Taxes on firearms will foot bill for wildlife projects

[Skunk]

Taxes on firearms will foot bill for wildlife projects

By Paul A. Smith of the Journal Sentinel

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/outdoors/59795032.html

Posted: Sept. 19, 2009

Though a recession has bogged down most of the U.S. economy, one sector - sales of firearms and ammunition - has dramatically increased in the last year, leading to a projected 50% increase in excise taxes collected for wildlife projects and hunter education.

According to a report issued last week by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the government will collect an estimated $492 million this fiscal year on taxes of firearms and other sporting equipment, up from $328 million last year.

As a result, Wisconsin and other states are poised to see a substantial increase in funding for wildlife and hunter education projects in 2010.

This year the state received about $10.3 million, said Barb Zellmer, section chief of management and planning for the Department of Natural Resources. Based on projections, Wisconsin will receive $15.3 million in 2010.

The taxes are collected as part of the Wildlife Restoration Act, commonly called Pittman-Robertson. Since 1937 sportsmen have paid into this fund to purchase wildlife refuges, pay for wetland restoration, hire wildlife biologists and provide hunter safety education, among other things.

The Wildlife Restoration Act imposes an 11% tax on shotguns, rifles, ammunition, bows, quivers and broadheads and a 10% tax on handguns. In addition, there is a 43 cent tax on each arrow shaft.

These monies are deposited in the Wildlife Restoration Account. Interest earned on the account is placed in the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund.

The balance in the fund is distributed annually to states, in part based on number of hunting licenses sold, population and geographic size.

Unfortunately, a similar excise tax on fishing and boating has shown a drop in collections this year. The Sport Fish Restoration program monies (known as Dingell Johnson/Wallop Breaux) are down 5.4%.

The 4th quarter ends Sept. 30; actual state apportionments will likely be known in February.

[torpedoman]

tax would go in to general fund and be wasted like the rest of your money.

[Graybeard]

It is illegal to put them into the general fund. They are specifically earmarked for these purposes. If states put them into general fund they are asked to refund them and are then cut off from getting them. One state tried that already.

[ihookem]

Graybeard is right. In Wisconsin it goes to buy land for public hunting and land management, not that a lot of it doesn't get wasted though.

[JeffG]

As they erradicate more deer and spoil a large part of the hunting tradition, less people buy licences.
The money has to come from somewhere. Democrats love taxes on evil firearms anyway, so why not?!

Gov. Doyle is so busy with his urbanization / education plan, he fails to see there are 70 other counties in the state besides Milwaukee and Madison. No free floating earmarks go to conservation. The state will be bankrupt much like Michigan soon.

Not a great outlook.