Michigan Democrats are considering changes to the state’s hunting and boating license fees.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says it needs a significant boost in funding in order to keep up conservation efforts and other services. DNR policy advisor Taylor Ritterbusch addressed a House committee this week and said inflation has had a severe impact on our fisheries and wildlife divisions.
Hunting and fishing license fees have remained the same since 2014, and Ritterbusch says the DNR is struggling to keep up. However, Republican Representative Dave Preston is worried.
“And there’s the aggravating costs and the lesser product,” Preston said. “The deer aren’t out there, the game management isn’t out there, the product is not.”
Preston says hunting in his district fell the last time fees were raised.
