DNR Budget Erosion
The Michigan DNR’s wildlife division does not receive any general fund money from the state. It’s entirely self-supported by license fee sales, and federal matching funds that come in for every license sold.
The DNR has not had an increase in hunting license fees since 1997.
So that, and a decline in license sales, mean less money coming in.
Terry Minzey with the DNR says the best way to fight this is to buy an additional hunting license.
He knows that’s not an option for everyone, but a 3 to 1 return on investment is difficult to pass up.
Minzey says as a result of that budget erosion, three wildlife biologist positions in the DNR’s Western UP unit are open right now.
The department can’t afford to fill them.