Victor Skinner

Michigan veterans with a service-connected disability could receive free or discounted lifetime hunting and fishing licenses under legislation recently introduced in both chambers of the state legislature.
The bills would create a tiered structure for lifetime licenses that align with the severity of a veteran’s disability, ranging from no cost to $100 for veterans rated 30-49% disabled.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials presented the Natural Resources Commission with a budget overview in January, with a specific focus on the Game and Fish Protection Fund.
The GFP fund, which represents about 16% of the DNR’s roughly $540 million budget at about $87.7 million in fiscal year 2026, covers the operations of the DNR’s wildlife, fisheries and law enforcement divisions.

Legislation to increase hunting and fishing license fees has cleared the Michigan Senate, but it will face stiff resistance in the House, where lawmakers have raised numerous complaints about the Department of Natural Resources.
Senate bills 276 and 277 cleared the upper chamber with bipartisan support on Oct 21, and were referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism.