Im not sure its super fair to compare non resident deer tags from MN to Iowa. Everyone and their mother puts in for non resident iowa tags.
How about Wisconsin then? You can buy a license over the counter there as a non resident for about 160 bucks. No lottery. And I’d venture to say they have more deer hunters than any state in the country.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Carter Johnson wrote:</div>
Im not sure its super fair to compare non resident deer tags from MN to Iowa. Everyone and their mother puts in for non resident iowa tags.How about Wisconsin then? You can buy a license over the counter there as a non resident for about 160 bucks. No lottery. And I’d venture to say they have more deer hunters than any state in the country.
They also have some of the highest deer densities. Im by no means saying we cant raise our non resident price but we have to be honest about what our deer herd is actually like.
Im by no means saying we cant raise out non resident price but we have to be honest about what our deer herd is actually like.
Fair enough. At least we can agree that non residents licenses can be increased to more appropriately align with some neighboring states then.
Increase fees to fund more ANS and CWD research. No thanks. I’d like to see clearly where the need for more money is coming from/where it’s going to.
People need to start holding the government accountable. It doesn’t matter if it still feels like a bargain to pay X amount to hunt and fish because at some point it won’t.
People need to start holding the government accountable.
I agree, and the most practical way to do that is to win an election. We just had one last November. Aren’t you looking forward to another 4 years of Strommen and company??
Increase fees to fund more ANS and CWD research. No thanks. I’d like to see clearly where the need for more money is coming from/where it’s going to.
Here’s a start. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/aboutdnr/budget/index.html
I have no problems with the higher fees. The costs to manage our natural resources are constantly increasing and I don’t mind paying my part.
I think the Strommen and company have done a great job and have confidence that they will for the next 4 years.
I really don’t have a problem paying a little extra either. Heck figuring the cost per hour is pretty cheap.
However not so much in an over 100% increase for boat tabs .. 
Yea not so much.
I’d agree with the masses, a bunch more accountability on where the cash goes would be nice!;
I just renewed my wheeler $66.00. 
Non resident… Minnesota should charge whatever there state charges for the same license.
It’s my understanding that a first time non resident from Minnesota gets a good rate for a deer license. A one time thing!
The 20-footer would cost $113, up 151% from $45 is outrageous, a 50% would be more like it and yearly park pass from $35 would rise 29% to $45 is on the low side. But I suppose the DNR feels that those with 20′ boats are pretty much stuck with their boats so they can get away with it while yearly pass increases are a harder sell.
The 20-footer would cost $113, up 151% from $45 is outrageous, a 50% would be more like it and yearly park pass from $35 would rise 29% to $45 is on the low side. But I suppose the DNR feels that those with 20′ boats are pretty much stuck with their boats so they can get away with it while yearly pass increases are a harder sell.
They regard someone with a 20′ boat wealthy and basically a mark to take more money from. And State Parks are for the masses and access should be next to nothing.
I think the Strommen and company have done a great job and have confidence that they will for the next 4 years.
What do you think she has done a great job on? I think she’s doing an ok job, but some fairly significant gaffe’s as well. 2019 Mille Lacs closure after Parsons said it would stay open, and the Combo License changes being the most bothersome off the top of my head.
What am I missing here? MN has a $17 BILLION budget surplus, and the DNR wants to raise rates? By definition, a 17 billion dollar surplus means you’re taxing too much!
These are not new TAXES. These are FEE increases only. 
The difference between taxes and fees— fees can be implemented immediately where taxes usually have waiting period of a year or two. So I’ve been told!
BigWerm,
You may not agree with everything that the DNR has done since Strommen became Commissioner and I don’t think that anyone expects agreement with all of her/their decisions but the DNR deals with much more than fishing regulations on lakes on which you fish and fishing licenses in MN and every decision they make is made with the information that they have available to them.
The DNR manages natural lands such as forests, wetlands, and native prairies; maintains healthy populations of fish and wildlife; and protects rare plant and animal communities throughout the state. The DNR also manages the state’s water resources, sustaining healthy waterways and ground water resources.
