By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s May, 2024 Newsletter edition.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is facing a significant financial challenge with its fish and wildlife account. If nothing is done in this next budget season, it will face a $16 million deficit by 2026.
Why should you care? This account funds 20% of the DNR’s workforce, or roughly 500 positions, including those that help maintain state wildlife areas, oversee fisheries, and conduct law enforcement operations.
The primary reasons for the impending deficit are (1) declining hunter and angler license sales and (2) rising costs. License sales for hunting, fishing, and trapping have been declining, with deer license sales dropping 5.8% from 1999 to 2017, and fishing licenses growing at a slower rate than the state’s population. Additionally, the DNR has not seen a significant increase in license fees since 2005, while inflation has risen 59% during that time.
The DNR, with the legislature’s help, took steps to temporarily address the shortfall, including a one-time transfer of $25 million from the agency’s forestry account for 2024 and 2025, and a $2.2 million increase in non-resident fees. However, these measures were only temporary fixes. The agency is still facing a projected revenue of $62.3 million against $78.2 million in spending expectations by 2026.
The deficit in the fish and wildlife account could have significant consequences for the DNR’s management of fish and wildlife populations, as well as its law enforcement programs. Tribal officials have also expressed concern that the shortfall could jeopardize the joint management of fish populations, such as walleye, in the ceded territory. The DNR is exploring cost-saving measures, but the long-term stability of the account remains uncertain, with a potentially negative impact on the activities readers of this newsletter hold dear. Stay tuned for more information on this issue in future about the various ideas to fill this funding gap in which WWA will be involved. If you want to hear more details from the horse’s mouth, check out this presentation to the January 2024 Natural Resources Board —the specific presentation starts at 2:53:45 time.