Locally, at least in this part of the country, we have small individual clubs, called "leases", where hunters band together, lease a tract f land, and make improvements t the land so that they can enjoy the outdoors and hunting. Many of these clubs have been around for generations, and have more restrictive rules on the taking of game than the state regulations. They invest time, money, and effort to insure that the game populations are healthy. Many leases that I know about have fies for members who take game that are outside of their harvest rules.
Politicians should remember this.
Almost $1 billion each year goes to state wildlife and natural resource agencies courtesy of checks written by firearms, ammunition, and related manufacturers. It is the result of an 11 percent excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and related goods known as Pittman-Robertson, or the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937.Hunters are often vilified in the shooting -related press as "Fudds", bu the hunters do more for wildlife conservation than any group of "environmentalists" groups than I've ever seen.
I love -asking someone anti-hunting about what organization they think does more for habitat conservation than anyone else. I'll get "uh the sierra club?"
ReplyDeleteNo, Ducks Unlimited...Blank stare after that
Yep, that pesky truth raises its head once again...
ReplyDeleteThat is one tax I am proud to pay. I just hope the money is well spent.
ReplyDeleteI just wish some of those A-rated NRA politicians would bring that up more, especially in a live televised event that cannot be edited out later by the media. I cannot recall a single instance I have heard that 'on the air'.
Where the hell were all these people in the 1890's to early 20th century when market hunting with punt guns was destroying the waterfowl populations, Where were they when the passenger pigeon faced extinction (we were a little late on that.) All the large game animals were almost wiped out from the Bison to the deer and antelope species not a peep from people in the cities Without people like Teddy Roosevelt and the Boone and Crockett Club pushed through legislation to save all the species in the habitat NOT just the Glamorous mega-fauna. The Pittman-Robertson act a self imposed tax on outdoor products like hunting and fishing equipment provides funding for all wildlife. In Colorado they tried to sell a bird watching license and they got few takers. But they mooch off hunters and fisherman.
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