Not only that but Strommen manages over 3900 employees(2020) in 6 different divisions and a General Fund budget of $331,000,000 for the 2022-23 biennium.
I mentioned that I was confident that Strommen and company will continue to do a great job and I am. If she manages the DNR for the next 4 years like she has already proven she can, in my eyes she’ll be doing a great job.
I renewed my 16 footer this winter, it was $34 for 3 years. That’s not even worth the administrative cost to collect that sum. It’s way past time for the rate increase and I have no problem with it. Same with the state parks pass. These license and access fees are still the best value/dollar transaction any of us will make all year.
annual fishing licenses would increase 20%
non-resident annual fishing licenses would increase 35%
a fishing boat in the 17-to-19 foot range would receive a 119% registration fee increase
Registering a 20-footer would cost $113, up 151%
On top of the proposed watercraft registration fee increases, boaters would pay a $20 aquatic invasive species surcharge, up from the current $10.60, according to the budget proposal.
For state park admittance, the annual sticker up 29% to $45.
Daily admission would increase 42%
I’m all for funding the outdoors…but when was the last time YOU received a 20% pay increase? For many they didn’t see a 20% pay increase over the last 5 Years.
I know this is only proposed, but I hope it gets trimmed some before it becomes law.
Brian,
If fees aren’t raised, how do you propose to pay for increased expenses within the DNR?
Cut services? Cut personnel? Cut maintenance on public boat ramps? Cut research? There aren’t alot of choices.
I’d be perfectly fine if some of this added revenue went to hire more Conservation Officers. We are in dire need of more of those to enforce existing laws already on the books.
I’d be perfectly fine if some of this added revenue went to hire more Conservation Officers. We are in dire need of more of those to enforce existing laws already on the books.
I spoke with Rodman Smith last summer. He’s the head of the Enforcement Division.
He said enforcement was fully staffed with the next group of recruits coming out of training shortly (last fall). Apparently there is no need for more CO’s.
If fees aren’t raised, how do you propose to pay for increased expenses within the DNR?
I am not against increases (well, except for the AIS Tax).
What are we getting for the 115% increase on boat registration? That’s just nuts!
Registering a 20-footer would cost $113, up 151%
I just renewed the registration on my 20-footer this morning, and it was $61.60. $113 is more than a 151% markup, though that works out to $38/year–more than affordable, but I understand wanting to see where than money is being put to use.
Hell, I can easily burn through more than $113 in gas in a weekend. 
He said enforcement was fully staffed with the next group of recruits coming out of training shortly (last fall). Apparently there is no need for more CO’s.
I find that to be surprising given the amount of territory each one of them covers. I have literally never encountered one in 28 years here hunting and fishing.
I find that to be surprising given the amount of territory each one of them covers. I have literally never encountered one in 28 years here hunting and fishing.
The first words out of my mouth were “your kidding?”
But they will tell us, just because you didn’t see them, doesn’t mean they weren’t watching you.
I think that most honest sportspeople would like to SEE more CO’s in the field.
BigWerm,
You may not agree with everything that the DNR has done since Strommen became Commissioner and I don’t think that anyone expects agreement with all of her/their decisions but the DNR deals with much more than fishing regulations on lakes on which you fish and fishing licenses in MN and every decision they make is made with the information that they have available to them.
The DNR manages natural lands such as forests, wetlands, and native prairies; maintains healthy populations of fish and wildlife; and protects rare plant and animal communities throughout the state. The DNR also manages the state’s water resources, sustaining healthy waterways and ground water resources.
Not only that but Strommen manages over 3900 employees(2020) in 6 different divisions and a General Fund budget of $331,000,000 for the 2022-23 biennium.
I mentioned that I was confident that Strommen and company will continue to do a great job and I am. If she manages the DNR for the next 4 years like she has already proven she can, in my eyes she’ll be doing a great job.
I’m well aware of all of that, and I was wondering what you thought she did a great job on? Anything you can point to, besides being appointed by your preferred team?
I have literally never encountered one in 28 years here hunting and fishing.
