Tri-City Sun

State Rep. Brian BeGole has voiced his opposition to recent efforts in the Michigan Senate to increase hunting and fishing license fees. The proposed fee hikes, supported by the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR), were advanced during the state budget process but ultimately excluded from the final budget agreement.

BeGole credited House Republicans for ensuring that these increases did not become part of the signed state budget, which was negotiated with input from both parties and the governor.

“We have seen the Department of Natural Resources frequently overstep in how it treats residents and infringe on private property rights," BeGole said. "We have seen multiple instances of mismanagement within the department. We have seen the department in the news for abusing taxpayer dollars and taking people to court for trivial things drummed up as enforcement activity. Why on Earth would we charge hunters more to support more of this nonsense and go back on our promises made just a few weeks ago in the budget?"

He added, “The DNR should focus on rebuilding public trust and spending the money it already has more efficiently before asking sportsmen and boaters to foot the bill for more waste and abuse in government.”

The proposed legislation would raise fees on 20 different Michigan hunting and fishing licenses, resulting in an additional cost of over $29 million for those seeking licenses. Nonresident deer hunting licenses would see a significant increase, rising from $20 to $150. BeGole argued that such increases could reduce participation numbers among hunters and negatively affect seasonal tourism at a time when Michigan is seeking greater involvement in conservation efforts.

“The DNR said just recently that Michigan has lost 200,000 deer hunters in the last 25 years and that the deer population has increased dramatically in that same time period,” BeGole said. “The answer to these issues is not raising costs for people who are out there helping the state control populations and putting food on the table for themselves and their families.”