Posted: 03.31.2011

Several national and Montana sportsmen groups are deeply concerned about proposed funding cuts to conservation and wildlife management programs that they feel threaten hunting and fishing access and opportunity.

Representatives from prominent sportsmen groups held a tele news conference Wednesday to answer reporters’ questions and offer their unique perspective on the proposed budget cuts included in HR 1, which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on February 19, 2011.

“Finding ways to reduce the massive federal deficit simply must be done. But in doing so, let’s make sure to support those federal investments that pay for themselves several times over — and be critical of those that are truly wasteful,” commented Dale Hall, CEO of Ducks Unlimited Inc.  “Conservation has always, and continues to, pay for itself. Congress and the administration should approach the budget challenge with facts and analyses, not a meat cleaver.”

Some of the programs slated for dramatic cuts or elimination include the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund, Farm Bill conservation programs, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, State and Tribal Wildlife Grants, the Clean Water Act, and more.  These programs not only protect hunting and fishing access for sportsmen and women, but they are also foundational to fish and wildlife habitat conservation and stimulate local economies by creating jobs, particularly in rural communities.  

“Sportsmen and women depend on having places to go to hunt and fish.  The Land and Water Conservation Fund has been instrumental in providing these opportunities and with reliable funding in the future could go even further to ensure access to existing public lands, making public lands public,” said Ben Lamb of the Montana Wildlife Federation.  “However the cut of nearly 90% of the program's funding as proposed in HR 1 will dismantle the program. It is critical to note that LWCF is not taxpayer funded but rather paid for as a conservation offset through a small portion of receipts collected from offshore oil and gas drilling in federal waters.”

Congress returned to session this week and will attempt to negotiate the final budget before the most recent continuing resolution expires on April 8.

« back to news articles