Wisconsin state park use still strong and growing. But there are warning signs about outdoors funding.

More people went to Wisconsin state parks during the COVID-19 pandemic — and the trend is sticking around.

A new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum showed that sales of state park annual admission stickers in 2023 remained high — almost a 50% increase over 2019.

Using Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources data, the report said 518,846 people bought annual park stickers in 2023, continuing the growth that surged from 346,491 in 2019 to 493,206 in 2020.

The 2023 sales also were a 10% increase over 2022 sales.

While that's good news for the funding of state parks, the report notes some warning signs ahead for conservation funding overall in the state.

The problem? Not as many people are hunting and fishing.

Sales of hunting and fishing licenses increased during the pandemic, but not enough to reverse their long-term downward trend. Now, participation in hunting and fishing is declining again.

And revenue from other recreational activities — not hunting and fishing — is "insufficient" to fund both conservation efforts and post-pandemic expansion plans, the report said.

The WPF called on state leaders "to consider ways to ensure stable sources of funding to continue the state's proud outdoor traditions."

Taxpayer money supported state parks in the past, but in 2015, Act 55 cut off that funding. To offset losses, the act raised admission fees, trail use fees and camping fees. Now, parks fund themselves with license fees and entry passes.

Under the model, revenue gained from a certain activity funds the management of that activity. For example, money from fishing license approvals might go to fish hatchery management, while camping fees would fund basic grounds maintenance.

Tyler Byrnes, who authored the report, said hunting and fishing revenue supports big-picture ecological management, like hiring conservation wardens who ensure that park attendees don't harm wildlife.

"It's very important," Byrnes said of hunting and fishing revenue, because "everyone is interacting with the outside world in similar ways. Everyone wants to see wildlife."

Without strong revenue from hunting and fishing licenses, those conservation efforts are at risk, he said.

Now, as state park attendance increases but hunting and fishing declines, the WPF said "future challenges are still likely" without stable sources of funding.

"Regardless of the choice," the report said, "state leaders may wish to consider a new course forward before the need for additional sources of conservation funding becomes truly dire."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin state park use still strong and growing. But there are warning signs about outdoors funding.