Deer Hunters Fund Wildlife and Habitat Conservation

 Louisiana Deer Hunter Contributions to Conservation

Deer hunters fund the conservation of wildlife management programs here in Louisiana.  Not just whitetail-specific programs but many other species and their habitats as well. Below are a few facts about the impact deer hunting has on Louisiana's conservation efforts.

1.      Deer hunter dollars have conserved 1.6 million acres of land in Louisiana!

   A Southeast Deer Partnership survey found that 80% of Southeast state residents support conserving deer and deer habitat as a strategy for conserving more wildlife in general. 
2. According to a Southwick Associates survey, deer hunters in Louisiana spent over $56 million on land purchasing and leases in 2020, and more than $6 million on plantings and food plots. 
3. On a scale of 1-10 of importance to agency budget, biologists with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries rank deer hunting as an 8.
4. Since 1939, around $255 million has been apportioned to the state of Louisiana by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Pittman-Robertson Act, funds which hunters and anglers supply. 
5. 1,607,270 acres out of Louisiana’s 31,776,000 are state and federal hunting lands conserved in part using hunter dollars. Hunting lands often function as conserved habitat, promoting the continuation of other wildlife. 
6. According to a 2022 Southwick Associates survey, “Deer Hunters’ Contribution to Conservation Funding,” deer hunters in Louisiana contributed $20 million to conservation through public land access fees, license purchases, excise taxes on hunting equipment, et cetera. 
7. According to a survey by Responsive Management, the general population of Louisiana rates ‘conserving fish and wildlife habitat’ as a 9.12 on a 0 to 10 scale of importance of agency efforts. 
8. According to Southwick Associates, in 2020, deer hunting in Louisiana contributed $385 million to the gross domestic product of the United States.
9. Habitats conserved by the Louisiana Office of Wildlife are reported to “harbor and help conserve a multitude of endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker and gopher tortoise.” Much of the funding for this conservation comes from deer hunters. 
10. In the 2014-2015 season, a total of 28,724 pounds of game meat (mostly venison) were donated to two organizations (Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, Hunters for the Hungry).

North American Model of Wildlife Conservation

At first glance, Hunting and wildlife conservation might seem at odds.

How can you promote wildlife conservation by hunting for the same animals you’re working to save? Welcome to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, a model that is truly unique in the world.

From its inception in the late 1800s, hunters, anglers and recreational shooters have been the driving force behind this set of home-grown wildlife management principles, which set forth the then-radical idea that wildlife belongs to everyone, not just the rich or privileged.

The Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, and the Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950 (currently known as the Pittman-Robertson Act and Dingell-Johnson Act) laid the foundation for a funding mechanism to state wildlife management agencies and are a large part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s history. The acts formed a partnership between states, industry, and the federal government. They comprise, on average, more than 75% of a state fish and wildlife agency’s annual budget, according to the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Today, through self-imposed excise taxes on hunting, shooting, archery and angling equipment, and a tax on boating fuels, hunters, recreational shooters and anglers have generated approximately $25.5 billion for wildlife and habitat conservation since 1937. In 2022, $1.5 billion was distributed to states and territories though these programs.

Tenets of the North American Model

The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation has seven basic tenets that support the notion that wildlife is a public trust, an American birthright, and that wildlife species need to be managed in a way that their populations will be sustained forever. These seven tenets are:

• Wildlife as Public Trust Resources: Natural resources and wildlife on public lands are managed by government agencies to ensure that current and future generations always have wildlife and wild places to enjoy.
• Prohibition on Commerce of Dead Wildlife: Commercial hunting and the sale of wildlife is prohibited to ensure the sustainability of wildlife populations. The Lacey Act, which the Service has a role in enforcing, prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported or sold.
• Rule of Law: Laws and regulations developed by the people and enforced by state and federal agencies will guide the proper use of wildlife resources.
• Opportunity for All: Every citizen has an opportunity, under the law, to hunt and fish in the United States and Canada. This differs from many other countries
• Wildlife Should Only be Killed for a Legitimate Purpose: Individuals may legally kill certain wild animals under strict guidelines for food and fur, self-defense, and property protection. Laws prohibit the casual killing of wildlife merely for antlers, horns or feathers or the wanton waste of game meat.
• Wildlife as an International Resource: Because wildlife and fish freely migrate across boundaries between states, provinces, and countries, they are considered an international resource.
• Scientific Management of Wildlife: The best science available will be used as a base for informed decision-making in wildlife management. It’s important to note that management objectives are developed to support the species, not individual animals.

How can you get involved?

There are several ways you can help support conservation, even if you’re not a hunter or angler.

1. First, buy a hunting or fishing license every year even if you don’t hunt or fish. The license fee goes directly to the state wildlife agency to help with all types of wildlife management. 
2. Second, get a Federal Duck Stamp. For every dollar spent on Federal Duck Stamps, 98 cents goes directly to purchase vital waterfowl habitat for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System. It has raised more than $1 billion and protected 6 million acres of waterfowl habitat since 1934.
3. Third, introduce someone to hunting or fishing. Through the R3 initiative, the Service is working with state agencies and partners to recruit, retain, and reactivate hunters and anglers and, in turn, support conservation. Please take someone new on your next hunting or fishing adventure.

Make your contribution to conservation in Louisiana and buy a hunting license today.