Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette Northwoods Sporting Goods' owner Rick Freeman is opposed to the potential hunting and fishing license increases coming this Oct. Freeman is concerned with the potential fees effecting low-income families and creating a greater dip in the number of hunters and fishermen when Michigan is already showing declining numbers.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year suggests raising prices for hunting and fishing licenses with hikes ranging from 30 to 50 percent. If this proposal is approved, on Oct. 1 base resident hunting licenses will raise from $11 to $17, resident all-species fishing licenses from $26 to $40 and resident hunting and fishing combo licenses from $76 to $115. The regular deer firearm license will rise from $20 to $30 and senior base hunting licenses will go from $5 to $13.

Non-resident fees did not raise nearly as much with base hunting licenses raising from $151 to $165, fishing licenses from $76 to $90 and hunting and fishing combo licenses from $266 to $275.

These price increases were reported by the Detroit Free Press March 18 and since then many have voiced objections. Among those making their stances known are State Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock, and Rick Freeman, owner of Northwoods Sporting Goods in downtown Hancock. Both men said they are opposed to the increases and believe that the proposal is an insult to Michigan residents.

Markkanen said the timing was bad for such an increase in an economy where citizens are struggling to make ends meet. He is also skeptical of what resources the DNR needs to justify the increase. “What cost?” Markkanen asked. “They increased the park fees and parks are getting more money. Hunting and fishing licenses are fine where they are now.”

Markkanen explained that various moose and wolf studies have been conducted for decades when those resources could have gone into other DNR projects to help maintain the agency’s infrastructure. He said he and others want to have faith in the DNR to perform their duties, but cannot help but be wary when the DNR is slow to respond to or not respond at all to inquiries.

Markkanen said his interactions with local DNR employees are often productive and leave him impressed with the work they conduct. However he said those workers told him oversight from Lansing stifles their ability to work more efficiently.

Markkanen does not think fee increases are the answer. “It’s putting a strain on services that serve people of the Copper Country,” he said. “A lot of additional spending is hopefully not in the future, and I think Michiganders are disgusted by the spending amount.”

Freeman said these costs will further contribute to the declining numbers of youth getting into hunting and fishing. “These are taxes that are on the outdoorsmen that like to fish and hunt,” he said. “We’ve had study after study showing that the numbers of hunters and fishermen are rapidly declining and then this added on top of it will create an even bigger barrier for young people to get into it.”

Freeman said the local economy will also be affected by the fee increases, common sense says those who do not buy a license are less likely need more hunting and fishing equipment. This could also contribute to less potential hunters and fishermen visiting the area and spending money in the local economy. Freeman is also concerned with what the increases mean to low-income families.

“That fishing license could provide meals,” he said. “$40 for a fishing license? You never know what a person’s limit could have been. Some people might say, ‘Well, it’s only $14.’ Well, it’s $14 to you and might only be $14 to me. But the next guy might be like ‘Holy cow, I gotta figure out where is this $14 going to come from?'”

Freeman is also skeptical that the DNR needs more monetary resources with the amount of fishermen that are drawn to Michigan. He said Michiganders are no further than six miles away from a body of water anywhere in the state, and finds it difficult to believe that one of the best states for fishing does not make enough money to sustain its resources.

“My question for the governor down there is, what is this going to do for conservation efforts? What is this going to improve? And she probably doesn’t have an answer. I know for a fact she doesn’t have an answer.”

Freeman suggests those who oppose the potential price increases in their hunting and fishing licenses should contact their state representatives and inform them of what negative impacts they believe will occur if the proposed budget is approved.