|
An Open Letter to Michigan Sportsmen
 Rich
Hare lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He's
a accomplished, and an avid outdoorsman devoted
to all forms of hunting, trapping, and fishing
The
DNR expects the sportsmen to pick up the full tab on
their looming budget deficit. Yet, they refuse to
license and regulate operations guiding hunters on
public land for elk, deer, turkey, bear, and bobcat.
Guides don’t even need a hunting license (except
bear over hounds, a participation license is
needed). In fact, one individual operating as a
guide was convicted of hunter harassment, losing
hunting privileges for 3 years...and continued
guiding hunters because a license is not needed.
|
The biggest windfall
goes to commercial bear baiters. Their fees average
$750 to $1,500 per week per bait. They often run 20
to 30 bait sites, or more, mostly on public land.
Unlike other forms of guiding, commercial baiters
seldom accompany the hunter. They just charge a fee
to sit on their bait. So, they tend to have a lot
more clients than regular hunting guides. It’s only
fair a percentage of the profits from these
operations go to the budget deficit. Makes more
sense than charging a kid from a low-income family
$40 for a fishing license! |
|
|
Like any business...guides are SUPPOSED TO have a
federal tax ID, pay state & federal income taxes,
and business taxes. However, the DNR obviously
believes they don’t need to license & regulate
guiding business’...expecting them to comply and pay
taxes due based on the honor system...a luxury no
other industry is allowed.
Seems odd the DNR would opt not to seek revenue from
the guiding industry during a budget crisis. It is
also questionable...why the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources is unwilling to regulate guiding
activities on public land. Unethical guiding
practices are obviously no concern.
Wisconsin licenses and regulates hunting
guides...so, it can’t be too tricky.
R.W. Hare
Ontonagon, Mi
|
