It's no big news to readers of this list, but today's New York Times
(pg. D7) runs an article from the AP, "As Hunting Declines, Conservation
Efforts Suffer." It makes the point that fading interest in hunting is
resulting in fewer dollars going to conservation efforts. It also
laments the loss of income for the sporting industry. The article is
about Wisconsin's situation, but applies just as much here.
        Regrettably, the article assumes only one thing can reverse this loss
of conservation dollars: reviving hunting, thus selling more hunting
licenses, duck stamps, ammunition, traps, etc. This is nonsense, of
course. There are plenty of other ways to direct more dollars to
conservation---donations to private organizations, levies for state and
local park systems, etc., and taxes. Red states like Missouri and
Arkansas for years have levied state sales taxes dedicated to the
acquisition and care of wild lands for wildlife, including but not
limited to species legal to hunt. The Missouri sales tax, first of all
its kind, and regularly renewed by a good majority of voters, is the
envy of other states, as are their conservation programs and
publications. Minnesota voters passed a similar law in 2008, and in the
last election Iowa voters easily passed a law to make 3/8 of 1% of the
next tax increase to go to conservation projects. Thus, Iowa residents
who spend $50,000 a year for taxable goods and services will pay about
$180 for conservation. Multiply that by millions of people and there's
some serious money for the outdoors. This is the modern efficient way to
accomplish these aims, not burdening (or serving) only hunters and
trappers, or asking birders to pretend to be hunters by buying a duck
stamp. If you want significant public money to go to birds other than
game species or raptors, this is the way to go.
Wear the orange,
Bill Whan
Columbus









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