When Utah made conservation history

The Pittman-Robertson Act and its first land project at Ogden Bay Bird Refuge in 1938

By Chelsea Duke
Wildlife Lands Coordinator

Imagine a time in America when deer, elk, ducks and many other wildlife species were vanishing quickly. In the early 1900s, unregulated hunting and habitat destruction had pushed many animals to the brink of disappearing forever.

Then, in 1937, something remarkable happened: Congress passed the Pittman-Robertson Act. This law became one of the most important conservation measures in U.S. history, and created a unique legacy for Utah.

What is the Pittman-Robertson Act?

The Pittman-Robertson Act, officially called the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, created a dedicated source of funding for wildlife conservation. It was the result of hunters, conservation organizations, public agencies and lawmakers all coming together for a common cause: Conserving wildlife and wildlife habitat for future generations.

Here's how it works:

• A special tax, called excise tax, is placed on certain hunting-related equipment such as firearms, ammunition and archery equipment.
• The money from this tax isn't placed in general government spending. Instead, it goes into a fund used only for wildlife conservation projects.
• States apply for grants to use this money to restore wildlife habitat, manage species, conduct research, promote hunter safety and education, fund wildlife professionals and purchase land.

Hunters at Ogden Bay Bird Refuge, circa 1938.

Funding the future of wildlife conservation

In the early 20th century, America was losing wildlife at an alarming rate. There were few hunting regulations, and vast areas of habitat were destroyed for farming, logging and development.

The Pittman-Robertson Act was innovative in many ways:

• It recognized that wildlife needed protection and management.
• It created a sustainable funding source dedicated to conservation.
• It required hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts to help pay for the very resources they used.

This was groundbreaking because it took a coordinated, science-based approach and looked to the future of conservation in the United States.

A first for conservation at Ogden Bay

For Utah, the Pittman-Robertson Act has an even more impactful past, because the very first project funded was to make habitat improvements at the Ogden Bay Bird Refuge (now called the Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area) in northern Utah.

On July 23, 1938, Utah was the first project ever approved to use Pittman-Robertson funds to improve Great Salt Lake wetlands. These wetlands were, and still are, critically important for over 300 bird species, including migrating waterfowl like ducks and geese.

The Ogden Bay project showed how Pittman-Robertson funds could be used to protect habitats that were essential for wildlife survival. It was the first time these dedicated conservation dollars were spent to secure and manage land just for the benefit of wildlife.

A national legacy

The Ogden Bay project set an example for decades to come. Across the country, states followed suit, using Pittman-Robertson Act dollars to buy, restore and manage habitats that would otherwise have been lost to development or degradation.

Today, more than 85 years later, the Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area is still managed for wildlife and hunting access. It stands as a living reminder of the vision behind the Pittman-Robertson Act: Investing in the future of wildlife for everyone to enjoy.

The national impact has been huge and lasting. Thanks to Pittman-Robertson funding:

• Deer, elk, turkeys and other game animals have been recovered from historic population lows.
• Wetlands were protected and restored, helping waterfowl populations rebound.
• Millions of acres of habitat were conserved or improved.
• Thousands of wildlife biologist and conservation officer positions were funded.

Why does it still matter?

More than 85 years later, the Pittman-Robertson Act is still funding conservation. Every time someone buys hunting gear or ammunition, a portion of that money supports wildlife restoration and habitat protection.

This model is often described as the user-pays, everyone-benefits approach:

• Hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts pay into the system.
• All Americans benefit from healthy wildlife populations and natural landscapes.

It also set the stage for other successful conservation funding programs, proving that with the right approach, we can reverse damage to the environment.

Learn more

• Utah's Wildlife/Waterfowl Management Areas
• Historical highlight: The Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937
• Utah's Ogden Bay: The Birthplace of Modern Wetlands Conservation
• DWR WILD podcast episode 22: Wildlife Management Areas

Chelsea Duke

Chelsea Duke is the Wildlife Lands Coordinator and has been with DWR for almost seven years. She is passionate about her role conserving and protecting wildlife lands for wildlife and the public to enjoy. In 2024, Chelsea visited the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center Museum and Archives and is seen here holding the pen that President Franklin D. Roosevelt used to sign the 1937 Pittman-Robertson Act.