Facts and Statistics on Wildlife Conservation

• Each day, sportsmen contribute more than $3 million to wildlife conservation efforts. This amounts to more than $1.5 billion per year.
• To date, hunters and fishermen have contributed a total of over $17 billion for wildlife conservation.
• Hunters contribute over $14 billion to the U.S. economy each year, supporting more than 380,000 jobs. For every 50 hunters, enough economic activity is generated to create one job.
• Through over 10,000 private groups and organizations (such as Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and the Rocky Mountain elk Foundation), sportsmen contribute an additional $300 million each year to wildlife conservation activities.
• For every taxpayer dollar invested in wildlife conservation, sportsmen contribute nine dollars.

WHITE-TAILED DEER
In 1900, less than half a million white-tailed deer remained in the nation. Today, conservation programs have returned the whitetail population to more than 18 million.

CANADA GOOSE
Habitat destruction reduced Canada goose populations to a low of some 1,110,000 in the late 1940's. Today, there are more than three times that number.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK
In 1907, only about 41,000 elk could be counted in the U.S. Today, populations in ten western states total approximately 800,000.

WILD TURKEY
By the early 1900's encroaching civilization and habitat loss may have reduced the wild turkey population to under 100,000. Today, conservation programs have restored the population to some 4.5. million birds.

PRONGHORN ANTELOPE
About 50 years ago, the total U.S. population of pronghorn was only about 12,000. Today, conservation programs have helped increase the population to more than one million.

Sportsmen Pay $3 Million Each Day For Conservation. Here's How:

LICENSE REVENUES provide more than half the income, on average, for the state fish and wildlife agencies. The money supports wildlife management and restoration programs, habitat improvement and general conservation efforts.

EXCISE TAXES on sporting equipment (such as firearms, ammunition and fishing tackle) provide over one fifth the income for state fish and wildlife agencies. The funds are used to acquire, maintain and improve wildlife habitat and to make the nation's lands and waters more accessible and enjoyable to all its citizens.

OTHER INCOME SOURCES include special taxes and receipts from the sale of "Duck Stamps" (required of all waterfowl hunters), income tax checkoffs and interest collected on license fees. Duck stamp proceeds are used by the government to buy or lease wetland habitat for duck, geese and hundreds of non-game birds and animals. This money comes from the states' overall budgets, supported by taxes paid by everyone (including sportsmen).

SUMMARY: Hunters and fishermen provide more than 75% of the annual income of the 50 state conservation agencies. Sportsmen are clearly the largest contributors to conservation - paying for programs that benefit all Americans and all wildlife.

MORE INFORMATION ON THE HUNTER AND CONSERVATION:
A free catalog of information on the shooting sports, hunting and conservation is available from the National Shooting Sports Foundation. To get yours, write:
Literature Department
National Shooting Sports Foundation
11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470