The DNR gets the majority of its budget from the hunting and fishing licenses it sells.
But lawmakers have not increased those license fees since 2014.
DNR executive policy advisor Taylor Ridderbusch says the cost of conservation has gone up a lot since then.
You know, for example, in our hatcheries, fish food, just paying to feed the fish, to grow them before we stock them: That's up anywhere from 80 to 150% from where it was at in 2018.
Equipment and gas costs have also gone up.
Ridderbusch says the DNR is asking the state legislature to increase hunting and fishing licenses across the board by about $10 to $15 dollars. The DNR also wants fee increases in the future to be tied to inflation.
Ridderbusch says he hopes lawmakers can pass the changes during the lame-duck session.
