The Missouri duck season opened last Saturday, November 1, in the north and middle zones. The season arrival comes on the heels of a meaningful passage of legislation which affects waterfowl hunters and conservationists alike.

The U.S. Senate passed the Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act, which extends and reauthorizes the interest earned on funds held in the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Fund (Pittman-Robertson) to continue to be available for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA).

“The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act is an essential pillar of American conservation efforts,” said DU CEO Adam Putnam. “Duck hunters are among the most passionate conservationists on the planet, and their investments sustain wetlands, wildlife, and the future of waterfowl. Thank you to our friends in Congress for ensuring that hunters’ investments continue to support the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, where they can go right where they belong – onto the landscape to restore habitat that benefits waterfowl, other wildlife, and our communities.”

The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, also known as the Pittman-Robertson Act, imposes an 11% excise tax on ammunition, firearms, and archery equipment. Funds generated from this tax are then distributed to state game and fish agencies for conservation and restoration projects for wildlife and their habitats, hunter education, and other wildlife-related recreation. 

NAWCA is an incredibly successful, non-regulatory, incentive-based voluntary wildlife conservation program that stimulates public-private partnerships to protect, restore, and manage wetland habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. For more information on NAWCA, visit the dedicated NAWCA webpage. 

The bipartisan Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act was originally introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Jeff Hurd (CO) and Rep. Sarah Elfreth (MD). 

“I’m proud this legislation passed the Senate and is heading to the President’s desk. This bill supports hunters, improves wetland health, and ensures future generations can enjoy the outdoors. It expands hunting opportunities and delivers real benefits for conservation efforts across the country,” said Rep. Hurd. “I’m honored to get this win for our hunters, wildlife, and America’s outdoor heritage.”

“The Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025 is a critical continuation of funding from hunting sales to wildlife restoration efforts. In Maryland alone, this program has conserved over 58,000 acres of wildlife habitat through over $16 million in North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) funding. I’m grateful my colleagues in the Senate have moved forward this crucial piece of legislation so we can ensure generations of sustainable sportsmanship opportunities to come,” said Congresswoman Elfreth. 

The legislation will head to the President’s desk to be signed into law. 

For more information, visit www.ducks.org, and be sure to follow DU’s Twitter feed – @DucksUnlimited and @DUConserve – to get the most up-to-date news from Ducks Unlimited.                                                                                                                              

Hunters have always led the way when it comes to conservation efforts. Hunters are considered conservationists due to their financial contributions to wildlife management through licenses and taxes, hands-on habitat restoration and land management, and active participation in wildlife management to maintain balanced populations. Funding from hunters supports wildlife agencies and conservation programs, helping to ensure the survival of many species, including those that are not hunted. 

Financial contributions 

• Taxes and fees: Hunters pay billions through excise taxes on firearms and ammunition (Pittman-Robertson Act) and annual state hunting licenses, which fund conservation efforts and state wildlife agencies.

• Donations: Hunters donate to conservation organizations, further funding habitat protection and research. 

Habitat and land management 

• Land purchase and upkeep: Hunters and hunting-related organizations purchase and maintain land to support wildlife, creating and protecting habitats.

• Habitat restoration: Hunters participate in hands-on activities to restore and protect wetlands and other habitats. 

Wildlife management 

• Population control: By hunting, hunters help manage populations of game animals, preventing overpopulation that can lead to starvation and environmental destruction.

• Data collection: Hunters often provide valuable information to wildlife agencies by reporting sightings and following regulations, which aids in management decisions.

• Non-hunted species: The funds and efforts from hunting conservation contribute to the management and preservation of many non-hunted species. 

Without a doubt hunters are the greatest conservation group in the world. Repeatedly, for decades, hunters have put their money where their mouth is. They have not only taxed themselves to provide monies for wildlife agencies and conservation efforts, they have given billions of dollars in support of conservation organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Wildlife Federation, Pheasants Forever, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and many more.                              

Thanks to the foresight of conservation minded Missouri citizens in the 1930s, we now enjoy the benefits of the best conservation department in the nation. We took conservation out of politics and hired professional biologists. Furthermore, we the citizens enacted a one-eight of one percent sales tax on ourselves in 1976. The resulting millions of dollars from the sales tax, which every citizen pays, has resulted in our Missouri Department of Conservation becoming the envy of every state in the nation. As of fiscal year 2024, Missouri’s conservation sales tax cost approximately $27.42 per resident annually. That is the best bargain in the world (literally) for professional conservation management.                                                                                                                 

Yet, there are those who want to end, or curtail, our Missouri Conservation Tax. I’ve read, and listened to thousands of such proposals, and not one has made good, sound conservation management sense. The one-eighth of one cent Conservation Sales Tax brings in millions each year, with the resulting economic activity far exceeding the tax's cost. The MDC reports that the tax generates almost five times its value in state and local taxes alone. Conservation is good business! And, no, I am not an employees of the Missouri Department of Conservation.