State Rep. Brian BeGole today said he does not support recent action in the Michigan Senate to raise the cost of hunting and fishing, and that he is firmly against the initiative as it comes over to the House.

The Senate voted to raise hunting and fishing license fees after the state’s Department of Natural Resources pushed for the hikes during the state budget process. Thanks to BeGole and House Republicans, those increases were not included in the signed state budget that was agreed on by legislative Republicans, Democrats and the governor.

“We have seen the Department of Natural Resources frequently overstep in how it treats residents and infringe on private property rights, BeGole said. “We have seen multiple instances of mismanagement within the department. We have seen the department in the news for abusing taxpayer dollars and taking people to court for trivial things drummed up as enforcement activity. Why on Earth would we charge hunters more to support more of this nonsense and go back on our promises made just a few weeks ago in the budget?

“The DNR should focus on rebuilding public trust and spending the money it already has more efficiently before asking sportsmen and boaters to foot the bill for more waste and abuse in government.”

In total, the bills would increase fees on 20 Michigan hunting and fishing licenses and cost those seeking the licenses over $29 million. Nonresident deer hunting licenses would jump from $20 to $150, which BeGole said would cause participation numbers and seasonal tourist activity to suffer as the state asks for more help with conservation and hunters to take more deer.

“The DNR said just recently that Michigan has lost 200,000 deer hunters in the last 25 years and that the deer population has increased dramatically in that same time period,” BeGole said. “The answer to these issues is not raising costs for people who are out there helping the state control populations and putting food on the table for themselves and their families.”