Wildlife, sportsmen to share $600M

Minnesota granted more than $21 for education, restoration projects

For The Journal

Published Tuesday, April 10, 2007

U.S. Interior Department Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has announced that more than $600 million will be distributed to 56 state and territorial wildlife agencies to fund conservation efforts, shooting ranges and hunter education.

This funding is derived from an excise tax paid by firearm, ammunition, archery and angling equipment manufacturers as well as boat motor fuels through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration programs.

"Since establishment of these federal programs more than a half century ago, manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, archery, fishing and boating equipment have paid more than $10.5 billion in excise taxes, which has been used by state wildlife agencies to maintain and restore fish and wildlife resources, educate hunters and fund sport shooting ranges nationwide,” said Kempthorne. "By paying these excise taxes, the manufacturers and sportsmen and women continue to provide critical funding for wildlife conservation in North America."

The Wildlife Restoration apportionment for 2007 totals nearly $267 million, with more than $50 million tagged for hunter education and shooting range programs. The Sport Fish Restoration apportionment for 2007 totals more than $349 million. Federal Assistance funds pay up to 75 percent of the cost of each eligible project while the states are required to contribute at least 25 percent.

“In the 1930s, after an era of massive habitat degradation and commercial hunting had decimated game populations, sportsmen stood up and said, ‘We want to restore the numbers of game and we know someone has to pay to do it,’” said H. Dale Hall, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Then they suggested something that was virtually unprecedented, the establishment of a tax.”

“In 1937 sportsmen called for passage of the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, and in 1950, the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act. As the Wildlife Restoration Act approaches its 70th anniversary in September, it’s an ideal time to take stock of the extraordinary accomplishments of these two programs,” Hall added.

Wildlife Restoration Act funding is made available to states through a formula based on land area, including inland waters and the number of hunting license holders in each state. States use the money to manage wildlife populations, conduct habitat research, surveys and inventories, and administer hunter education programs.

More than 62 percent of Wildlife Restoration funds are used to buy, develop, maintain, and operate wildlife management areas. Since the program began, 68 million acres of land have been purchased and more than 350 million acres managed for wildlife.

Numerous species such as the wild turkey, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, American elk and mountain lion have increased in population due to improved research and habitat management funded by Wildlife Restoration.