Funds hike is ammo for DNR Posted: Dec. 23, 2009 It's the time of year when the fortunate among us keenly anticipate unwrapping a few presents. The sense of mystery tends to heighten the experience. Does that ribboned box hold binoculars? A necktie? Camouflage jacket? Or gift card? The Department of Natural Resources is eyeing a gift this season, too. And though there is complete transparency in this package, it will no doubt be happily received. The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act will deliver an estimated $14.7 million to Wisconsin in 2010, about 40% more than in 2009 and twice as much as in 2005. Not exactly a lump of coal, not by any stretch of the imagination. Commonly referred to as the Pittman-Robertson Act, the money is generated from excise taxes on guns, ammunition and archery equipment. For example, 11% of the sale of each shotgun or rifle or box of .22 cartridges goes into the account, as does 10% of each pistol sale. Pittman-Robertson was passed in 1937; each year since it has distributed money to states to improve wildlife habitat, to construct public facilities on wildlife lands, to pay for hunter education programs and for wildlife research. Remember that last point. The money is apportioned to states based on geographic size and number of hunting licenses sold. The large increase in the estimated 2010 payment is being called the "Obama factor." A steep increase in sales of firearms and ammunition - reportedly to Americans who feared changes in gun laws under new President Barack Obama - was noted in late 2009 and much of 2010. Whatever the cause, the money is real. The DNR is looking at a $4.2 million increase in P-R funds next year. If you had a wish list for the DNR to spend its 2010 P-R money, what would be on it? This gets us back to wildlife research. The 2006 Sex-Age-Kill audit identified several areas of the state's primary means of estimating the deer population that needed attention, including the buck recovery rate. Given the outcry after the 2009 gun deer hunt from one of the DNR's largest user-groups - the deer hunter - the time to take action is now. The money could also be used to learn more about fawn mortality, fawn recruitment and predator impacts on the deer population. Since the DNR's staff is limited, the money could be - as with the recently completed bear population study, largely done by University of Wisconsin researchers - used to enlist independent work on these issues. Wildlife studies are expensive, labor intensive, require careful planning and often take many years to complete. The good news is the state typically has two years to spend P-R money, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. The other side of the coin is the "raise" in P-R funds is likely to be temporary. Sales of firearms and ammunition are now showing year-over-year decreases. Given the ongoing public rancor over Wisconsin deer management and the department's own wishes to improve some of its methods, the coming P-R windfall has presented the DNR with a golden opportunity. Here's hoping that, unlike this year when some DNR staff positions funded by federal money were left unfilled, the department will fully utilize these sportsman-generated dollars to good effect. With all this being said lets see how the spend it. T
