Just got back from a trip we put in 6/4, got our permit, gear etc. at Seagull Outfitters and was planning on getting our fishing licenses then also. 7 day out of state with a trout stamp. That’s gotta be close to $50 these days. We had a group of 5.
They told us there is a glitch and they can’t process fishing licenses then and anyone putting in our permit day didn’t have to buy them. How cool is that! No clue how it went after that but that’s a lot of money just for one day with all the permits. Anybody else have this experience.

System wide down time was June 2-8 to change over to their new electronic based licensing system. No license required.

Let me guess - just like a restaurant these days the menu changes the prices always go up. Got lucky this time was happy about that.

Couple years ago i went to wisconsin with buddies. I live in illinois. We fished the Mississippi. Wasn't going to buy a license cause i would use either my iowa or minnesota license. Lady said if i didn't have a wisconsin license before i could get one for a dollar. I got it.
I was then licensed in illinois. Iowa. Minnesota North Dakota. Wisconsin. Ohio....

scat: "Let me guess - just like a restaurant these days the menu changes the prices always go up. Got lucky this time was happy about that."

There will probably be an option to add a tip now too.

Look at our exciting new menu! The only thing that changed was everything went up 5 bucks. Not hard to figure why so many restaurants are struggling, nobody can afford it.

Just to be clear…not that anyone wasn’t…the fishing license system is online and has been since 6/9.

Everyone needs a license to legally fish. The glitch was the system was down from 6/2 to 6/8. There was no physical way to purchase a license so the DNR made it free during that time.

My Brother for example is up in MN since 6/6 to 6/11. He fished from 6/6-6/8 for free then purchased a 3 day license to finish out the week starting 6/9.

As far as I can see there has been no changes in license costs and hasn’t been for awhile.

For comparison purposes:

MN resident license $25/year Non-Resident: $52
Iowa resident: $22 Non-resident $48
Wisconsin Resident $20 Non-Resident $55
illinois Resident $15. Non-Resident $31.50
South Dakota Resident $31 Non Resident $80
North Dakota Resident $18 Non Resident $68 + $5 certificate required

timatkn: "MN resident license $25/year Non-Resident: $52
Iowa resident: $22 Non-resident $48
Wisconsin Resident $20 Non-Resident $55
illinois Resident $15. Non-Resident $31.50
South Dakota Resident $31 Non Resident $80
North Dakota Resident $18 Non Resident $68 + $5 certificate required
"

Fishing licenses must be the only thing cheaper in Illinois!

I get my illinois license for free cause I'm P2 disabled. Saves me like 15 bucks...

Went to Fleet Farm yesterday and tried to buy my fishing license. They said they were still not set up with the new system. That's the second time I've tried to buy my license and been told I can't.

timatkn: " Everyone needs a license to legally fish. "

Kids under 16 don't need them

Fishing and hunting licenses should always be free for residents. I can follow all the limits and regulations without paying for one.

YaMarVa: " Fishing and hunting licenses should always be free for residents. I can follow all the limits and regulations without paying for one. "

If you take away that money from already chronically underfunded fish and game departments (at least in IA, I can't speak for any other states) they would be even less able to effectively manage our natural resources than they currently are. Wanting to utilize a resource without paying to maintain it is extremely short sighted.

NEIowapaddler: "

YaMarVa: " Fishing and hunting licenses should always be free for residents. I can follow all the limits and regulations without paying for one. "

If you take away that money from already chronically underfunded fish and game departments (at least in IA, I can't speak for any other states) they would be even less able to effectively manage our natural resources than they currently are. Wanting to utilize a resource without paying to maintain it is extremely short sighted. "

I paid over $70k in taxes last year, claiming I want to utilize a resource without paying for it is laughable. Paying another $35 is not going to make a difference.

But you’re correct, you cannot compare Iowa to Minnesota. Minnesota funds its public land resources, one funding mechanism is in our state’s constitution known as the legacy amendment. Iowa is well known for not supporting and providing public lands. Iowa ranks 49th in available public land.

At one time Minnesota DNR received a lot of money from the general funds. The legislature has done away with almost all of that and it is now mainly license fees and
we have Legacy funds from lottery etc.

Nothing is free and were blessed with a great resource. Also much of the new boat fee is tied to the exotic weed-others program-prevention.