I hadn’t been checked in probably 10 years till last summer when an officer popped into our BWCA campsite.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>gimruis wrote:</div>
I have literally never encountered one in 28 years here hunting and fishing.I hadn’t been checked in probably 10 years till last summer when an officer popped into our BWCA campsite.
I see a CO probably once a month on the river during the summer, and once a season or so ice fishing. We rarely get checked though. The local CO knows our boat and our tritoon and that we’re not out there to cause problems. I chat with him once in a while about things I see or hear and he’s open to conversations and concerns.
Completely different funding source, but there is a pretty solid Sheriff’s Department presence on Pool 4 in the popular areas which is always nice to see. I think they stopped me once with a load of people, mainly to ask if I knew anything about the boats that were called-in for blowing the no wake zone on the 4th of July as they were on the same island as us earlier.
Completely different funding source, but there is a pretty solid Sheriff’s Department presence on Pool 4 in the popular areas which is always nice to see.
That is, in fact, the only law enforcement I’ve ever encountered on the water. It was the Hennepin County Water Patrol on Lake Minnetonka way back in 1998. It was in mid May, well before all the recreational boats were out. He pulled us over in a 16 foot fishing boat, asking to see PFDs, watercraft registration, and a throwable. Never asked for angling licenses. I think they are mostly looking for drunk boats nowadays.
Karry K- if you’re so confident that the money the DNR spends is put to good use what is stopping you from just writing and sending them a big fat check instead of jumping on the MORE TAXES band wagon?
I’m all for funding the outdoors…but when was the last time YOU received a 20% pay increase? For many they didn’t see a 20% pay increase over the last 5 Years.
The last time I got a 20% bump was when I left one job for a new one. The old job failed to keep up – 1-3% raises year over year. Kind of like how the State of Minnesota and our beloved legislators squeezed the DNR budget every year, forcing deferred maintenance on hatcheries, degraded enforcement due to staff shortages, overharvest of timber on WMAs and more. This is an attempt to get caught up on what has been neglected in the past.
People are biatiching over an increase in boat registration that costs less than a full tank of gas for their boat, license increase that are about what they spend on tackle for a fishing trip. I don’t agree with everything the DNR proposed but support the need to fully fund the organization.
I hadn’t been checked in probably 10 years till last summer when an officer popped into our BWCA campsite.
If you were in the BWCA and some form of law enforcement came into your campsite, I’m guessing that was Forest Service and not DNR. I’ve never heard of a CO stepping foot into a BWCA campsite. Did they ask to see your BWCA permit or your fishing license? From my experience, there is no cross over. CO’s will only ask to see your fishing license and Forest Service will only care about your permit and following the BWCA rules and they don’t care about your fishing license, even with a stringer of fish in plain site.
I get checked by the DNR EVERY year up the Gunflint for both lake trout opener in the BWCA as well as lake trout opener outside of the BWCA (2 weeks later). I love the fact that you can pretty much count on getting checked by a CO up there. I think it definitely keeps the rift raft at bay. For my summer BWCA trips (2-3 per year) historically our group gets checked by Forest Service about 50% of the time. I have never once seen a CO in the BWCA in the non-winter months and I am somewhere north of 40 BWCA trips. I’ve been checked more by CO’s up the Gunflint and Sawbill trail than I have everywhere else in the state combined.
On Pool 4 we have
Goodhue County Water Patrol
Pierce County Water Patrol (they work Prescot at least half the time)
CO’s from both MN and WI.
I see plenty of LEO’s. About the time I start thinking there’s none around a disable boat gets in the way of the tow and in a short time they are there.
I’ve been stopped in FEBUARY (first time I met Britany, the MN CO). That was awesome!
I think the high traffic areas are covered well. It’s the outstate areas where a CO can’t be everywhere at the same time.
if you’re so confident that the money the DNR spends is put to good use what is stopping you from just writing and sending them a big fat check instead of jumping on the MORE TAXES band wagon?
Alganak for Governor!
Brad they don’t have “degraded enforcement due to staff shortages”.
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