"Americas hunters and anglers simply havent gained the recognition they deserve for their longterm support of fish and wildlife conservation programs," Turner said.
In the last 2 years alone, he pointed out, the revenues they have paid for licenses, permits, and tags have contributed more than $1.5 billion to programs that benefit fish and wildlife for their enjoyment by all Americans.
The early abundance of these resources, said Turner, helped Native Americans and immigrants alike to prosper. Later, with an interest in seeing these resources maintained, hunters and anglers became the silent leaders of Americas environmental movement. They were among the first to form organizations dedicated to promoting fish and wildlife issues, and have contributed millions of dollars to privately funded programs that protect habitat, conduct research, and restore fish and wildlife populations.
While nearly 50 million Americans enjoyed hunting and fishing activities last year, many more engaged in wildlife watching and other outdoor recreation opportunities made possible through programs funded by hunting and fishing activities. Of nearly 500 national wildlife refuges managed by the Service throughout the Nation, approximately half provide hunting or fishing opportunities.
President George Bush is chairman of National Hunting and Fishing Day, which will be observed on September 28th. The National Shooting Sports Foundation has sponsored the occasion each year since 1971.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://midwest.fws.gov
