Feds grant $1.1 billion to wildlife agencies from gun, equipment sales

By Chris Eger

Secretary Zinke was on hand at the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area to present Wisconsin conservation officials with a ceremonial check for $34.9 million on Tuesday, the state’s grant allocation through long-running wildlife restoration programs. (Photo: U.S. F&WS)
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke on Tuesday announced over $1.1 billion in funding collected from the long-standing excise tax on the sale of guns, ammo, archery and fishing equipment.
The funds were collected through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration and Dingell-Johnson Sports Fish Restoration programs, which have mandated taxes levied against manufacturers of hunting and fishing equipment since 1937 and 1950, respectively. Zinke said the program makes America’s sportsmen among the country’s “best conservationists” as they contribute billions for the benefit of public recreation, education, and conservation through their everyday purchases.
“Every time a firearm, fishing pole, hook, bullet, motor boat or boat fuel is sold, part of that cost goes to fund conservation,” said Zinke. “The best way to increase funding for conservation and sportsmen access is to increase the number of hunters and anglers in our woods and waters.”
Enacted during the Great Depression, Pittman-Robertson is credited with largely saving the sport of hunting in the country and bringing numerous species back from

Source: Guns.com