MyOAN!

Hunters Fact Card 1998 | Dollars: From Hunters | The Hunters Image

Wildlife Management
Hunters were the first conservationists. They were the first to recognize the need for scientific wildlife management, for hunting regulations, for law enforcement and they were the first to fund these efforts. Hunting and fishing license fees and excise taxes fund more than 75% of all state fish and wildlife management programs, including those for non-game species. In fact, less than 10% of state fish and wildlife budgets come from general taxpayer funds.

Fish and wildlife agencies use hunters' money for species management, biological surveys, wildlife research and habitat improvement, access sites, shooting and field trial facilities, law enforcement, education safety programs and land acquisition. P-R funds have funded the acquisition of approximately five million acres of state-owned wildlife habitat, more than 1.6 million acres of waterfowl habitat, and the establishment of over 4,000 state wildlife management areas containing 45 million acres. In 1997, P-R federal assistance provided the states over $136 million for wildlife restoration that includes species management, habitat improvement, and wildlife research.

Even though the lands purchased with P-R money are financed completely by firearm users and archery enthusiasts, the benefits for non-hunters and non-game wildlife are tremendous. Nearly all the lands purchased with P-R funds are managed for wildlife and other public uses. It is estimated that between 70 and 90 percent of the people using these areas are not hunting.

Hunters' Successes
Since the 1920's when certain wildlife populations were at historic lows, the dollars and efforts of sportsmen, wildlife agencies and conservation groups have achieved many notable successes throughout North America. Some examples are listed below.