I’m in Wisconsin also, so I pay the same as you. There are only a couple of things that I don’t mind the government charging me for. Fishing licenses and trout stamps, as well as hunting licenses. The money collected from those sales goes towards keeping the privilege of hunting, and fishing, along with a myriad of other outdoor activities alive. It helps pay for public land, purchased by the state, for outdoorsmen/women to use. It helps pay for rehabilitation of natural habitat and protection of threatened and endangered species. It pays wardens and other DNR employees who, whether you want to admit it or not, are necessary to wildlife protection and management. Without these fees we would not have thousands and thousands of acres of public land to hunt on. You may hunt private property , but remember, many others don’t. They need the state to provide it.
As long as it is profitable for the state to maintain hunting, it will continue. As soon as it stops being profitable, anti-hunting organizations like PETA, will win. We are the ones paying the fee, but we also are the ones reaping the benefits from it. I’ll gladly pay for a hunting license even years I know I won’t have the time to hunt. It’s better than being taxed and having your money being blown on issues you don’t support. Not trying to rant at you, but come on $25.00 for all that meat isn’t that bad. Is it?

24.00 for first and well spent money very cheap food and fun!
It is the start up fee’s that are costly ie: gun,bow.all equipment,fuel….!

I don need no stinkin license! We are a poor state, the yankees stole everything except us. Take care.

If you really want to know the answer ask your wildlife dept. Yes the state owns the deer. Their are many reasons for this. Conservation is one. Another Is to ensure a “proper kill” It is still poaching if you shoot your deer but don’t harvest it. The state cannot tell if you could not really find your deer or if your just a “trophy hunter” and just want to shoot something.

The license very from state to state. In Oklahoma you pay $20.00 and tags & $20.00 for resdints. for non resdients it is from $201.00-$251.00

Washington State $40 resident $400 non resident but they do have raffles for $5.00 for residents and non residents that are pretty generous depending on how many people apply and how many deer tags were issued.

You would have better luck filing suit against the Deer…lol Years ago many states did in fact lay claim to the ownership of the Deer population. That all changed when everybody and his brother filed suit against the individual state governments to collect damages for Deer related automobile accidents. Once the state governments go wise, they changed the law to prevent their states from being sued.(Wisconsin included) Now if you hit a Deer and kill it, you get to keep it, instead of getting to file suit.Great for State government..lousy for automobile drivers that get the added bonus of increased auto policy premiums……

Maryland Resident $24.50 (Plus $6 for Archery/Crossbow stamp) $10 for additional antlered Deer stamp

Non-Resident $130 (Plus cost of stamps)

In California I pay 37.50 for a license, 23.00 for my first deer tag, 25.00 for my second. And for the record, the deer you harvest, is actually state property.

For all intents and purposes the local government does own the wildlife in it’s area. You still cannot sue. License fees vary from state to state. Check the website or call for states of interest.