Hunting and fishing are American pastimes – and they’re also vital components of the American system of conservation. Now, the right to hunt and fish is under attack. Not every state guarantees this right, and some states have faced legal challenges or ballot initiatives to restrict or even ban the American pastimes we love.
T. Roosevelt Action strongly believes a constitutional right to hunt and fish should be passed in every state, based on the economic benefits of the sports, the importance of the North American model of wildlife conservation being funded by hunters and anglers, and the historical and cultural significance of hunting and fishing in America.
Hunting and fishing generate significant economic benefits for both rural and urban areas. According to a series of new economic reports released in 2020, more than 53 million Americans who participate in hunting, sportfishing, and target shooting activities spent more than $93.5 billion on gear, licenses, travel, clothing, gas and other sporting-related products and services in 2016. These sportsmen and women constituted 16.5 percent of the population and added $119 billion in total value to the nation’s GDP. Their outdoor-related activities supported 1.6 million jobs, provided $72 billion in salaries and wages, and generated nearly $20 billion in local, state, and federal taxes. Hunting and fishing fuel national and local economies. In rural areas, these activities provide key employment opportunities – they are the backbone of small communities.
Teddy Roosevelt’s vision for American conservation defines our modern hunting and conservation system – a system upheld by the idea that conservation efforts are crucial to our hunting way of life, and that hunters are crucial to successful conservation. Hunting and fishing are essential for funding conservation efforts that benefit all wildlife and habitats. The North American model for wildlife conservation is based on the concept of “user pays, user benefits,” which means that hunters and anglers have a responsibility to fund the management and conservation of fish and wildlife through license sales and self-imposed excise taxes. In short, these funding measures are considered a permanent funding source that goes directly to the state fish and wildlife agencies, providing a great deal of reliability for the state agencies.
Since the inception of the Pittman-Robertson Act in 1937 and the Dingell-Johnson Act in 1950, hunters and anglers have contributed more than $20 billion through these programs to support habitat restoration, management and educational efforts. That doesn’t include the support hunters and anglers make through donations to wildlife organizations or participation in other stewardship activities. Securing a constitutional right to hunt and fish is pivotal to protecting these funding sources from threats that would undermine conservation in America.
Hunting and fishing had roots in America even before 1776, as the colonists were free to hunt, unlike in England, where hunting was a monopoly of the Crown. Hunting and fishing were also essential for the survival and sustenance of many Native American tribes, as well as for the exploration and settlement of the frontier.
These pastimes have been a source of family bonding, personal fulfillment, and recreation for generations in America. They are a part of our unique American heritage that values independence and self-reliance. A constitutional right to hunt and fish would recognize and preserve these cherished values for generations to come. Hunting and fishing are part of the American heritage and identity, reflecting values such as independence, self-reliance, respect for nature, and civic responsibility. A constitutional right to hunt and fish would recognize and preserve these values for future generations.
T. Roosevelt Action is leading the charge to pass a constitutional right to hunt and fish in all 50 states. By passing a constitutional right to hunt and fish, states would affirm their commitment to wildlife conservation, economic development, and cultural heritage.