Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Origins
Late 1800s/early 1900s - wildlife conservation
became established largely through the efforts of conservation organizations such as the Boone and Crockett Club as mostly a program of refuges, game breeding, law enforcement, predator control, and regulation of seasons and bag limits.
Conservation Pioneers
Man and Nature - George Perkins Marsh
Yellowstone Park Protection Act John Lacey Lacey Act
Roosevelt Era
1908 Conference of Governors
eventually disappear Restrictive regulations designed to string out a dwindling supply Better law enforcement and prohibition of market hunting were thought to be the answer
Science as a Tool
Novel concept at advent of 20th century
Early naturalists discovered, catalogued, and described
Realization that species are not like planets or geologic strata different in that civilizations can destroy them
New breed of naturalists would not accept this
Science as a Tool
1924: Herb Stoddard, Bobwhite Quail and
land management in Georgia 1928: Aldo Leopold and the Game Surveys
RESTORATION PHASE
POST-1920 AMERICA
Population primarily Urban
Hunters increasing (3 million in 1910; 6 million in
established in 1918 with intent to fund Migratory Bird Treaty Act implementation. 1925 - Federal Hunting Stamp proposed and Refuge Bill drafted. Bill failed to pass Congress. AFWA recommended tax be used to fund Refuge Bill Congress repealed all Excise Taxes Hoover reinstated Excise Tax during depression for a period set to expire in 1938
LEOPOLD
GAME SURVEY OF
management Research (find facts) Joint conservation program with hunters and protectionists together with scientists and landowners Establish wildlife management profession Adequate, equitable, secure $
Carl Shoemaker
Oregon Fish and Game Commission Chief
1930 - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Wildlife
Resources
Carl Shoemaker
1937 - During 2nd North American Wildlife
Conference, Shoemaker, Darling and others discussed the decade-old Refuge and Hunting Stamp Bill Shoemaker writes 1st draft of Wildlife Restoration Act John Burnham, president of American Game Protective Association (now WMI) was on AFWA committee that drafted 1925 Bill Shoemaker goes to SAAMI meeting in New York; with Burnhams help gets Industrys endorsement
Inland Fisheries Member of Leopolds 1930 American Game Policy Committee 1933 1946 U.S. Congress House of Representatives 1946 1966 U.S. Senate Chair House Special Committee on Wildlife
prohibition against the diversion of license fees paid by hunters for any other purpose than the administration of said State fish and game department...
Senate Deliberations
Bill introduced in House and Senate on July 20, 1937 Senator Wallace H. White (ME): We have the time in
this country when many species of our game life will disappear altogether unless the people of the country arouse themselves, and unless there are adopted measures of conservation and measures of restoration This Bill recognizes this great necessity.I believe the people of the country will give wholehearted approval to the efforts of the Congress to stay the wanton destruction of our game life which has been going on over the years.
House Deliberations
Robertsons Committee did not have jurisdiction
Agriculture Committee ruled over Bills involving
Bureau of Biological Survey Chair Scott Lucas (IL), an ardent hunter, was not aggressive in pushing Bill Shoemaker sent telegrams to all Garden Clubs and Womens groups in Illinois urging them to contact Lucas For Gods sake, Carl, take the women off my back and Ill move the Bill immediately
September 2, 1937
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signs the Bill into
law. Within 12 months, 43 of 48 States enact laws assenting to provisions of Act prohibiting use of Hunter license revenues for purposes other than administration of fish and wildlife agency.
Implementation
USFWS Director Ira Gabrielson puts Albert Day in
mammals and birds Research projects set up on a definite basis and directed to the solution of problems that stand in the way of wildlife restoration
to work on P-R to be trained and competent. USFWS had to approve before they were hired. One of the chief difficulties we have encountered and one of the most discouraging things in the administration of the wildlife resources of this country has been the large turnover in the administrative officers of the various state game departments. Albert Day
Management Added
1955 Amendment allowing P-R funds to be used for
management of wildlife areas and facilities, exclusive of public relations and law enforcement. Also allowed excise taxes to be directly apportioned to states by USFWS instead of being appropriated by Congress
Hunter Education
Early 1970s Amendments adding excise taxes to
handguns and archery equipment Approved use of one-half of these revenues for Hunter Education programs.
Wallop-Breaux Amendments
1979 Senator Jennings Randolph and Congressman
John Breaux introduce legislation to expand SFR E.T. 1982 Sport Fishing Association develops compromise that substitutes motor boat fuels tax and import duties 1984 Breaux and Senator Malcolm Wallop get Amendment passed
Wallop-Breaux Amendments
Dramatically Increased Program funding
Requires Boating Access Program Allowed funding for Aquatic Resources Education
Safety Program (Section 10) Funding for 4 Fisheries Commissions Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council
license revenues: Lands, Vehicles, Interest, Buildings, Equipment.. Snapshot: During February 2009 WSFR Regional
Offices were actively involved in preventing 10 diversions nationwide
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration and the Evolution of American Wildlife Conservation Curtis Taylor, John Organ, Christina Zarrella, Ron Essig
The Act enabled (demanded) the professional management of wildlife, and transformed how State fish and wildlife agencies operate. How?
Provided Funding
For State fish and wildlife agencies to participate in the Wildlife Restoration program, they had to dedicate their hunting license revenue to the wildlife agency.
This same model was used for the later Sport Fish Restoration program.
Today, fish and wildlife management is a formal profession with training, professional organizations, and even certification.
By 2011, more than $6.4 billion in Wildlife Restoration funds have been apportioned to State fish and wildlife agencies. In 2009, States used these funds for:
6.3 7.3
0.6 2 33.2
Operation & Maintenance Research & Surveys Hunter Education Coordination & Admin Capital Development & Stocking Technical Assistance Land Acquisition
12.4
15.5
22.5
Outreach
Some Successes
o Appalachian Ruffed grouse
sites, 2 states
o Atlantic coast striped bass
key
Whats next? While WSFR has provided successes, many declining fish and wildlife species are not covered by these two programs. We need support from a broader segment of the public to benefit all fish and wildlife species
Whats Missing?
Vested Self-Interest and Passion
The Wildlife Restoration Act, and later Sport Fish Restoration Act, have transformed fish and wildlife Conservation in the U.S.
Thank you to our many partners including other state and federal fish and wildlife agencies, industry, conservation NGOs, and the anglers, boaters, hunters and shooters.