Conservation Contributions From Hunting And Fishing
The northwest is home to two of the most liberal cities, liberalism and anti-hunting go hand in hand, thus those who live here and love to hunt and fish often feel the heat from activist groups. I’m Susan Allen when Open Range returns why environmentalists should be indebted to the outdoor community. Hunters and anglers have provided the foundation for wildlife conservation in America for more than 75 years. Groups like Pheasants Forever, Trout Unlimited and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation generate critical funding for habitat projects at a time when many states can’t begin to make their budget. Secretary of the interior Ken Salazar recently announced the distribution of more than $749 million in excise tax revenues generated by sportsmen and women to state and fish wildlife agencies through the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration and Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Programs. The funds come from taxes paid by manufacturers, producers and importers on guns, ammo archery equipment, fishing tackle even electric outboard motors. Fishermen also contribute to this via fuel taxes on small engines and fishing boats. The Pittman Restoration program has a budget this year of more than $384 million. The Dingell Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Projects is nearly $365 million. Without that $749 million dollars generated from the hunting and fishing industries our conservation efforts would be in a world of hurt. Environmentalists tend to forget or elect to ignore this fact. Those of us who hunt and fish should “gently” remind them.
