Michigan hunting license sales are up despite this year’s increased cost.
The Department of Natural Resources says license sales are up seven percent from last year.
This follows a restructuring of fees that took effect in March in which the prices of deer licenses went up from $15 to $31 and the cost of out-of-state licenses went up to $170 each.
The state expects to raise $20-million in revenue through the changes.
However, out-of-state fishing licenses, which also increased in cost, experienced a 41% decrease in sales.
DNR spokesman Ed Golder says though the DNR is reconsidering its out-of-state fishing license fees based on poor sales, hunters are still attracted to Michigan’s unique natural resources and, in large part, understand the price increases.