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An adult bald eagle. Photo courtesy of Peter Nye/N.Y. Dept. of Environmental Conservation |
Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, U.S.A.
This Act, commonly known as the Pittman-Robertson Act, was passed over 60 years ago, in 1937. It collects an 11 percent tax on guns, ammunition, bows, arrows, and other hunting equipment. These funds are then returned to the states for acquisition and management of wildlife habitat, the reintroduction of species into suitable habitats, research on wildlife populations, and hunter education. It has made a significant contribution to the management of wild animals in the United States, having raised more than $2 billion since the 1930s and funded the purchase of 5 million acres of prime habitat. Equally important, however, is the role that Pittman-Robertson has played in professionalizing the field of natural resources management. In New Jersey, the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife has used these funds to reintroduce wild turkey around the state and to manage deer populations. Research on the growing black bear population has included tracking by radio telemetry to identify critical denning and feeding habitat, bear ranges, and migration corridors.
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