Revenue Distribution

Game and Fish Fund

The Game and Fish Fund is the primary means of funding the state's programs to manage and enhance hunting and fishing. The main sources of money for this fund include fishing and hunting licenses, fines for hunting and fishing rule violations, and other fees. The 2000 legislature was the first to dedicate a portion of lottery revenues to this fund.

For fiscal year 2008, 37.4 percent of the in-lieu-of-sales tax on lottery tickets is dedicated to this fund. By law, this money "may be spent only on activities that improve, enhance, or protect fish and wildlife resources, including conservation, restoration, and enhancement of land, water, and other natural resources of the state" (Minnesota Statutes 297A.44, subdivision 1, paragraph (e), clause (1)). The law further states that this money "may not be used as a substitute for traditional sources of funding" but should be used to supplement existing programs.

For the fiscal year 2008, the legislature appropriated lottery revenue to the Department of Natural Resources through the Game and Fish Fund. This money was distributed as follows:

Fish and Wildlife Management - $8,061,000

Ecological Services - $1,612,000

Enforcement - $1,164,000

Forestry Management - $257,000 (This appropriation is to be used to implement ecological classification systems standards on forest landscapes.)