A coalition of groups and individuals has formed to propose remedies for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ lack of fish and wildlife funding.
Led by the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, the effort aims to stimulate conversations among stakeholders about possible solutions to the DNR’s funding problems and develop a plan to address them, said Cody Kamrowski, WWF executive director.
“The problem is quite well known,” Kamrowski said. “But if something doesn’t change, it’s only going to get worse.”
For about a decade, the DNR has reported shortages and warned of even greater problems in the future in its Fish and Wildlife account.
The account is the primary source of funding for the agency’s fisheries, wildlife and law enforcement programs. It receives almost all of its in-state funding from the sale of fishing and hunting licenses and related stamps.
Work performed under the account includes habitat improvement projects, fish and wildlife population assessments, fish and pheasant breeding and stocking, and enforcement of fish and game laws by conservation rangers.
The DNR’s Fish and Wildlife account has $74.5 million in authorized spending for the current fiscal year.
In 2016, DNR administrators reported a $4 million shortfall in fish and wildlife programs.
The impact on land was fewer wildlife biologists, fisheries biologists, lake studies and habitat improvement projects, to name a few significant impacts identified by the agency.
Although in fiscal years 2024 and 2025, the account is expected to be a bit murky because of a $30 million transfer approved by the Legislature from the DNR’s Forestry Account, it was only a temporary fix.
In 2026, the DNR expects to have a $15.5 million deficit in the fish and wildlife account, according to agency figures.
Hunting license sales have declined in Wisconsin and other states in recent decades. Fishing license sales have been relatively flat.
But costs to run the programs and inflation in general continue to rise, said Eric Lobner, DNR director of wildlife.
The price of most resident hunting and fishing licenses, including general fishing and deer hunting, have not changed since 2005.
Although more than a dozen Wisconsin conservation groups mounted a push in 2017 to raise license fees, the Republican-controlled legislature rejected it.
It’s an election year, but it’s unclear what the makeup of the Legislature will be in January or what the appetite will be for a license fee increase. It should also be noted that the modest increase in the license fee is unlikely to fill the funding gap. The 2017 recommendations, for example, would have increased DNR revenue by about $5 million.
WWF, the state’s largest federation of hunting, fishing and wildlife groups, decided months ago at the urging of its wildlife committee chairman Mark Kakatsch to address the DNR’s funding problem.
Kamrowsky and Kakatsch said they reached out to a diverse group of organizations and individuals to participate.
The coalition held its first meeting on June 20 via Zoom; 16 people attended, including representatives from WWF, Friends of Horicon Marsh Visitor and Education Center, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, Ruffed Grouse Society, Trout Unlimited, Wisconsin’s Green Fire, Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, Wisconsin Wisconsin Wesland Trappers, Association and Wisconsin Waterfowl Association.
Others were invited but did not attend or will be asked to join future meetings.
DNR’s Lobner, Tim Gary and Paul Neumann joined the meeting for a segment to talk about the shortage and its impacts.
Coalition members then discussed some of the funding sources used by other state natural resource agencies, including a portion of the state sales tax in both Missouri and Minnesota. Adding fees to “silent sports” participants such as canoeists and kayakers was also mentioned.
All such ideas would require legislation.
Kamrowski said recommendations to the Legislature and governor on solutions to the DNR’s funding shortfall would best come from outside the DNR.
“We have to be the ones defending,” Kamrowski said.
The next meeting of the coalition is likely to be held in the coming weeks, Kamrowski said.
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