Battle over hunting, fishing license fees heating up in Michigan

Lansing — A Michigan lawmaker who said he disagrees with DNR Director Scott Bowen on many things – including the belief the state’s hunters and anglers are eager to pay more for their licenses – is backing Bowen on one point.

Sportsmen should be more involved in what is happening at the State Capitol.

On April 29, State Rep. Ken Borton, R-Gaylord, called for all stakeholders in Michigan’s outdoors “to be more engaged with the legislative process.” Borton criticized DNR’s approach to boost funding for the agency’s programs and services.

“I’ve heard from these hunters and fishermen, and they do not want fee increases,” Borton said.

The last time Michigan had a significant license fee increase was 2014. The state’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal came with bumps to what many anglers and hunters pay each year.

Annual resident fishing licenses would be increased from $25 or $26 to $30, depending on the current fee schedule cited, while nonresident fishing licenses would jump from about $75 or $76 to $90. Resident deer hunting tags would rise from $20 to $25.

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The increases are projected to generate approximately $30 million for the DNR’s Game and Fish Protection Fund, which supports fish hatcheries, wildlife habitat improvement, and conservation law enforcement.

Michigan’s overall FY 2027 budget negotiations are progressing. A $75.8 billion budget was passed by the Michigan House on April 24. The Senate is still working on its $88 billion budget. A conference committee will meet once the Senate passes its version to iron out differences between the two. There is a July 1 deadline.

Following the release of the state budget proposal in February, DNR explained it’s seeking an increase in license fees to offset declining participation and rising operational costs.

Bowen has criticized lawmakers for protecting the state’s general public from the fee increases. During the April Natural Resources Commission meeting, he complained about inaction. Bowen also encouraged individuals to engage lawmakers – a move Borton said he supports.

“Director Bowen is right; we’d all be better off if more outdoorsmen engaged with state officials on issues that matter to them,” Borton said. “But after that, Director Bowen and I disagree on everything else. His assumption that hunters and fishers want to pay more to do the thing they love is as ridiculous as expecting Michigan boaters to pay a surcharge because the Great Lakes are pretty. It’s just not realistic.”

Borton, who is just one of several House Republicans who have publicly bashed the fee increase proposal, added that he hopes Michigan residents respond to Bowen’s call and flock to Lansing. Borton highlighted the need for sportsmen to share their thoughts with their state representatives.

“In my time in Lansing, I’ve never had a single person call and ask me to make them pay more to hunt or fish,” he said. “The DNR needs to find a sensible way to generate funding that doesn’t put the burden on our sportsmen.”

The most recent attempt to raise license fees failed. In 2025, the proposed state budget included higher fees. The Michigan legislature never approved the hikes.