Interesting outdoor facts

Facts are facts. Sometimes a listing of facts about the outdoors can be interesting and educational. Check out these facts, collected from various sources.

Hunters and target shooters have paid $7.1 billion in excise taxes since the inception of the Pittman-Robertson Act in 1937. So what is the Pittman-Robertson Act?

The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, most often referred to as the Pittman–Robertson Act, was passed by Congress and signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 2, 1937 and became effective on July 1 of the following year.

Prior to the creation of the Pittman–Robertson Act, many species of wildlife were driven to or near extinction by commercial and market hunting pressure, plus declining habitat.

This act created an excise tax that provides funds to each state to manage such animals and their habitats. In effect, sportsmen asked to be taxed for the benefit of various animal and bird species.

There was a preexisting tax of the same amount, 11 percent, but this money was placed into the United States Treasury. Readers can imagine how congress used it, but we can all be assured the money was not accounted for afterwards.

The P-R Act placed the excise tax money under the control of the Secretary of the Interior to distribute to the States. The Secretary determines how much to give to each state based on a formula that takes into account both the area of the state and its number of licensed hunters.

The act has been amended a few times and management of wildlife continues to be a large part of act. Other conservation organizations have contributed greatly to the welfare of birds and wildlife, such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

The following information, supplied by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, illustrates how these monies, along with other conservation efforts, have benefited some bird and wildlife species:

White-Tailed Deer: In 1900, less than half a million white-tailed deer remained in the United States. Then 500,000, but today, conservation programs have returned the whitetail population to around 32 million.

Ducks: In 1901, few ducks remained. Today there are more than 46 million ducks populating the United States and Canada.

Rocky Mountain Elk: In 1907, only about 41,000 elk could be counted in the United States. Today, populations in 23 states total approximately 1 million.

Wild Turkey: By the early 1900’s, encroaching civilization and habitat loss reduced the wild turkey population to under 100,000. Today, conservation programs have restored the population to more than 7 million birds.

Dennis note: The introduction of wild turkey to Washington is a great success story. Hunters can tag seven birds a year. A hunting buddy and I counted two flocks of 150 turkeys, which merged, making a flock of over 300. Yes we actually counted them.

Pronghorn Antelope: About 55 years ago, the total U.S. population of pronghorn was only about 12,000. Today, conservation programs have helped increase the population to more than one million.

Fishing excise tax

There is also an excise tax on fishing equipment. States receive this tax money based on the number of licensed anglers, along with other criteria. There was a time when a senior fishing license was free.

Fish and Wildlife explained this is the reason seniors, those anglers over 70 years old, must now pay $7.50 for a fishing license. While it would be great to have a free license for our seniors, the small fee seems appropriate for the betterment of the angling world.

A few more outdoor related facts:

Did you know: Sportsmen contribute nearly $8 million every day, adding more than $2.9 billion every year for conservation?

Hunting in America is big business, generating 600,000 jobs in the United States.

For more than 80 years, sportsmen have paid more than $14 billion for on-the-ground projects in every state, protecting our natural environment and our fish and wildlife.

About 3 million people camp at parks run by the National Park Service every year. Deer can jump as high as 10 feet in the air from a full sprint.

Raccoons can purr. Like house cats, they usually purr when they feel content or safe. In 2009 alone, there were more than 30,000 reported cases of Lyme disease.

A mouse can squeeze through an incredibly small space thanks to its soft skull. Zip up your tent at night. You can tell the temperature by listening to a cricket chirping. Count the number of chirps in 14 seconds and add 40 for the temperature in Fahrenheit.

The record high temperature in the United States was recorded in Death Valley, California at 134 degrees Fahrenheit. The record low temperature in the United States was recorded in Prospect Creek, Alaska at -79.8 degrees Fahrenheit.

Black bears can run at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. They also have an incredible sense of smell, so take appropriate precautions when camping in bear territory.

Mosquitoes can smell the carbon dioxide in a human’s breath from over 100 feet away. After a few hours, your campfire can reach temperatures of 900 degrees Fahrenheit or more. Always keep a bucket of water near your campfire in case the flames get out of control.

This column is designed to be taken on 2016 camping trips. Share the facts with friends and family while seated around the campfire.