In Support of H.R. 2591 Modernizing the Pittman Robertson Act

House Bill H.R. 2591 (Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Act) must be passed. The future of our wild heritage is at stake and the onus is upon our legislature to take action.

The drop in hunter participation in the United States between 2011 and 2016, as noted in the U.S Fish and Wildlife survey, is a staggering 2 million participants. We can ill afford to allow this trend to continue if we wish to preserve and protect our national outdoor heritage.

Fewer hunters brings less spending on hunting equipment, thereby diminishing the tax money allocated through Pittman-Robertson for preservation and conservation. The 2016 survey showed that over 12.25 billion dollars was spent by hunters on hunting equipment. A large portion of that total was subject to Pittman-Robertson Act taxation. This funding is critical to our conservation efforts and I fear the future impact if the amendment does not pass.

The reforms proposed on the Pittman-Robertson Act allow for a small portion of the funds collected by the Federal Excise Tax on sporting goods to be used by the states for new hunter recruitment. Hunters bringing new hunters into the fold has long been part of the tradition passed down through generations in the United States. The allocation of sportsman-funded dollars to recruitment efforts is the next logical step in the effort to sustain our sport.

I encourage you to push for passage of this important piece of wildlife legislature. We have waited long enough to turn the tide on the stagnation in hunter participation. The passage of the stated reform is vital for the future promotion of the hunting sports. This is an essential piece of the recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) strategy needed to ensure our descendants have an opportunity to enjoy the wild as we do.