New Richmond, WI – Senator Rob Stafsholt is calling for a comprehensive audit of the Fish and Wildlife accounts in Wisconsin, including Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson expenditures tied to federal excise taxes on hunting, fishing and firearms purchases. This comes in response to the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) anticipated deficit in the Fish and Wildlife fund, which has raised concerns about the transparency and effectiveness of the conservation related programs at DNR, and just recently had unexpectedly ended trout stocking partnerships with local sporting clubs in western Wisconsin. Money from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, as well as timber sale revenues go into the Fish and Wildlife account within the DNR. Those dollars are how the DNR funds things such as wildlife management programs, conservation wardens, and fish stocking programs.
“Several of my colleagues and I have been casually asking for this audit for some time, but this is my official request for this audit to happen soon so we can make informed decisions. As hunters, anglers and trappers who pay for the majority of the conservation programs in Wisconsin, I think they deserve to know where their money is being spent, and that it is being used efficiently on their priorities by the DNR. It is crucial that there is accountability and transparency in the management of these funds. We must use those funds wisely to protect our natural resources and support the outdoor activities that are a vital part of Wisconsin’s heritage and economy.”
Senator Stafsholt requests that Co-chairs Sen. Wimberger and Rep. Wittke, and their colleagues on the Joint Legislative Audit Committee direct the non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau to conduct an audit of the Fish and Wildlife accounts to identify any inefficiencies or mismanagement that may be contributing to the deficit in the fish and wildlife account. With the completion of this audit the state can ensure sporting dollars are being used to support conservation efforts and outdoor recreation.
“Before we consider license and fee increases to address the account deficit, I would like to first see the Legislature require a full accounting of the spending of the dollars we already have coming in.”
Stafsholt added the audit must include expenditures made with Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson grants. The Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson grants provide funding for wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation through taxes on firearms, ammunition, and fishing equipment. These funds are crucial for maintaining healthy populations of fish and wildlife. In 2023 Wisconsin received $33.7 million from Pittman-Robertson and $13.1 million from Dingell-Johnson.
“There are some DNR staff and other people already calling for more hunting and fishing license fees to be increased, even after the increases we did to some of the non-resident hunting and fishing licenses this session. I believe additional increases should be a non-starter until we have a full understanding on where sportsmen and sportswomen’s dollars are going now compared to where their priorities are. A comprehensive audit must be done so long-standing programs, like the trout stocking partnerships, are not abruptly ended due to inefficiencies and lack of planning at the DNR as we heard happened last week.”
In Wisconsin’s most recent budget that was passed in 2023 there were increases to some of the non-resident hunting, fishing, and combination license fees. The increase is estimated to have generated almost $2.5 million annually for the Fish and Wildlife fund. Additionally, there was also a transfer of $25 million to the Fish and Wildlife account from the forestry account as one-time money. In addition to those budget actions, Chairman Stafsholt and members of the Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage, held a public hearing and passed Senate Bill 780 relating to nonresident archer and crossbow hunting license fees. The bill was signed into law and will provide an estimated annual increase of $409,000 for the Fish and Wildlife account.
Last Update: Jul 11, 2024 11:58 am CDT
