Once again its the same song out of Springfield.

Money is tight. We need to raise fees for outdoor recreation. Let’s gouge the hunters and fishermen.

That seems to be the thinking behind the  heavily amended Senate Bill 1846 that now proposes  a $2 hike in fishing licenses and a $5 increase on hunting licenses.  It would also increase migratory waterfowl stamps from $10 to $15 and deer permits from $15 to $25.

And this bill, once aimed at the state finance and tax acts and bond payments in Chicago, now has the support of the revamped Conservation Congress for higher fees on hunting and fishing.

Don’t get me wrong here. I have respect for DNR director Marc Miller and Gov. Pat Quinn’s efforts to revive Conservation Congress as a way to reconnect with outdoor constituents after the “do it my way” approach of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

I was a delegate at two Conservation Congresses under Gov. Jim Edgar and DNR director Brent Manning. I know and appreciate the work that the new Conservation Congress has undertaken.

The problem with new fees on hunting and fishing is their inherent unfairness in this support for SB1846 that, if approve, would see these new fees go into effect on Jan. 1, 2010.

According to Miller, user fees for other outdoor activities are no longer under consideration even though DNR speculated on added parking fees at state parks, an equestrian trail fee and even swimming fees at state-owned beaches and lakes.

Miller’s rational for raiding sportsmen’s wallets is that deer permits have gone unchanged for 25 years and that the waterfowl stamp has stayed at $10 since 1990.

Hunters and fishermen already pay dearly to support wildlife and habitat in Illinois.

But the state needs to make sure all users fairly support the natural resources they enjoy.

I’m a fisherman and a horse rider who sees no problem in paying a fee to maintain equestrian trails at places like the Kankakee River and Starved Rock state parks.

I believe that its only fair that we all pay our share for what we enjoy and want to protect.

Even nature trails cost money to maintain. Where is the financial support from hikers, joggers, bike riders and wildlife watchers?

Local lawmakers also need to take a good long look at SB1846 which has now been amended so extensively that it’s difficult to decipher.

The bill is also vague on exactly where the addition money will be spent. It designates that a quarter of the revenue from the sale of migratory waterfowl stamps be split between waterfowl conservation and propagation and that another 25 percent go to DNR for administrative costs to maintain waterfowl habitat.

But the bill is not clear on where and how the added revenue on permits and licenses will be used.