested in hunting and fishing.  It's already on the decline and high fees I'm sure are going to attract even more people to want to start participating in the sport. 

[DDSBYDAY]

   No fee increases.  Until a mandate of some kind making government entities having to disclose and stay within it's budgit I don't think throwing more money even if it is a little will do anything but keep the ball rolling.  These fees will never go down.  There never will be enough.  These agencies get x amount of dollars.  They need to spend it or their funding will be reduced.  Year after year.  It has to stop. 

[katfishkeith]

I also think they should learn to live within the budget they have, like DDS said.
Take the husband/wife license from $26 up to $40, thats way more than a cost of living raise.
Don't get me wrong, I think a small raise is fine but wow.

The thing that bites me is the MN lottery. Created by a vote, 57% of MN voters said yes in 1989.
The profits were to be split between the Environment and Natural Resources Fund and the GMC (General MN Corporation), which was a strange entity created in 1987 to "foster economic development, esp. in rural MN'.
Skip all the way into the future :
1990 Legislative Session: Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund contribution reduced from 50 percent to 40 percent. Greater Minnesota Corporation contribution reduced from 50% to 25%. “Infrastructure development fund for capital improvement projects to develop or protect the state’s environment and natural resources” established and given 6.7% of Lottery net proceeds.
So to make a long story short, in roughly one year, the retarded polititians reduced the money from 50% to 6.7% going strictly to game & fish.

2010 disbursement:
Prizes 61%, general fund 13.5%, Environment & nat rec trust fund 6.3%, retailer commission 6%, Vendor and Admin costs 8.4%, Game and fish fund 2.3%......2.3%   what a cryin shame....IMHO

[wildlifeminnesota]

  No fee increases.  Until a mandate of some kind making government entities having to disclose and stay within it's budgit I don't think throwing more money even if it is a little will do anything but keep the ball rolling.  These fees will never go down.  There never will be enough.  These agencies get x amount of dollars.  They need to spend it or their funding will be reduced.  Year after year.  It has to stop. 

I would have to say I with you on this one DDSBYDAY
It not so much money on the fee It more in how they spent it,
http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/a499c9163ba64780a53634cdff093fd3/MN--Moorhead_Flood_Buyouts/

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - How much is too much? The state Department of

Natural Resources has hired a market analysis firm to determine

just that. How much can the DNR raise recreational fees before

consumers walk away?

DNR wildlife section chief Dennis Simon says if a license costs

too much, hunters and anglers begin to drop out.

Revenue will be a main topic at the DNR's annual meeting with

citizens Friday and Saturday in Brooklyn Center. They'll discuss

whether hunting and fishing fees should be raise to offset a

pending revenue shortfall in the Game and Fish Fund, which is the

main funding source for fish and wildlife management.

The Star Tribune says the discussion over revenue comes as the

state faces a $6 billion budget deficit for the next two years.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


Now there one more,


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A former enforcement manager with the state Department of Natural Resources has settled a defamation lawsuit with the agency for $250,000.

Cathy Hamm worked for the DNR for 35 years. She was fired in 2008 following a game-warden conference the previous year.

The controversy began when a legislative audit of the conference blamed the DNR for misspending $300,000 in taxpayer money and staff time.

The DNR blamed Hamm, firing her and putting out a news release saying investigators had found she committed "serious employee misconduct."

An arbiter with the state's Bureau of Mediation Services ruled that Hamm was wrongly fired.

DNR spokesman Scott Pengelly tells the Pioneer Press the agency doesn't admit wrongdoing and settled to avoid court costs.

 
  Now when inflation go up can we go to are boss and tell him you now cost him more a hour?  I think you know the answer   

[lentz]

I have no problem paying a little more for my licenses as long as the money stays here and benefits the outdoors. If it ends up lining the pockets of politicians.....I have a problem with that. I say increase the non-resident licenses like other states do. I used to travel around and hunt but can't afford to because of license costs, MN should do the same, imho.

This sums up what I was going to say

[jkcmj]

They get to high I will have to start practicing that speedy deer processing technique from the video...  to high now in my opinion.

[lentz]

They get to high I will have to start practicing that speedy deer processing technique from the video...  to high now in my opinion.

u from wisconsin???????

[snow]

What a slap in the face! Stick it to the non-rez like they stick it to us,pull the seasonal NR fishing license and make it a 10 day or 14day license like the dakotas do to us for small game and waterfowl~Lets play ball! Lighten up on us tax paying residents.

[deadeye]

I know everybody keeps chipping away at your disposable income however, even at $24, being able to fish thousands of lakes and untold miles of rivers, 24 hours a day 7 days a week is still a good bargan.  Probably less than 1/2 tank of gas for most of us.  Heck, hardly buys bait for a long weekend.  I the big picture, I think it's a rather good deal.   

[Dan R.]

Sure glad I bought a lifetime License 

[lentz]

Sure glad I bought a lifetime License 

i should talk to my dad about that for hunting and fishing ( only 14 almost 15 ) when does it go up?

[Dan R.]

Sure glad I bought a lifetime License 

i should talk to my dad about that for hunting and fishing ( only 14 almost 15 ) when does it go up?

I don't have the prices off hand but I do know it went alot after age 50

[Bobby Bass]

Fishing Lifetime
3 and under $227
4 to 15 $300
16 to 50 $383
51 and over $203

I bought my youngest daughter one for graduation and she will have it forever.  :fishing2:

[Lee Borgersen]

Fishing Lifetime
3 and under $227
4 to 15 $300
16 to 50 $383
51 and over $203

I bought my youngest daughter one for graduation and she will have it forever.  :fishing2:

Now that's a gift that keeps on giving. What a great gift to consider.

[Dan R.]

Fishing Lifetime
3 and under $227
4 to 15 $300
16 to 50 $383
51 and over $203

I bought my youngest daughter one for graduation and she will have it forever.  :fishing2:

Now that's a gift that keeps on giving. What a great gift to consider.

Best part is if she moves out of state she can stll use

[snow]

Dan,your to old to make out on the lifetime license~ Guess what happens to you folks with L.T. licenses,they can't nick ya anymore on fee hikes EXCEPT when they impose species stamps,sure the walleye stamp is voluntary NOW,just wait~

[Bobby Bass]

Actually if you are over 51 and if the rate goes to 24.00 it only takes eight years till ya break even. Not a bad deal. I am going to buy one myself this year since sooner or later the rates will go up.

[Lee Borgersen]

Quick question

Is the lifetime license only offered to residents?

[Dan R.]

Dan,your to old to make out on the lifetime license~ Guess what happens to you folks with L.T. licenses,they can't nick ya anymore on fee hikes EXCEPT when they impose species stamps,sure the walleye stamp is voluntary NOW,just wait~

Tim I bought that license 6 years ago just a few more years to go & I'll be even

talking about old I think you got a couple months on me