Who Picks Up the Tab?
LISTEN: (6 min, 21 sec)
WE ALL HAVE OUR PASSIONS in the outdoors. For some, it’s hunting big game; for others, it’s hooking into huge largemouth bass, and some enjoy scanning the flats for redfish. The one thing we all have in common is a shared passion for wildlife, conservation, and the great outdoors.
America is unique in that not only do we have public lands, but we also allow our citizens, every single one of them, the opportunity to hunt and fish. This enjoyment, because of a few visionary individuals, comes with the added benefit of aiding in conservation efforts across the country. This conservation by proxy, in short, was created because of issues in the country’s past such as market hunting and the unbridled use of the land with little understanding of the implications this would have down the road.
Regulations are now in place, and hunting licenses and excise taxes have been established to ensure there are resources available to help keep wildlife populations at healthy levels and to fund all the parts of the machine that make conservation efforts possible (restoration projects, research, salaries, etc).
According to a recent article by Russ Mason in Michigan Out of Doors Magazine, an Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies study showed that of the $3.7 billion collected in 2019, 70% came from only three funding sources: Hunting and fishing license sales: 43%, Pittman-Robertson (excise tax on hunting equipment): 18% and Dingell-Johnson (excise tax on fishing equipment): 8%
This means that the majority of Americans are paying little to nothing that contributes towards the conservation of wildlife. There have been attempts to broaden the funding mechanisms that contribute to conservation in the past, such as the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA), but when push came to shove, this bill failed to pass. RAWA would have added $1.3 billion annually for state and tribal wildlife conservation efforts and targeted the conservation of a wider array of species than game animals. This hesitation to create new funding sources beyond the traditional hunting and fishing community perpetuates the continued dependence on these groups to finance most conservation efforts.
I’ve been seeking information that shows the contrary, and all roads have led back to the “hunting as conservation” model, otherwise known as the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, as the major funding method for wildlife conservation in North America. Some “studies,” nothing more than anti-hunting activist articles on their websites, have stated that this is a fallacy, but they provide no substantial evidence or use data that left out key funding sources such as license sales, Pittman-Robertson, or Dingell Johnson.
As it stands, hunters and anglers, whether willingly or not, are footing the bill for conservation efforts in America. This is a great responsibility. If we want the game we love to be around, we must act (and spend) accordingly. We also need to be active in discussions and issues that arise when it comes to holding on to our right to hunt and fish.
There are many groups out there dedicated to taking away, piece by piece, our ability to continue this great American tradition of hunting and fishing. This is exacerbated by infighting within the hunting and fishing community. We do not need to agree on every aspect of hunting and fishing, but we must get on the same page when it comes to protecting resources for future generations.
I just watched the state of Michigan close hunting on coyotes, with no scientific evidence to explain why (see the feature story on page 24 for more on this). “Ballot box biology” is becoming more and more common and, I hate to say it, but it is our fault.
Outdoorsmen and women, are footing the bill for the conservation, yet are keeping our mouths shut when anti-hunters, and in some cases, hunters, come after the sport. We should be advocating to maintain all types of hunting and fishing as long as they are legal and not detrimental to the overall health of the species. Just because you don’t hunt birds doesn’t mean if you see groups coming after bird hunting, you shouldn’t care—you’re on the chopping block, it’s just not your turn yet.
As Fred Bear once said, “If you are not working to protect hunting, then you are working to destroy it.” This goes beyond funding mechanisms, personal hobbies, and legislative decisions. This is about standing up for your rights as an American and keeping alive a tradition that we all love so much.
The easiest way to get involved and make a difference is to join a conservation organization. They can amplify your voice and do all the messy legal and lobbying work that we all want little or nothing to do with. Donate whatever you have more of, money or time, to organizations that contribute to conservation efforts. Stay informed by keeping up to date on conservation issues like you’re doing right now by reading this. If you have the ability, attend the public forums that your state wildlife agencies hold to get feedback about regulations and laws. Trust me, the anti-hunters are showing up, and we all need to start as well.
The North American Model has not only been revolutionary in how it has recovered many game species but also has made sure these efforts are funded and maintained by the ones who care and are most connected to the wildlife and beautiful outdoor spaces that this country has to offer—us, the outdoorsmen and women of this great nation. We have shown time and time again that we are proud and willing to put our money where our mouth is when it comes to conservation as opposed to those who talk but, when it comes time to open their wallets, are nowhere to be found (think RAWA). Don’t let outside influences take away YOUR rights to hunt or fish. Get involved, stay involved, and fight for what is yours!
Email Paul Fuzinski at ContactUs@fishgame.com
