March 20, 2018, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced over $1.1 billion in annual funding from Horicon, Wisconsin.
The funding was generated from the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration acts. $20.2 billion dollars has been distributed to conservation and recreation projects to date, according to the Department of the Interior.
Zinke presented the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources a ceremonial check for $34,966,603 while in Wisconsin. If you're interested in seeing the amount of funds your state will get click here and here.
"American sportsmen and women are some of our best conservationists and they contribute billions of dollars toward wildlife conservation and sportsmen access every year through the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts," said Secretary Zinke. "For nearly eighty years, states have been able to fund important conservation initiatives thanks to the more than $20 billion that has generated nationwide. Every time a firearm, fishing pole, hook, bullet, motor boat or boat fuel is sold, part of that cost goes to fund conservation. 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. The American conservation model has been replicated all over the world because it works."
The Pittman-Robertson act is generated from the excise tax on firearms and ammunition. Dingell-Johnson revenue is generated from fishing equipment.
These funds are also matched at the state level. Revenue generated from recreation licenses are also invested into conservation projects. $6.7 billion has been generated at the state level.
So remember the next time you have to justify purchasing that expensive lure or that shiny new gun, just remember it's for conservation. A self imposed 11% tax on your purchase will be funneled back into a deserving project.
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