CONSERVATION IN AMERICA “There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in this country.” -Theodore Roosevelt LICENSED SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN ARE THE BACKBONE OF AMERICAN CONSERVATION Over a hundred years ago, President Theodore Roosevelt said, “There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in this country.” Hunters and anglers heard the call and took up the challenge. They realized that we needed to set limits to protect what they loved, so they accepted responsibility for the stewardship of our great outdoors. Licensed sportsmen and women became, and continue to be, the backbone of American Conservation. Creating a Cycle for Sustainability. Over the past century, every generation has contributed. In 1937, hunters and sports shooters successfully lobbied Congress to pass the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, which put an excise tax on the sale of all sporting arms and ammunition. That was followed in 1950 by the Dingell-Johnson Act, which placed a similar tax on fishing equipment. Today, every time you buy hunting and fishing gear, you contribute to this fund, which now generates upwards of one billion dollars every year. This money has been used far and wide to conserve America’s vital wildlife habitat. When you combine the earnings from the excise tax with state license and tag sales, it constitutes the majority of funding for all wildlife in North America. …show more content…
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