Pinetree: "At one time Minnesota DNR received a lot of money from the general funds. The legislature has done away with almost all of that and it is now mainly license fees...
"

Your statement is highly incorrect. According to the MN DNR's 2026-27 Budget, $457 million will come from the general fund, which is the largest source of the MN DNR's funding.

In 2023, the MN DNR collected $262,700,215 in revenue from fees, but had a total budget of over $1 billion.

YaMarVa: "

Pinetree: "At one time Minnesota DNR received a lot of money from the general funds. The legislature has done away with almost all of that and it is now mainly license fees...
"

Your statement is highly incorrect. According to the MN DNR's 2026-27 Budget, $457 million will come from the general fund, which is the largest source of the MN DNR's funding.

In 2023, the MN DNR collected $262,700,215 in revenue from fees, but had a total budget of over $1 billion. "

Maybe I should of funding for Fish and Wildlife programs only.
Your throwing in lands and minerals, forestry, parks and rec9reation.
I am mainly talking about Fish and wildlife funds and Conservation officers and duties.
Yes and where funds collected and run various programs.
Conservation officers were once almost entirely funded by general funds, now 69% of it is covered by Game and fish license, yet much of their duties now cover riots, ATV enforcement ,drug enforcement, and many regular enforcemnt0 not involving natural resources.
Also the Legacy funds is huge from the lottery etc..-this is mandated funding but0 goes thru the general funds-legislature.
The DNR has so many functions and wide spread departments. It can be dissected in many ways.
Total DNR budget is Approximately 66% of Minnesota's Fish and Wildlife Division expenditures are funded by user fees. This includes revenue from fishing licenses, hunting permits, and boat registrations, which are crucial for supporting fisheries management and wildlife conservation efforts in the state. Notably, fishing licenses and registrations alone account for about 20% of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' annual funding. Yes there is many one time funds.

Fish and wildlife alone get 12.7% from general revenue


Funding for Fish and Wildlife alone

YaMarVa: "I paid over $70k in taxes last year, claiming I want to utilize a resource without paying for it is laughable. Paying another $35 is not going to make a difference."

By this line of reasoning, if I go to the grocery store and buy a couple hundred bucks worth of stuff, I should able to just take a few cheaper items without paying for them, right? Since I've already given them so much money, after all...

NEIowapaddler: "

YaMarVa: "I paid over $70k in taxes last year, claiming I want to utilize a resource without paying for it is laughable. Paying another $35 is not going to make a difference."

By this line of reasoning, if I go to the grocery store and buy a couple hundred bucks worth of stuff, I should able to just take a few cheaper items without paying for them, right? Since I've already given them so much money, after all..."

That’s a very odd reasoning. Paying a grocery store for exact items and then taking more is called stealing. If the $70k I paid in taxes can’t cover the resources the $35 fishing license covers, then my representatives are certainly wasting my tax dollars. I think the proper reasoning would be they’re stealing from me. Not the other way around.

@pinetree, your original post said MnDNR not fish and wildlife. Hence my response.

Thanks for the back and forth.

The license fees are so small that I really don't think about it much.
Would anglers from MN still have to get a license? Or would your drivers license be sufficient?
The license process creates an implied acknowledgement that the licensee is familiar with the various fishing limits and regulations. Without the process it would be easier to play ignorant to the regulations. Not sure how that would be viewed in court.
Seems like the license requirement would still be needed, which brings associated costs and management. To make the licenses free for MN residents would then transfer those direct costs to other funding sources.

YaMarVa: "@pinetree, your original post said MnDNR not fish and wildlife. Hence my response.


Thanks for the back and forth.


"

My fault, what is ironic The General Administration gives so much to the DNR,but with the other and charges over a million dollars to administer certain functions and that includes taking some Fish and wildlife funds.

Jakthund: "The license fees are so small that I really don't think about it much.
Would anglers from MN still have to get a license? Or would your drivers license be sufficient?
The license process creates an implied acknowledgement that the licensee is familiar with the various fishing limits and regulations. Without the process it would be easier to play ignorant to the regulations. Not sure how that would be viewed in court.
Seems like the license requirement would still be needed, which brings associated costs and management. To make the licenses free for MN residents would then transfer those direct costs to other funding sources."

Go to the present day and it cost like $100.00 for the DNR to fill the gas tank for a pickup. That eats up a few licenses.

A1t2o: "

scat: "Let me guess - just like a restaurant these days the menu changes the prices always go up. Got lucky this time was happy about that."

There will probably be an option to add a tip now too."

Oh so true!