ATA Spearheads Coalition to Modernize Pittman-Robertson Act

By Jason Reid

NEW ULM, Minnesota – The Archery Trade Association (ATA) is working with 36 other hunting and conservation organizations to update the way state wildlife agencies can use federal funding, a move that would strengthen recruitment efforts in archery and bowhunting.

The vehicle for those changes is the Pittman-Robertson Modernization Act – H.R. 4818 in the House and S. 2690 in the Senate – which would change how conservation dollars generated by federal excise taxes (FET) can be used by state wildlife agencies. Pittman-Robertson taxes are collected in part through sales of archery equipment.

State wildlife agencies currently are restricted on how they use Pittman-Robertson funds for hunter recruitment. With the exception of some hunter-education activities and other minor recruitment efforts approved in 2000, the law’s guidelines haven’t changed since its enactment in 1937.

These revisions to the Pittman-Robertson Act (as proposed in H.R. 4818 and S. 2690) wouldn’t change how FET are charged or collected, said Jay McAninch, ATA president/CEO. They would simply give state wildlife agencies the option of using Pittman-Robertson funds for recruitment, an area desperately needing financial support.

“Many in our industry are feeling the recent downturn in hunting participation, and they’re very concerned about its impact on bowhunting,” …Read the Rest

Source:: AmmoLand