Outdoor recreational dollars are vital for the Marshall area. Just ask Economic Development Director Cal Brink.

Pheasant hunters alone, according to Brink, boost the Marshall economy on a daily basis during the fall and winter season.

“They stay in motels, they go to Runnings, they go to Borch’s, they stop and get gas on their way out. That’s the reason we support it (pheasant hunting) from a convention business bureau,” Brink said.

Brink stopped at the Independent with Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr on Tuesday.

Landwehr is touring throughout the state seeking support for fee increases. The DNR is proposing to increase fishing licenses from $22 to $25, deer hunting licenses from $30 to $40, camping site daily pass from $5 to $6 and annual passes will rise from $25 to $30.

Landwehr says the increases are needed because the DNR operating fund is declining. The division of Fish and Wildlife does not receive General Fund dollars to support conservation work for fish, wildlife and law enforcement activities. Periodic fee increases are necessary to pay for the increased costs of management of 5,400 fishing lakes, 1.3 million acres of state Wildlife Management Areas, fish hatcheries and hunter/angler recruitment and retention programs

Brink argues hunters and anglers are willing to accept fee increases because the cost of a license is still a bargain for the incredible outdoor opportunities offered.

“Anytime you talk about increasing user fees, legislators have a tough time with that,” Brink said. “But these users are probably the most grateful users of anybody because they see the direct impact of license fees or park permit fees. These fees go to where they fish and go to hunt. Four dollars to deer hunting. There isn’t a deer hunter out there that doesn’t see value in spending money on a deer hunting license.

“History shows that hunters and fishermen and people who use parks are more than willing to pay user fees — even if the user fees have to go up — to continue to get the same services. If I fish on a lake with walleyes in it, I don’t want to stop fishing on that lake for walleyes because they couldn’t stock it.”

Legislators are currently not in the mood to raise taxes. The same thing probably holds true for fees.

However, the DNR budget is directly connected to fees. And costs to operate rise yearly. State parks are subject to high operating costs due to staffing, facilities and grounds maintenance. And all of these costs are susceptible to inflation.

Even with the proposed increases, outdoor recreational users are getting a bargain.

Besides hunting and fishing, state parks provide affordable access to the outdoors. State parks and trails promote health and wellbeing, support strong local economies and create new stewards of the natural world by introducing the next generation to the outdoors.

These are reasonable fee increases that the Legislature should support. The Marshall economy can’t afford to lose the boost that comes from outdoor enthusiasts. And neither can the state of Minnesota.