Conservation funding explained

Sometimes a headline can leave a false impression. Last week, for example, I received a press release announcing that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, a branch of the Department of the Interior, will dole out $1.1 billion to state wildlife agencies in fiscal year 2017. I saw it as great news because that’s how states get conservation dollars from the federal government.

I fear, however, many people will see that headline and wonder why the federal government is giving more than a billion dollars to state wildlife agencies. Wouldn’t that money be better spent on education or infrastructure? Read on.

The backstory is that not a single penny of those dollars comes from general tax dollars. The fiscal beauty of conservation is that it’s a pay-as-you-go system.

Federal funds distributed to state wildlife agencies come from revenues generated by the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 (often referred to as the Pittman–Robertson (P-R) Act in recognition of its sponsors, Nevada Sen. Key Pittman and Virginia Congressman Absalom Robertson) and the Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950 (often referred to as the Dingell-Johnson (D-J) Act in recognition of its sponsors Sen. Edwin Johnson of Colorado and Rep. John Dingell Sr. of Michigan). More than $780 million comes from P-R funds, and more than $349 million comes from D-J funds. These dollars originate from a federal excise tax that hunters and anglers pay on the equipment they purchase to pursue their favorite outdoor activities.

Hunters pay an 11 percent federal excise tax every time they purchase firearms, bows and ammunition. Anglers are assessed a similar 10 percent tax on purchases of sport fishing tackle, some boat engines and small engine fuel. Everyone who hunts and/or fishes pays these taxes. And that’s the way it’s been for nearly 80 years.

The importance of these funds cannot be overstated. Since these acts were passed, they have ensured a solid financial base for fish and wildlife conservation. And the most amazing thing about these taxes is that far-sighted sportsmen demanded taxes on themselves to insure the future of wildlife.

Funds are distributed to the states based on a formula that takes into account each state’s land and water area and the number of paid hunting/fishing license holders. This insures that larger, sparsely populated western states can compete for funds fairly with smaller, more densely populated eastern states.

The genius of the P-R and D-J Acts is that they stipulate that states can receive these funds only if their laws prohibit diverting hunting license revenues to any purpose other than wildlife conservation.

To date, the Fish & Wildlife Service has distributed more than $19 billion to states for conservation. Over the years, state wildlife agencies have partially matched these funds with approximately $6 billion from the sale of state hunting and fishing licenses.

To demonstrate the actual impact P-R and D-J funds have on several individual states, let’s look at some real numbers. Michigan, for example, gets $24.2 million in P-R funds and $10.6 million in D-J funds. In New York, the respective allotments are $20.3 million and $7.9 million. Ohio gets $16.2 million and $7.0 million. Pennsylvania gets $27.9 million and $8.5 million. And West Virginia gets $8.1 million and $3.5 million.

Obviously, a state’s size is a major factor in determining how much funding it gets. Alaska, for example, receives $33 million and $17.5 million, and Texas gets $36 million and $17.5 million. On the other hand, tiny Rhode Island, Delaware and Hawaii each get only $4.6 million and $3.5 million.

So if you see headlines over the next few weeks about all the federal money going to states for conservation, understand that each state gets only its fair share of what its sportsmen and women have paid into the system, and that’s the way it’s worked for 80 years.

Note to birdwatchers: If you see bald birds resembling miniature vultures at your feeders this summer, don’t panic. It happens every year. Some experts blame an unusual molt pattern; others suspect a heavy infestation of hungry feather lice. Fortunately, the condition is temporary; the feathers will grow back out in about six weeks.

Dr. Shalaway can be heard on Birds & Nature from 3 to 4 p.m. Sundays on 620 KHB Radio, Pittsburgh, or live online anywhere at www.khbradio.com. Visit Scott’s website www.drshalaway.com or contact him directly at sshalaway@aol.com or 2222 Fish Ridge Road, Cameron, WV 26033.