S4-E88: A History of America's Wildlife Restoration Program - a podcast by Heidi Lyn Rao

Whether you are new to the outdoors, or have spent your entire life or dedicated your career to it - you should have an understanding of one of the greatest success stories out there today:  America's Wildlife Restoration Program.  This program has pumped more than $14 BILLION into wildlife management, restoration of species, research and education, and public access to it.  

It all began in the late 1800s/early 1900s when market hunting was going on, and there were no limits to the numbers of wildlife being taken through hunting and trapping.  A group of people came together {HUNTERS} and for the FIRST time in history, and the ONLY time in history - asked to be taxed on the items they use to conserve the resources they love, for future generations.  

In 1937 the Pittman-Robertson Act was passed into legislation, creating a federal excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment.  At the end of each year, these excise tax dollars are put into a formula and given back to the states to only be used for wildlife management, education, and other specific activities to be used to benefit wildlife.

Not only do these excise tax dollars benefit the game animals, but non-game animals as well who are also living in the same habitat and range benefitting from these management practices in place.  It is all of our responsibility to carry on the legacy of this historic and successful program into the future.  We hold both natural and financial resources in trust for America's hunters and shooters, and carry it forward to the recovery of wildlife species for future generations.   

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Further podcasts by Heidi Lyn Rao

Website of Heidi Lyn Rao