85 



The self-imposed excise tax on arms and ammunition purchased by sportsmen and 

 their hcense dollars have provided the necessary billions of dollars of funds to 

 begin buying and improving habitat, hiring biologists and law enforcement 

 professionals, and is the largest single reason we have been able to bring back a 

 number of species to healthy numbers. 



In 1950, the Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux (D-J/W-B) Act did for 

 fisheries what P-R had done for wildlife. In both of these efforts, hunters and 

 anglers joined businesses to establish legislation mandating a user fee to restore 

 populations of once critically low fish and wildlife species, conserve millions of 

 acres of habitat and provide countless hours of enjoyment on the nation's land and 

 waterways. There is no question that today we would not have wild turkey 

 hunting seasons in 49 states without P-R, nor the fishing resources of this nation 

 without D-J/W-B monies. 



Sportsmen and women know the value of a long-standing commitment to 

 conservation and have continually demonstrated their financial commitment to 

 this goal! We believe that it is time now for all Americans who enjoy our fish and 

 wildlife resources to financially contribute to their conservation, as hunters and 

 anglers have done for decades. 



This broader coalition of outdoor enthusiasts advocate a proposal to expand 

 on this proven approach to address the broader challenges of today and raise $350 

 million desperately needed annually for state fish and wildlife diversity programs 

 to complement existing Federal Grant-in-aid and license dollars. Teaming With 

 Wildlife will take P-R and D-J/W-B a step further by putting a dedicated user fee 

 on a variety of items used by outdoors enthusiasts. Hikers, canoeists, nature 

 photographers and birdwatchers would be able to pay their fair share to contribute 

 to fish, wildlife, recreational and educational projects when they purchase certain 

 outdoor products, just as hunters and anglers have done with guns, ammunition 

 and fishing tackle since 1937 and 1950. 



The initiative is being spearheaded by the International Association of Fish 

 and Wildlife Agencies and, as of today, they have endorsements of over 1,000 

 groups and companies including all 50 state fish and wildlife agencies, private 

 non-profit conservation organizations like us and companies like Bass Pro Shop. 



