Proposed increases to resident fishing and hunting license fees are being considered by state lawmakers as part of the 2025-26 Wisconsin budget.
As Gov. Tony Evers and Republican legislative leaders continue negotiations over the 2025-26 Wisconsin state budget, at least one broadly-supported conservation measure – increases to fishing and hunting license fees – is still in play.
The governor included increases to resident fishing and hunting license fees in his February budget proposal.
In early May the GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee eliminated 261 items from consideration in the two-year plan.
The cuts included $3.75 million for sandhill crane damage assistance for farmers, $1 million for deer carcass disposal grants and $145,000 for a wake boat project position.
However the Republicans did not touch the proposed license increases. That doesn’t mean the fee hikes will be included in the final budget but does indicate they are receiving additional consideration.
As part of the budget negotiations items could be deleted and prices could be modified.
The vast majority of Wisconsin resident fishing and hunting license fees have been stagnant since 2005. For about the last decade Wisconsin groups have been asking for at least some increases to assist the Department of Natural Resources with its programs.
The push for higher license fees included a well-organized effort in 2017 by 14 conservation organizations. The groups even suggested specific prices for the changes across six main categories.
But the GOP-controlled Legislature rejected their constituents’ requests.
Without the license fee increases and with costs increased 59% by inflation alone over the last 20 years, the DNR is experiencing a structural deficit in its Fish and Wildlife account. In fiscal year 2026 it expects to be $15.5 million in the red.
If the license fee increases proposed in Gov. Evers’ budget become law they would provide an additional $28.7 million per year in general revenue for the DNR’s Fish and Wildlife account and about $4.7 million in assigned revenue (such as for the inland trout and Great Lakes stamps), according to a DNR review. The values were calculated with 2024 license and stamp sales figures.
Another budget item left in play by the JFC is $3.675 million in wolf monitoring and abatement projects. The measure would provide $3.625 million to assist livestock producers with predator-proof fencing projects. The balance ($25,000 annually) would assist the DNR with wolf monitoring efforts.
Predator-proof fencing has proven beneficial to reduce losses of cattle and sheep at several northern Wisconsin facilities, especially during spring when calfs and lambs are born.
The JFC’s removal of the sandhill crane damage assistance proposal reduces the chances farmers will see state-funded relief in this budget cycle.
A sandhill crane hunting bill has been introduced that also includes a crop-damage component. However two previous crane hunting bills failed to get enough support from Republican-controlled Legislatures to advance to the governor’s desk.
And it’s not clear if this version of the bill would be signed by Gov. Evers should it clear the Legislature.
A sandhill crane stamp resolution was supported by 69% of Wisconsin voters at the 2025 spring hearings. Monies from stamp sales would be provided to farmers who sustained crane-caused crop losses. However that idea would require legislation; no lawmaker has introduced a bill for such a stamp.
The JFC cut of the CWD carcass disposal proposal will put additional strain on efforts to reduce spread from infected animals. Gov. Evers’ budget asked for a $1 million continuing appropriation for grants to local governments, businesses or non-profit conservation organizations for deer carcass dumpsters. The intention was to provide additional “secured options” for disposing deer carcasses, rather than leaving them in the field and adding to risk of spread of infective CWD prions.
The GOP-controlled budget committee also eliminated a new idea on a controversial issue on Wisconsin waters, wake-enhanced boating. Gov. Evers proposed a wake boating project position in the DNR funded by $145,300 spread over two years. The employee would collect and analyze data on the impact of wake boats in the state.
Wake-enhanced boating uses motorized boats typically with filled ballast tanks to generate waves for recreational users in tow or otherwise trailing the craft. Studies have shown the boats generate larger and more powerful waves than normal boats and have raised concerns over increased conflicts with other lake users, damage to aquatic ecosystems, disturbance of bottom sediments and risk of introduction of invasive species to new waters via the boats’ ballast tanks.
Wake-enhanced boating is allowed under Wisconsin regulations anywhere a boat can make a wake, typically 100 feet or more from shore. However a Wakesports Reform Coalition of about 76 groups has formed in the state. The coalition is advocating for a statewide rule to require wake-enhanced boating to take place at least 700 feet from shore, more than 500 feet from other boats or lake users, in water at least 30 feet deep and for wake boats to be fully emptied and sanitized to prevent the transport of aquatic invasive species before launching.
State legislators have not introduced a bill on wake-enhanced boating yet this session.
The state budget is typically finished in July.
