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John Helland: Paranoia Increases MDNR Wildlife Revenue

Regular contributor John Helland has interesting news about one conservation fund that is thriving despite current economic conditions.

As the economy squeezes down on everyone's pocketbook, and the state faces another big revenue shortfall, some newfound money makes its way into the state coffers. The state's Game and Fish Fund, based mostly on license sales but including federal excise tax on arms and ammunition, will receive an almost 50 percent bump in the latter category because of citizens purchasing more guns and bullets.

John Helland

Even though the Obama Administration hasn't introduced any legislation to restrict or tighten up the possession of arms and ammunition, the sale of such over the last 15 months because of some impending fear that it might do so has greatly increased the amount of federal excise tax going into the Pittman-Robertson Fund. The latest fiscal year figures for 2009 show an increase in excise tax revenue to the Fund of $106 million over the previous year, a 34 percent increase nationally.

The Game and Fish Fund in Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources will receive a $4.2 million increase in this fiscal year because of the additional excise tax numbers. The money is received from the feds on a reimbursement basis, after the DNR spends dollars on authorized management activities, and is reimbursed 75 cents for every dollar spent.

A DNR staffer told me he was going deer hunting and stopped at a local Gander Mountain to stock up on ammunition. They didn't have any for his rifle, and the clerk didn't know when any more might be available. I don't have a firearm, or need of ammunition, but I'm sure all these new-bought guns and bullets are not for the sole purpose of hunting. It's great that our Game and Fish Fund receives a large increase for wildlife management activities, yet it's sort of frightening that so many citizens seem to be hoarding more guns and bullets for some unknown, and possibly unfounded, concern.

John Helland worked on environment and natural resource issues for the legislature, and now writes, blogs and enjoys leisure while watching from afar.