State game departments cooperate with Bureau per- 

 sonnel in this annual operation. 



Data from all of these activities are analyzed 

 and evaluated for presentation to members of the 

 Waterfowl Advisory Committee who meet with the 

 Director of the Bureau and his technical staff in 

 Washington early in August. 



The Waterfowl Advisory Committee is composed 

 of representatives from each of the four Waterfowl 

 Councils 1 and from various wildlife organizations. The 

 suggestions of the Committee and the recommenda- 

 tions of the Bureau for changes in the hunting rules 

 are considered in executive sessions. Following 

 these meetings, the Bureau makes its recommenda- 

 tions to the Secretary of the Interior relative to the 

 bag and possession limits, opening and closing dates, 

 and the number of days hunting is to be permitted. 

 After careful review of the proposed regulations, the 

 Secretary issues the formal regulations. They are 

 the framework for the next year's hunting season, 

 and the States select their individual seasons within 

 that framework. 



Federal Aid to Fish and Wildlife Restoration 



The Federal Government also promotes the con- 

 servation of the Nation's fish and wildlife by giving 

 Federal funds to the States to assist in paying for 

 their fishery and wildlife restoration projects. 



Recognizing that much of the land of potential 

 wildlife value is under State or private ownership, 

 the Congress in 1937 enacted the Federal Aid to 

 Wildlife Restoration Act. Commonly called the 

 Pittman-Robertson Act after its Congressional spon- 

 sors, it provides for an 11-percent excise tax to 

 be levied against sporting arms and ammunition, 

 with the proceeds allocated among the various States 

 according to a specified formula. These funds are 

 used by the States to increase their wildlife popula- 

 tions by setting up management areas, improving 

 wildlife habitat, and carrying on research for new 

 and improved management techniques. 



iSee Waterfowl Councils - A Conservation Partnership. 1959, U. S. Fish and 

 Wildlife Service, Circular 78, 10 p. 



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