A white-tailed buck. (Michigan Department of Natural Resources)

Hunting and fishing fees in Michigan would increase to net revenue of more than $20 million under a bill passed by the Senate on Tuesday, which was met with staunch opposition from Republicans in both chambers of the Legislature.

The bills raising the fees were sprung on Senate lawmakers during session held Tuesday and were not initially on the agenda. But the bills were not new introductions jammed through the process and had been in the hopper for months now.

There had also been discussions during the budget process of finding new revenue from hunting and fishing fees. Still, Republican leaders, particularly state Sen. Ed McBroom of Waucedah Township, castigated the increases and scolded Senate leadership for bringing it

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