Three years after the Duck Stamp, the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act - often called the Pittman-Robertson Act - was passed. That’s not the only conservation program hunting pays for. Since that first stamp, sales have raised more than $950 million, helping to protect or restore nearly 6 million acres of habitat for birds and other wildlife. One of the oldest programs, the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (commonly known as the Duck Stamp and required as a license for migratory bird hunting) was created in 1934 after prompting from waterfowl hunters to protect wetlands that are vital to migratory waterfowl. To ensure that there would be animals to hunt in the future, hunters began to support programs that helped maintain species populations and protected habitat for wildlife. After the extinction of the passenger pigeon and the near elimination of the bison and many migratory bird species in the early 1900s, Americans realized the impacts humans could have on wildlife. Hunters are a driving force behind funding many of our nation’s conservation efforts. How do hunters contribute to wildlife and habitat conservation? ![]() Waterfowl hunters at Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. To ensure you are hunting in appropriate areas, please contact your local public lands management office. Fish and Wildlife Service, and over 220 million acres of BLM-managed public lands - in addition to most Bureau of Reclamation lands - that allow hunting in accordance with federal and state regulations and laws. Today, there are 76 areas managed by the National Park Service, 336 national wildlife refuges and 36 wetland management districts managed by the U.S. It was this hunting tradition that was the primary driver behind the creation of the National Wildlife Refuge System, which has set aside millions of acres of land for the conservation of all wildlife, while providing wildlife-dependent recreation like hunting and wildlife watching. What public lands can I hunt on?Īmerica’s public lands offer unparalleled opportunities for hunting, allowing families the chance to pass down the nation’s rich hunting heritage. By maintaining ethical traditions and respecting nature, sportsmen and women continue to be vital stewards of wildlife and habitat today. Their passion for wildlife and hunting helped shape our nation’s wildlife management philosophy and public lands as we know them. ![]() American conservation giants like Theodore Roosevelt and Aldo Leopold were both avid sportsmen. Hunters have played a major role in the conservation of the nation’s wildlife resources since the late 19th century.
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