Fishing Michigan

So everyone got the chance to see my new niece a couple of weeks ago.  She is still adorable and just a joy to hold,  that is when my brother or “Grandpa Mason”  actually let me.  Dad is proud of her and my brother and his wife.  So in Lani’s honor, he went down to Cook’s and bought her a fishing license.  Keep in mind that the child was only 9 days old when he purchased the thing!!!

Turns out that there is an underage license program in the state.  The fee is nominal at only $3.00,  and I have been informed its going into something called a “baby box”.  Whatever that means,  heck I just found out this year that men are supposed to go to baby showers.  When did that start?  Me thinks it is a conspiracy against men, along the same lines as “Sweetest Day”.  I know this is something new, I am positive because none of the two girls I dated in high school, back in the day, ever got mad me for forgetting that lil’ gem of a date.

So coming back to the “did you know?” section of the blog.  Did you know, that for every underage license that the state sells, that the federal government kicks in $10.00?  This goes back to the state.  Ok, thats nice and all,  not sure why the govt. needs to do it,  but its already in effect.  Here’s the kicker,  with all the talk about raising fees for the rest of us, did you know, that there is a similiar program established for senior anglers?  For every senior license sold at 6 bucks, the Feds kick back 20 DOLLARS to the state?

Ok, lets do some “Jenny” math,  thats 26 dollars for every senior license sold,  the new proposal is to eventually raise the fees to $24.00.  It seems as though they will loose that 20 buck boost from the fed govt as well.  Ok that is a two dollar loss.

It really isn’t that I have a problem raising the fee a dollar or two,  but the  State’s arguments just do not fly with me at all.  Yes there are some states where their fees are higher than Michigan’s,  but they don’t have the number of sales in boats, bait, tackle, engines or licenses that we have, either.  They also fail to mention that there are states with less costs too.  Did you know, that in the state of New York, that their seniors do not have a fee for their fishing license?  Lots of people live in NY!

With Michigan’s sheer numbers, which granted are dwindling a bit,  it makes more sense to cut a few programs that are redundant.  Also, if you want to stimulate an economy, you don’t  raise the fees, unless you comprehend that you risk losing more people who actually pay to enjoy the outdoors.  Don’t even bother to guess at the loss of out of state fees and boost to the economy that the huge raises that are under the new proposal will cost the state.