Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s funds from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, ATV registrations and the moose lottery increased this year by nearly three-quarters of a million dollars ($700,250).
Hunting and fishing combination license revenue was up 6% over last year, an increase of $222,443. Fishing license revenue is up by 7% over last year, generating $5,591,188 in revenue. And ATV registrations continue to increase, generating a 6% increase in revenue. Overall, the department generated $22,169,289 in revenue from the sale of licenses, registrations and permits, up 3% from last years $21,469,039. DIF&W’s fiscal year ended on June 31.
A while back I asked readers of this outdoor news blog to answer this question: How do you think DIF&W should spend new revenue? Some readers answered in posts following the column, others went to my Sportsman Say Survey, accessed on my website, www.georgesmithmaine.com, to answer the question.
The Sportsmen Say Survey is sponsored by Moody’s Collision Centers and named for Gene Letourneau, whose Sportsmen Say column appeared in southern Maine’s daily newspapers every day for 50 years.
If you want to weigh in on this question, I have reposted it in the Sportsman Say Survey today.
Sportsmen Say Survey Responses
Here are some of the interesting responses I received in the online survey.
Protect deer wintering area so that it is not cut by loggers.
Moose Research
Wildlife Management
To educate nonhunters of the need to manage wildlife through sound harvest practices
Habitat restoration and enhancement
Raises for employees (NOTE: It’s nice that DIF&W’s employees are reading my outdoor news and responding to my survey questions!)
All revenue should be spent at the Commissioner’s discretion, with the Commissioner’s accountability to both the Governor and the people of Maine (perhaps this came from Commissioner Chandler Woodcock?!)
Hire more field staff/ stock more fish/ boat landings/STOP THE TIMBER CUTTING SO THE DEER CAN SURVIVE
Habitat management
Any way the department deems appropriate
Hire more people
More protection of fish and wildlife and less time chasing speeding vehicles
Early successional habitat creation/management – not acquisition
Improve deer wintering areas in central Maine
Managing wildlife and habitat resources in regard to the health and welfare of the flora and fauna and not managing resources in an effort to generate departmental revenue
Moose research
Deer Management
Blog Responses
These are some of the ideas posted at the end of the Outdoor News column that solicited suggestions. Because they were posted online, I am able to give you the names of the posters.
Dam removal – Robert Doyle
Would love to see the state actually study the northern deer issue and based on sound QDM start planting food plots on state lands to bolster deer populations – as well as look into transplanting the surplus does of southern Maine to the northeast farm country to bolster deer herds there! – Brent Reese
Habitat! Habitat, rabbittat!! – Darryl Wood
Habitat first – Earl Smith
No habitat, no wildlife, no brainer!! – Troy Wallace
Habitat, habitat, habitat….now there is a chorus! – Michael Fiori
A portion should go to the hatcheries to install some treatment to reduce the phosphorus and BOD loads they add to the streams. – Michael Demarest
Marketing and land owner relationships should at the top of this important list. Communication can resolve a great deal of the issues surrounding land use and the health of our heritage. The issues too often become fodder for political leveraging and end up being divisive. If we view our outdoors as a national treasure to be enjoyed and respected, tourist dollars would increase, our wildlife populations would grow healthier, and IF&W would see increased communication and cooperation from fellow stakeholders in one of the last working forests in the Northeast. – Michael Douglas