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State Representative Paul Anderson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4317
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GUEST COLUMN
Changes to hunting, fishing license fees
By Rep. Paul Anderson
License fees charged by the DNR for hunting and fishing in Minnesota received much attention during the recently-completed legislative session.
Revenue from license fees is deposited into the Game and Fish Fund, which was in danger of running into the “red” sometime next year. Fee increases were supported by most – if not all – stakeholder groups in order to prevent this from happening. As a result of legislation passed and signed by the governor, license fees for hunting and fishing will increase on March 1 of next year. This marks the first increase in 11 years for licenses.
The cost of a single, resident fishing license will go up from $17 to $22 next year. A deer hunting license will increase from $26 to $30. A concern I had with some of the earlier proposals had resident fees going up by a much higher percentage than non-resident fees. The final fee schedule agreed to increase the cost of non-resident licenses somewhat from those earlier plans while lowering in-state fees. A non-resident fishing license, for example, will go up from $37 to $43.
There are a couple of exceptions to the fee increase, however; in an attempt to encourage more outdoor activity by young people, the cost of hunting and fishing licenses for some teens are reduced to $5. This applies to ages 16 to 18 for fishing and ages 13 to 18 for small-game, deer and turkey hunting.
Other legislation passed in the environmental area included another bill aimed at speeding up the permitting process. The bill offers permit applicants more options and methods to ensure that permits are completed accurately and for applicants to hear back from the relevant department or agency in a reasonable amount of time.
I carried a bill pertaining to general permits issued by the DNR. Its intent is to extend the potential use of general permits to areas that do not currently have the authorization and expands the use for those that already do. It should also reduce administrative burdens and cost for DNR programs.
Much time was also spent hearing testimony on Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). Approximately $13 million was allocated from various sources to study and fight the spread of zebra mussels, Asian carp, and other forms of AIS. Electronic carp barriers will be constructed on the Mississippi River in three locations to keep the voracious-eating carp from coming further upstream. They will be located at the lock and dam in Hastings – which is below the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers – at the Ford plant between Minneapolis and St. Paul, and at the Upper St. Anthony Falls.
Zebra mussels are a threat to all of our lakes. I visited with a cabin-owner at a lake that is already infested with the small, shell-covered pest. She reported that her daughter walked in the water without wearing footwear and cut her foot on the shell of a zebra mussel. Once these things get into a lake, they are very difficult, if not impossible with current technology, to eradicate. Approximately $2 million was awarded to the University of Minnesota to study zebra mussels and attempt to come up with alternative ways to control them.
The DNR will also be establishing inspection stations and will be educating the public on the dangers of transporting AIS. Fines for not properly cleaning boats and trailers and pulling drain plugs on boats have been doubled.
A provision encouraging the grazing of state lands administered by the DNR was also included in the omnibus bill. The commissioner is directed to enter into cooperative farming or lease agreements with livestock owners where grazing will enhance wildlife habitat.
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