The Democratic Party’s withdrawal of the suggested canoe and kayak fees in this year’s budget makes no sense to me.

It is clear to anyone paying attention that the funding of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is in serious jeopardy. While the most sensible answer to this problem would be to fund the department from the general fund, the current administration is unwilling to do this. Either way, those who enjoy the variety of outdoor activities that we have in Maine should be willing – no, eager – to pay their way.

Do the people who canoe, kayak, hike, climb, snowshoe, cross country ski and otherwise enjoy the Maine wilderness understand what the department and Warden Service jobs are? Do these folks not understand what is involved in being the entity charged to protect not only the wildlife and habitat of the state of Maine, but the people who are enjoying it as well?

I have been a registered Maine guide for 17 years. The enjoyment I have gained over these years of paddling Maine’s rivers and coastline is priceless. If I need to pitch in to help maintain it, so be it. I have seven whitewater boats, two sea kayaks and a canoe. Those who can afford to own a $1,000 kayak, $100 paddle, $75 personal floatation device and other associated equipment should consider it a privilege to live in and be able to experience a state that draws millions of people to it each year for exactly the activities that they enjoy.

We all need to pay for these privileges.

The people who visit Maine do so because their own state has long since developed, built on, polluted and otherwise changed the places they once might have enjoyed. Do we want to see the same things happen here?

We have heard many excuses as to why people don’t want to have these fees assessed on them. The only legitimate reason I have heard so far is that the state hasn’t included them in the discussion. That is typical of government. My organization would like to see inclusiveness of all stakeholders in every decision that involves the people of Maine. Government officials often see this as too cumbersome, and yet, fighting amongst each other for something that most reasonable people know is necessary is far more so.

Once we have people sitting at a table and discussing the best way to implement outdoor fees and access, we will have a system that encourages inclusion and participation. This can and should extend to the advisory council and committee that set policies and legislate our outdoor governance.

When people feel adequately represented, there tends to be much less reason for the divisiveness that we see almost constantly when it comes to our wildlife and habitat policies.

We also strongly believe that the money collected from these fees must be spent in appropriate ways. Those who do not hunt do not want to support a coyote snaring program or studies of how best to increase the bear population so that there are more bears to hunt. Those who enjoy wildlife for wildlife’s sake would like to see preservation and conservation for the wildlife, not for those who want to hunt it.

Habitat is the single most important factor for healthy wildlife populations. With educational programs, landowners can encourage the re-wilding of Maine, something that would bring more people to our state to enjoy its wildness and spend their money doing so.

I encourage the state’s Democratic leadership to go back to the drawing board, include those in the paddling and outdoor activity communities, and develop a fee system that would truly represent and encourage the majority of Mainers who do not hunt to support the department that supports them.

With representation of these stakeholders in place, success should be ensured.

Daryl DeJoy is the director of the Wildlife Alliance of Maine.

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