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Bargain license fees good deal for visitors to state

It’s no secret Michigan is a haven for hunters and anglers. State Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba, has introduced a bill that might make it more attractive for out-of-state residents to come to the Wolverine State.

Casperson wants to sell discounted licenses to nonresidents who own property in Michigan and to former Michiganians who lived in the state for at least 10 consecutive years.

Casperson called it a “come home to hunt” approach in which their license fees would be higher than what state residents pay but lower than other nonresidents. About 14.5 percent of the approximately 1.6 million people who bought fishing or hunting licenses in the 2013 license year that ended in February were from out of state. So there is a market for this.

Casperson’s thinking is that people have complained that fees are exorbitant for relatives visiting from outside Michigan and former traditional hunting buddies. He also pointed out some people own property in Michigan, and although they don’t live here, they pay state taxes. However, their fees still would be higher than the residents’ fees.

The current base hunting license that covers small game and allows hunters to buy other types of licenses costs $11 for Michigan residents and $151 for nonresidents. Casperson’s bill, which is in the Senate Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Committee, would cost “qualified nonresidents” $75 plus a $1 Michigan Department of Natural Resources surcharge.

The hunting/fishing combination license for small game, deer and fishing has a $76 price tag for state residents and costs $266 for nonresidents, which would increase for qualified nonresidents to $132.50 plus the $1 surcharge. An all-species fishing license, which now costs $26 for residents and $76 for nonresidents, would be $37.50 for qualified nonresidents plus the $1 surcharge.

For qualified nonresidents, a wolf license would cost $250, compared with $500 for other out-of-staters and $100 for state residents.

The DNR hasn’t fully analyzed the bill, although it wants to ensure impacts on revenue don’t hurt natural resources management, which depends on license fees.

Casperson said he understands this concern. However, Michigan needs an influx of people coming into the state to take part in recreation and spend tourism dollars.

Current residents also want their out-of-state family and friends to take hunting and fishing trips with them, so why not make it easier for this to happen in Michigan?

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