Where does the money go from deer licenses?

[Gforce]

i emailed the dnr on a couple of topics. One was predation on eggs od pheasants and ducks. Two was the praire chicken habitat. Three was where does all the money taken in from deer licenses go. The email me back on the first two but not the deer one. It doesnt make since to me how so much land can be bought from duck money when duck stamps are cheaper. The dnr must get a lot of money from deer hunting every year and where does it all go. If they used that money to buy small pieces of land and put groves up that would help the deer. I think they use the money for their pay checks. They should give back to deer like they do for duck and pheasant. I did hear once that they use it for feeding deer up north. that doesnt help me where im at. they should keep the money local and help the deer population. i would like to hear other comments.

[tealitup]

Is the deer population in dire straights? If so, why so many bonus tags? In my eyes the deer heard in the State is far above average. If you want QDM then I see your point-get back to the days of trophy deer.

[BobT]

One of the Minnestoa DNR's success stories is deer management. It is estimated that the deer heard is higher today than ever and it has been continuing to grow since the early 90's despite the heavy winter kill of the 96-97 winter. It shows too. I remember as a kid in the '70s and '80s when you were lucky to see a deer much less tag a buck. I even remember a time when seasons were closed. Since 1992 we, my brother and I, have enjoyed a success rate that exceeds 50% hunting in northern Minnesota. This is an area that historically has a hunter success rate of about 30%. I'd say the DNR has done a bang-up job managing our deer heard.

Bob

[KrashR]

I do agree that the deer herd is plenty big and whatever the DNR has done is fine with me. The only gripe I have is that we have to pay $14 for a bonus tag, we should be asking where that money goes. I was reading an article in the Star Trib that was talking about Deer hunting and it had some stats on donating deer. MN was the lowest by far out of Wisc, IA, MN as to how many deer are donated, and they said it was probably because most places here in MN require the Deer to already be processed, but in WI, the $1 or $2 that a bonus tag costs goes directly to funding processing plants for donated deer. The article said MN tried to pass a bill to allow this but it was shotdown. Am I missing something or can they not let one or two of those dollars out of the $14 go for processing donated Deer?? When you take into consideration that Wis. basically doesn't take any of that money and gives it all away to processing plants..... The numbers still weren't that high for donated deer in any state, but I know I might try to shoot a few more antlerless Deer if I knew I could drop it off at a meat market and it would go to good use after I have already kept a few Deer for myself.

I just re-read the article and I guess it doesn't state that a Wisc. bonus tag only costs 1 or 2 dollars (I don't hunt Wis.), but still think my above article makes a little sense still.

[BobT]

Boy, where did I learn how to spell herd?

[SM1]

I read (unofficially) that approx 85% of MN DNR revenue is generated from deer license fees.

I dont like paying more for things that I have to, just like the next guy. In my mind the price of a deer license when it comes down to it is a small price to pay for the enjoyment I get throughout the fall hunting deer.

[harvey lee]

I do not know where all the money goes and I really dont care as long as I have a chance to go hunt and fish.They have many places where the money goes to work for you.I would venture to say that the CO's are not getting that much for pay for the work and hours they keep.

As far as the license fees go,it really isnt that bad of a price to pay for what you recieve.When I go hunting or fishing,the joy of my day or trip is not decided on what I harvest but the good time with friends that I had.

If the DNR did not answer your question fully,I dont believe they did that on purpose but it may have been an oversight by them.WE all do make mistakes and forget.

[iamgmc]

Your giving to much credit to the DNR,they manage our deer

herd strickley for a cash.Its all about money, period.Mother nature has provided MN with so many open winters,warm and little snowfall that the numbers are doing great,one bad winter and back to the drawing board.

[BobT]

Whoa! Talk about cynical! Yes, it may be true that money plays a role but let me guess...you go to work purely because you enjoy what you do. Give us a break! Money certainly has its influence but unless you have proof for this type of accusation, you are unfair and way out of line. I don't think I'm going too far out on a limb to suggest that there are people in the DNR or any career field for that matter that actually care about what they do. Not everyone is as self-absorbed as a cynic.

Bob

[Swill]

I agree with Iamgmc...

Mild winters = lots of deer.

And it is all about cash. How much money is generated from hunting and fishing in MN each year? How much money is pumped into the local economies of Bemidji, Grand Rapids, Detroit Lakes, Alex, etc on people purchasing land, staying in hotels, gas, food, etc?

The DNR need to explain what exactly they have done in the past 10 years, besides collecting fees and giving us small bucks...

I know we should be happy to get out, the glass is half full, etc..but when you spend 100-200k on land, 2-3k on equipment, 7-8k on an ATV, etc I think wanting to shoot a mature buck in the state you live in and pump all your caah into...is not asking too much....

[tealitup]

Wow, if you are spending about $225,000 to hunt maybe you should invest a couple hundred in food plots. Five years and you will have a nice herd. QDM on your own property can do more then any state can.

[BobT]

I agree with the argument you present here but to suggest that it's ALL about money I think is unfair and unjustified. Considering the fact that before the state got involved we citizens all but irradicated the deer to near extinction says that it is money well spent. If it wasn't for the effort our DNR does put forth, we wouldn't have the opportunities we have either. Isn't that what we hire (pay) them to do?

Take a look around. We have set aside land, state parks, refuges, stocking, relocation, state forests, etc. that provide habitat and hunting, fishing, and other outdoor opportunities for us. If it were not for these efforts, how much land and wetland do you suppose would be here for us to take advantage of and enjoy? Sure, the DNR is not solely responsible for all of it but they do have their hand in most of it.

Bob