Dayton proposes fishing, deer-hunting license fee increases

Deer hunters, anglers, state park visitors, boaters, ATV riders, snowmobilers and cross-country skiers would pay more for licenses, passes and registration fees under a budget proposal to the Legislature by the Dayton administration.

Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr said Wednesday the governor’s proposed DNR budget seeks to restore funding to programs that are slipping toward deficits, maintain other programs at current levels and make strategic investments.

If new fees are approved, the agency’s budget would increase by $76 million, or 8 percent, to $1.07 billion in overall spending for the 2018-19 biennial budget period.

Of that increase, $36.8 million would come from the various user fees. A resident fishing license, for instance, would increase from $22 to $25. A standard deer hunting license would increase similarly from $30 to $34.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/dayton-proposes-fishing-deer-hunting-license-fee-increases/411781066/