Minnesota fishing license sales remain significantly down from recent years, due, most likely, to the inclement weather this spring and early summer.
Sales numbers tallied recently by the Department of Natural Resources show 591,864 licenses purchased this year, compared to 713,744 last year and 679,276 in 2011.
The decline from a year ago is about 17 percent — representing a loss to date of about $2.7 million in revenue to the DNR.
Sales this summer are off 13 percent from 2011.
It's possible license sales will pick up as the summer progresses, depending on weather.
Still, it remains true that many Minnesotans only fish on opening weekend.
