Hunters aren't crazy about Michigan bear and elk licenses going to highest bidderby Victor Skinner, The Grand Rapids Press
February 07, 2010 LANSING -- Legislation proposed in the Michigan House would establish an auction for bear and elk licenses and contribute to the state’s natural resources coffers but, so far, the bill has failed to gain traction.
A proposed Michigan House bill would create an
auction for elk and bear hunting licenses. (Courtesy
Photo - Michigan DNR)Rep. Jim Stamas, R-Midland, introduced House Bill 5734 last month to draw money and hunters into the state by auctioning off five bear and elk licenses to the highest bidder. The money raised would go to “offset licensing costs for Michigan hunters,” he said.
“I know another state did it, and it was able to raise about $30,000,” Stamas said. “I tried to construct (HB 5734) so it does not take away from Michigan hunters as far as the permits for these animals.”
Stamas said the auction would be open to locals and nonresidents. Currently, only Michigan hunters can take an elk.
Elk and bear tags currently are drawn at random from a pool of applicants, and a hunter is awarded an extra chance for each year they are not selected.
Stamas said the proposed auction would be in addition to the current system. The bill was assigned to the House Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Committee, but is not scheduled for a hearing any time soon, Stamas said.
“It doesn’t appear it will be taken up at this point,” he said. “The way it stands, I don’t know if it has a lot of support.”
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment is not too excited about “taking publicly managed resources and reserving them for people willing to pay top dollar for the ability to hunt one of these animals,” spokesman Daniel Eichinger said.
“On the whole, resources are held in the public trust and should be universally accessible to any member of the public.”
The department also is unsure how much money the auction would bring in.
Michigan United Conservation Clubs’ Resource Policy Specialist Amy Spray said the auctions are “definitely a hot topic right now,” but the organization hasn’t taken a formal stance on the issue.
“I know the immediate reaction we got from our membership is strong opposition,” Spray said. “Our members are concerned whenever wildlife licenses go to the highest bidder.”
Spray compared the measure to the recent Pure Michigan hunt that allowed hunters to buy $4 tickets for a chance to purchase a license for all restricted hunts in the state, including bear and elk.
The difference, she said, is an auction caters more directly to those with bigger pocketbooks.
House Bill 5734 is cosponsored by Reps. Richard Ball, R-Bennington Township; Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell; James Bloger, R-Marshall; Tim Moore, R-Farwell; and Jim Sizlak, D-Davidson.
http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2010/02/michigans_hunters_arent_crazy.html
