Changes to Michigan's fishing, hunting, and off-road vehicle (ORV) licenses will take effect on March 1, 2014.
The new license structure was signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder and authorized by Legislature in 2013, according to Sentinel-Standard. The new structure makes it easier for people to buy a license and provides important funding to improve outdoor recreation opportunities for hunters, trappers, anglers, and ORV riders.
Officials with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) stated all hunters are required to have a base license under the changes, The Detroit News reported. The license allows them to hunt small game. The license costs $11 for resident adults and will be good to use for one year. Licenses to hunt other animals such as deer and wolves will have to be purchased separately.
While waterfowl licenses cost $5, deer licenses $15 and wolf licenses $100 in the old license structure, the costs for waterfowl, deer and wolves under the new structure are $12, $20, and $100 respectively, according to The Detroit News.
Under the new structure, all fishing licenses will be good to use for all species, Sentinel-Standard reported. Anglers won't have to choose between restricted and all-species fishing licenses. Customers can buy a hunt/fish combo license that includes a base license, a deer combo license with two tags, and an all-species fishing license.
DNR spokesman Ed Golder stated the new license structure is aimed at supporting habitat and wildlife improvements, The Detroit News reported.
"One of the reasons we are doing it this way is it provides broad-based funding for natural resource management," Golder said. "Before, for example, the deer licenses would go toward deer habitat and the turkey licenses for turkey habitat. Another reason is that we know that small game hunting is sometimes a way into hunting for people, so it's kind of a recruitment tool."
Funding for these changes will allow the DNR to provide additional services, according to Sentinel-Standard. The DNR will be able to provide better hunting and fishing opportunities, increased protection of natural resources, a first-rate ORV trail network, and expanded education for new and existing hunters and anglers.
