Different state wildlife management agencies are funded in a number of different ways.

Some like Pennsylvania are funded without any general tax funds and only have license fees, Federal P/R funds, timber and mineral sales, etc. to work with even while only the State Legislature can increase the license fee structure. Some states are funded by a combination of license fees, P/F funds and general funds from the state’s taxes.Still other states have a designated tax amount, such as 1/8 of 1% of a sales tax, a portion of the license sales funds and the Federal P/R funds.

What are the benefits and down sides of the various methods within the various states and which seem to result in the best wildlife management programs?

Do hunters in states that are funded by some form of the State’s general tax dollars feel that they have an adequate voice within their wildlife department? Do non hunters have too much voice and does that interfere with the wildlife management programs?

Let’s hear some opinions from the different state hunters about what they think are the best wildlife management programs and how they are funded within those various states.

R.S. Bodenhorn