Pine Knot Outdoors: Let's hope Band will give young hunters a permit break

The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has decided to charge an annual fee to access thousands of acres of reservation land for non-band members. It’s $25 a month or an annual fee of $100. I have enjoyed hunting and fishing on tribal lands the past 40 years. I can say paying no fees and taxes has been a real bargain.

Have I taken over $100 annually in fish and game? Probably not. Have I collectively done $100 in damage to the land? Not to my knowledge. I’ve respected the land as if it were my own. I’ve never pounded a single nail into a tree or carelessly left a Snickers wrapper behind. Nonetheless, I will pay my access fee if that’s what is required.

However, I would ask the Fond du Lac Band to carefully consider their fees when it comes to two groups. One is families. Individually, I can afford to fork over $100 bucks to access decent hunting grounds. Paying hundreds of dollars each year to include my entire family in outdoor pursuits on reservation land is cost-prohibitive. A maximum fee per family would be worth considering.

The second group I worry about is young people. Working with high-schoolers the last 20 years, I’m struck by how times have changed. As the years pass, I connect with fewer and fewer students who regularly hunt and fish. Part of this equation is the dwindling access to waterways and public land. I would hate to see kids hop on their bikes headed for the local creek or pond on tribal lands and be blocked access because they haven’t paid to play.

I would even add college-age students to this concern. We want to encourage young men and women to enjoy nature. After all, they will be the most important generation in the conservation of what we have left to enjoy. If they don’t have access to wild places, they won’t develop the passion to protect it.

I would propose no fees for anyone under 25. Of course, the entire decision is not mine to make. In general, I understand the move. An educated guess is that most damage done to tribal lands has been and will continue to be from ATV or UTV use. That damage can be scarring to the landscape. I respect the band’s decision to protect their land. I also respectfully request that families and young people are considered in final decisions.

Bret Baker is a lifetime resident of Cloquet. He is a proud husband, father, educator and outdoorsman. Bret began guiding fishing trips when he was 16 years old. Today, in his 40s, his passion is to introduce people to the tremendous outdoor adventures our region has to offer.