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Sunday Hunting Makes Governor’s Budget

            Maine sportsmen will be hunting on Sundays this fall if Governor John Baldacci’s proposed budget is enacted by the Maine legislature.

            Making a bold move to solve the chronic funding problems of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Governor Baldacci will propose both short term and long term solutions as this legislative session progresses.

            The short term solutions are included in the governor’s budget, unveiled on January 7 and announced by the governor at SAM’s tenth annual Sportsman’s Congress, held that day at the Augusta Elks Lodge.  The governor received a standing ovation when he announced that his budget proposes new Sunday hunting opportunities.

            After a series of meetings in December, initiated by the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, SAM and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife were able to recommend an exciting package of new hunting opportunities for the governor’s proposed state budget covering the next biennium.

            Governor John Baldacci worked personally and directly with SAM throughout the process, and quickly agreed to the last-minute changes in his proposed DIF&W budget. 

            The Sunday hunting opportunities are included in the governor’s budget, but even more importantly, the governor continues to work with SAM on a long term solution to the chronic funding problems at DIF&W.  He has promised to present an administration proposal that addresses those problems later in this legislative session, with the help and support of SAM and DIF&W. 

SAM and DIF&W are working now on those long term remedies and will present a proposal to the governor sometime soon.  The governor has already indicated a preference for some proposals and will be participating directly as this work proceeds.

This exciting story started with a meeting between SAM’s executive director and the governor on Friday, December 3.  At this friendly and frank meeting, SAM informed the governor that the organization could not support any increases in sportsmen’s fees unless and until DIF&W received an appropriate level of public support and funding.

Specifically, SAM insisted that 18 percent of DIF&W’s budget be funded with General Fund tax dollars, as a state law requires.  In the next budget, that would require about $4 million of public funding each year.

            The governor said he simply could not promise that much public funding – due to a huge state budget deficit exceeding $700 million.  But he promised some public funding for DIF&W, and agreed to pursue other ideas that would solve DIF&W’s funding problems.

            SAM promptly followed up with a list of proposals to raise money for DIF&W from sportsmen through increased hunting opportunities and from the general public in a variety of ways.

            The governor subsequently expressed support for many of the ideas on SAM’s list, and SAM and DIF&W worked intensely to address his questions and move the proposals into his budget.

            A tremendous amount of work was done by both SAM and DIF&W to refine these ideas into workable solutions.  That work focused on three items:  creating Sunday hunting opportunities, enabling nonresidents to hunt on the opening day of the regular firearms season on deer, and initiating a sportsmen’s license plate.

            After a thorough analysis, it was determined that the license plate could not be launched in time to generate funding in the next fiscal year, so it was placed on the long term list for discussion at a later date.  The governor remains enthusiastic about the license plate idea and it is very likely to be included in his long term solution for DIF&W.

            Initially, the other two proposals were designed to generate new revenue for DIF&W to replace the department’s proposal to re-enact the $3 across-the-board fee hikes that were enacted on a “temporary” basis for the current biennium budget.  Some of those fees expire on July 1 and the rest on December 31 of this year.

            But it became apparent, as revenue projections for SAM’s two proposals were developed, that a huge increase in hunting license fees would have to be enacted to raise the $2.4 million per year that would be achieved by continuing the $3 increase in all fees.  All participants were concerned that a substantial hike in hunting fees – even though coupled with the increased Sunday hunting opportunities – would drive down license sales substantially.

            The dilemma was solved when DIF&W Deputy Commissioner Paul Jacques came up with the idea of linking SAM’s goals to the enactment of the $3 fee, instead of linking those goals to increased fees for the new hunting opportunities that were to be offered to Sunday hunters and nonresidents.

            From that idea, the deal was made, presented to the governor, and entered in the governor’s budget – on the final possible day.  Many deserve credit for this extraordinary effort and achievement.

            The overall agreement between SAM, DIF&W and the governor, is this.

            First, DIF&W’s new budget will continue the $3 increase in all licenses, permits and fees that was enacted in the last legislative session.

            Second, the following new opportunities will be offered to sportsmen, for no additional charge.

            Sunday hunting will be authorized for all species and seasons, except the regular firearms season on deer.  During that season, Sunday hunting will continue to be prohibited, except for those hunting migratory birds.

            Nonresidents will be allowed to hunt on the first day of the regular firearms season on deer.

            Third, the governor’s budget provides DIF&W with $700,000 per year of General Fund tax money, to avoid layoffs and program cuts.

            Finally, the governor has made a commitment to present an administration initiative that solves DIF&W’s long term financial problems and brings a stream of public money into the department without reliance on the 18 percent law and General Fund tax money.

            The unusual and strong partnership that SAM enjoyed with Governor Baldacci during the development of these initiatives was remarkable, and the help of DIF&W leaders and staff was a key element of the final achievement that benefits all those who hunt in the state of Maine.

            And the big prize – public funding for DIF&W that pays for the services and benefits the department provides to the public – is just around the corner!