When making presentations to school classes, conservation groups and civic organizations, I make it a point to mention that my employer, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, is funded primarily by hunters and anglers.

It comes as a big surprise to most people when they learn that there is a state government agency that does not receive any money from the state's general fund. Yet sales taxes from hunting and fishing activity generate tens of millions of dollars every year that go into the state general fund.

IDFG is supported by a variety of sources, nearly all of which rely upon hunters and anglers. A significant portion of IDFG funds come straight from hunting and fishing license and tag sales.

IDFG also receives dedicated funds generated by excise taxes on the sale of hunting and fishing equipment. States receive these funds based upon the number of hunting and fishing licenses sold in their state.

Additional funding to manage wildlife in Idaho comes from the federal government and can only be used to manage endangered species. Other funds are mitigation for fish and wildlife habitat lost to power production projects. A small amount is received from a voluntary checkoff on the state income tax and the voluntary purchase of wildlife themed license plates.

In a given year, IDFG will sell about 365,000 resident hunting or fishing licenses. Yet more than twice that number of Idahoans identify themselves as hunters or anglers, but they don't participate every year.

Just as there are people who view themselves as "skiers" but don't hit the slopes every year, there are hunters and anglers who don't hunt or fish every year.

Thirty-four million people hunt and fish in the United States. By buying hunting and fishing licenses and paying special taxes on firearms and ammunition, bows and arrows, and rods and reels, hunters and anglers generate $100,000 every 30 minutes.

This pays for much of the conservation work of fish and wildlife agencies in every state. And that figure doesn't include the spin-off economic activity that in Idaho alone is in the hundreds of millions of dollars every year.

So, when it comes to paying for fish and wildlife management, hunters and anglers have long carried the load.

To recognize the contributions of hunters and anglers, the fourth Saturday in September was first proclaimed National Hunting and Fishing Day in 1972 by a unanimous vote of Congress. When was the last time every member of Congress agreed on something? Maybe 1972.

Honorary chairs of National Hunting and Fishing Day have included George Bush, Tom Seaver, Hank Wiliams Jr., Arnold Palmer, Terry Bradshaw, George Brett, Jeff Foxworthy and other sports and entertainment figures who support hunting and fishing.

This year more than 3,000 hunting and fishing events are planned across the nation to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day.

In the Idaho Panhandle, IDFG and numerous local hunters have planned a youth-mentored waterfowl hunt at three area locations to introduce young hunters to the sport of duck hunting. If you would like to get in on the fun, call us at 769-1414.

To celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day, I encourage you to thank a hunter or angler for their decades of contributions to fish and wildlife management and the North American model of conservation.

Phil Cooper is the wildlife conservation educator at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Saturday is National Hunting and Fishing Day

Thanks, hunters and anglers, for paying for management

When making presentations to school classes, conservation groups and civic organizations, I make it a point to mention that my employer, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, is funded primarily by hunters and anglers.

It comes as a big surprise to most people when they learn that there is a state government agency that does not receive any money from the state's general fund. Yet sales taxes from hunting and fishing activity generate tens of millions of dollars every year that go into the state general fund.

IDFG is supported by a variety of sources, nearly all of which rely upon hunters and anglers. A significant portion of IDFG funds come straight from hunting and fishing license and tag sales.

IDFG also receives dedicated funds generated by excise taxes on the sale of hunting and fishing equipment. States receive these funds based upon the number of hunting and fishing licenses sold in their state.

Additional funding to manage wildlife in Idaho comes from the federal government and can only be used to manage endangered species. Other funds are mitigation for fish and wildlife habitat lost to power production projects. A small amount is received from a voluntary checkoff on the state income tax and the voluntary purchase of wildlife themed license plates.

In a given year, IDFG will sell about 365,000 resident hunting or fishing licenses. Yet more than twice that number of Idahoans identify themselves as hunters or anglers, but they don't participate every year.

Just as there are people who view themselves as "skiers" but don't hit the slopes every year, there are hunters and anglers who don't hunt or fish every year.

Thirty-four million people hunt and fish in the United States. By buying hunting and fishing licenses and paying special taxes on firearms and ammunition, bows and arrows, and rods and reels, hunters and anglers generate $100,000 every 30 minutes.

This pays for much of the conservation work of fish and wildlife agencies in every state. And that figure doesn't include the spin-off economic activity that in Idaho alone is in the hundreds of millions of dollars every year.

So, when it comes to paying for fish and wildlife management, hunters and anglers have long carried the load.

To recognize the contributions of hunters and anglers, the fourth Saturday in September was first proclaimed National Hunting and Fishing Day in 1972 by a unanimous vote of Congress. When was the last time every member of Congress agreed on something? Maybe 1972.

Honorary chairs of National Hunting and Fishing Day have included George Bush, Tom Seaver, Hank Wiliams Jr., Arnold Palmer, Terry Bradshaw, George Brett, Jeff Foxworthy and other sports and entertainment figures who support hunting and fishing.

This year more than 3,000 hunting and fishing events are planned across the nation to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day.

In the Idaho Panhandle, IDFG and numerous local hunters have planned a youth-mentored waterfowl hunt at three area locations to introduce young hunters to the sport of duck hunting. If you would like to get in on the fun, call us at 769-1414.

To celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day, I encourage you to thank a hunter or angler for their decades of contributions to fish and wildlife management and the North American model of conservation.

Phil Cooper is the wildlife conservation educator at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.