Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937
The Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937 is a significant piece of legislation in the United States focused on wildlife conservation and hunter safety. Sponsored by Senator Key Pittman and Representative A. Willis Robertson, the act allocates a 10 percent federal excise tax on the sale of long guns and ammunition specifically for conservation projects. The funding structure involves a combination of federal and state support, where federal grants cover 75% of project costs while states contribute 25%, which can be in the form of services or materials.
The primary use of the funds is to acquire and manage wildlife habitats, support scientific studies of wildlife populations, and promote hunter safety education programs. Over the years, the act has expanded to include handguns and archery equipment, raising the excise tax to 11%. The positive impact of the Pittman-Robertson Act is evident in the revival of various wildlife species and the enhancement of public access to natural spaces for outdoor activities, benefiting a broad range of enthusiasts beyond hunters. Overall, the act underscores a collaborative effort between federal and state authorities to foster conservation while ensuring responsible hunting practices.
Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937
The Law Federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition to fund state wildlife conservation and shooting-range development
Date Signed into law on September 2, 1937
Also known as Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act
One of the most effective American conservation laws, the Pittman-Robertson Act protected the habitats of a wide variety of game and nongame species. Consistent with the decade’s faith in affirmative government, hunters and the gun business taxed themselves to promote conservation and safety.
At the request of sporting and firearms organizations, Senator Key Pittman of Nevada and Representative A. Willis Robertson of Virginia sponsored the Pittman-Robertson Act to dedicate the 10 percent federal excise tax on long guns and ammunition to conservation and safety. The act designated conservation and firearms safety projects to be 75 percent funded by federal grants and 25 percent by state grants. The act stipulated that the 25 percent from the state did not have to be cash but could be in the form of services, materials, and so on. Funds are allocated to states based on population, geographic size, and the number of hunters.
Most of the act’s funds are used to acquire, manage, or protect game habitat and migration areas. For example, projects reward farmers for protecting prairie potholes, which are used as watering stations by migratory birds. The act also pays for state scientific studies of wildlife populations. Hunter safety education and the development of shooting ranges open to the public are also supported by the act.
In order to receive grants, states must use hunting license fees for the administration of the state fish-and-game department and not divert the fees to other uses. Some states spend funds on programs directly administered by the state fish-and-game department, while others make the funds available as grants for citizen-initiated projects. Handguns, bows, and arrows were later added to the act’s excise tax, which increased to 11 percent.
Impact
The Pittman-Robertson Act has helped millions of people take hunter education courses and practice firearms safety at target ranges. Its designated lands are used by hikers, campers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Among the animals that have greatly increased in numbers and range as a result of the act are black bears, mountain lions, bobcats, pronghorn antelope, wapiti (American elks), white-tailed deer, desert bighorn sheep, beavers, wild turkeys, and many migratory and predatory birds.
Bibliography
Buck, Susan. Understanding Environmental Administration and Law. 3d ed. Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 2006.
Musgrave, Ruth. Federal Wildlife Laws Handbook with Related Laws. Lanham, Md.: Government Institutes, 1998.