Comments on: RELEASE: MUCC Statement on Governor’s Proposed DNR Budget, License Changes

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 23:07:00 +0000

The biggest issue here is watching just what our DNR does with the money. Their insane focus on BIKE Pathways and controlling our Recreational experiences, as they say in their own words, is one of our states biggest problems. How Parks & recreation Ron Olson got so much power is beyond me, but he needs to be watched closely after what he has done these last two years with PASSPORT finds and the shifting of personal and resources to serve his department and neglect all others.

By: walranger5

walranger5 — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 10:08:00 +0000

This plan forces non salmon fisherman the majority to pay for stocking salmon they don’t fish for.

By: Mark A

Mark A — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:57:00 +0000

Woodsman, there are a LOT more people using our states resources these days compared to when you were a kid. They catch the fish, shoot the squirrels and hunt the deer. But there are MANY other reasons you may not be seeing game. Reasons not understood or unseen by the regular Joe. Predation and disease just to name a few. Loss of habitat or predation to critters you may not even begin to think play a part in the role of nature and the way it affects other animals (like squirrels or fish for instance). Yes, EHD did kill about 11,000 deer last year (you can’t blame the DNR for that), but that pales in comparison to the 50,000 that die EVERY year in car/deer collisions. and even through all that, hunters still took 440,000 deer last year. If your not seeing deer, maybe it’s time to find a better spot to hunt, or change your tactics. It seems like everyone want’s something for nothing. You can’t have great hunting without funding. You can’t have big deer without antler restrictions, and you can’t operate a DNR on the same budget that you did 16 years ago (the last time license fees were raised by the legislature)
i’m probably posting too much and am too long winded, but it’s REALLY disappointing to see so many people, especially older people (and I am one) complain so much about paying so little. Evne with all the fee hikes we will STILL be cheaper than all the surrounding states.
I want my grand children to say “Boy, them old timers really knew what they were doing and took good care of our states resources for us”

Stepping down off my soap box now.

By: Mark A

Mark A — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:29:00 +0000

Lynn, many states have a base license fee. I piulled this quote from Mich hunting/fishing mews and I think it says it all. ” it’s been 16 years since legislators last raised hunting and fishing license fees, which are the major source of funding for the DNR’s Fisheries, Wildlife and Law Enforcement divisions. Can you imagine owning a business and not raising the price of your product for 16 years? You’d likely be out of business.” “Heck, the cost of gas alone has risen over 300 percent since 1997 when it averaged around $1.06 a gallon. And what about increases in supplies and the cost of living and doing business?”

It’s time we bit the bullet brother. Like it or not, it just makes sense. We’re only talking ten dollars here, it’s not like it’s going to break the bank.

By: woodsman

woodsman — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 13:15:00 +0000

In michigan I lived my whole life. As a kid you could go fishing in the creeks around where I lived and caught fish. And now them same places you are lucky to see a fish. But you want to raise licences fees. I use to hunt squirrel on state land around where I live. You could get your limit now your lucky to see 2 or 3. The same goes for deer the EHD killed all them off. Your lucky to see any of them now. But licence fee are suppose to go up. So we can sit in the woods where there are no animals or on a lake or creek bank where there are no fish. To pay more fees. So the funding that come from higher fees can take care of other things in our great state. Leave the fees alone and spend them where they should be spent. Not on fixxing roads or bridges ect. Put the funds back into the wildlife and the fishery. Then charge the out of staters more on their licences fee. We havnt charged them that much over the year look at what Michiganders pay in other states to hunt deer western states are a lot more. More money less rewards thats what its all about Maybe more pleasure for Snyder. Maybe Snyder needs a pay cut along with all the others elected Officials. Thats where we can make a differences. We could have beautiful roads and more wildlife and the fishery would be thriving.

By: Average Joe

Average Joe — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 00:30:00 +0000

I can tell by your response you are not a boater. Pleasure boaters pay high registration fee’s plus launch ramp fee’s. Not to mention the higher price for fuel on the water. do your homework.

By: Mark A

Mark A — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 23:21:00 +0000

Just because you own land here doesn’t make you a resident. Your home state of Florida charges non residents $151 to hunt deer. In comparison, Michigan only charges $138 for a non-resident deer license. Your complaint is unfounded.

By: Mark A

Mark A — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 23:18:00 +0000

Sure is a lot of complaining here. Michiganders have been paying some of the lowest license fees of ANY state for decades. It’s time to pay the piper boys. There’s no free lunch! if you want better hunting and more law enforcement, you have to pay. Go take a look at what the western states are paying. A deer Res license in Wyoming is $38.00 (and yes, the hunting is spectacular) Ohio’s is $25.00, Indiana is $24.00, I could go on, but I think I’ve made my point. Stop complaining. If you don’t like it, don’t hunt.

By: Concerned

Concerned — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:37:00 +0000

It’s time to stop bitch’n about how much our hunting license cost , Most states would love our prices but I think the whole license structure needs to be gone through and we need more DNR in the field. Have a 25-30 dollar pass and then add on from that double the elk and raise the rest slightly and decrease out of state tags by atleast a 1/3 until we the quality of animals . Add boating fee to help with the current needs of our water ways.

By: Jim Launstein

Jim Launstein — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:07:00 +0000

All we get is closed off roads,and less hunting access from the DNR, now the governor wants to increase license fees, I see he is still doing less for more ( unless you are a big bucks manufacture ).