Yooper News-Tom Casperson

(Tom Casperson; taken at the First District Meeting in Gladwin, Michigan)

Hunting fee hikes no longer needed

By Audrey LaFave - alafave@dailypress.net

ESCANABA — Department of Natural Resources officials told the Legislature Wednesday the department now has a budget surplus after first reporting hunting and fishing fee hikes were necessary. State House Rep. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba, said this morning the DNR had long known about the surplus but failed to report it to the Legislature in a timely manner.

The DNR fish and wildlife fund has a surplus of $10 million, Casperson said.

“They were told in July that they had received a good return on some investments, in excess of $5 million,” said Casperson in a phone interview. “The problem with that is, they knew in July and did not let anyone know about it, and came to the Legislature talking about what dire straits they were in.

“They wanted to take enormous amounts of money from the sportsmen,” he said. “I am very frustrated with the process.”

Read the rest here.