Two new reports highlight how hunters continue to generate significant funding for conservation work.
According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, excise taxes on ammunition, long guns and pistols totaled more than $248.6 million dollars from July 1, 2020, through September 30, 2020. That equates to an increase of 58.5 percent over the same period in 2019. Those taxes are specifically designated by state wildlife agencies to pay for conservation.
Since the establishment of the Pittman-Robertson Act in 1937, purchases by hunters and those using ammunition and firearms generated $13.6 billion, thus marking the largest single source of funding for wildlife conservation.
According to a report by the Wildlife Management Institute, the generation of hunting and shooting related excise taxes is up across the board for ammunition, pistols and long guns, and archery equipment. Such funding generated more than $127.1 million from October 2020 through December 31, 2020.
(Photo credit: Wyoming Game and Fish Department)