bnhcomputing
If the DNR wants a 25% increase on fees, then it should be a 25% increase on all fees, not 25% for residents, and 2% for non-residents.
The fee increases have nothing to do with the DNR, it is the "wants" of our elected officials.
Only the state legislature/govenor can increase license fees. License fees go dirrectly to the state, the state then decides what to give the DNR for operating funds.
The sad thing is that the tourism industry and snomobile lobby are alot stronger than any resident hunting lobby, and our elected officials know it. Wisconsin sells 40,000+ NR deer licenses total, gun and bow, 17,000 to MN residents, and about 11,000 to IL residents.
Wisconsin is the #1 P&Y deer state in the country by a wide margin, yet only charges $160 for a NR deer license. IL, IA, KS, MS, WA, AL, all have combined fees in the $300+ range for NR deer licenses. IL is now proposing fees between $400 and $500 for a NR deer license.
We pay high taxes in this state for good roads, parks, public lands. Illinois and Minnesota do not. Yet Minnesota and Illinois residents are flocking to Wisconsin in increasing numbers because we have payed to develope our infastructure in our own state.
17% of the Wisconsin population hunts, compared to only 3% in Illinois. If we unite, our elected officials will listen.