Why do state fish and wildlife agencies promote hunting?
Fish and wildlife agencies sell licenses to help pay agency salaries. These agencies get funding from various general funds, federal endangered species funds, taxes on extractive industries and other sources. Agency staff is generally made up of hunters and fishers who perpetuate the hunting paradigm. According to Russ George, director of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, agency staff feels obligated to primarily serve its hunting constituency because staff salaries are supported by license fees. Ironically, a significant amount of a state wildlife agency’s budget is directed at enforcing hunting regulations.
