307 Pittman–Robertson Act: The Hidden Engine Behind Deer Hunting - BBR Evergreen Series

Evergreen Revival of Episode 27 (Originally released December 28, 2013)

READ OUR FULL BLOG POST HERE

In 2013, Big Buck Registry recorded Episode 27 — a conversation that quietly became one of the most important episodes in the show’s history. In it, we interviewed certified wildlife biologist Jeff Makemson of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, exploring a topic most hunters never think about:

Where does conservation funding actually come from?

The answer leads directly to the Pittman–Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 — the law that rebuilt America’s wildlife, restored whitetail deer from near extinction, and created the modern system of game management we rely on today.

In this revived evergreen episode, we:

• Revisit the original 2013 interview

• Clarify a few points that time and research have refined

• Update what has changed since then

• And deliver a deep-dive monologue explaining the full story behind the Act

If you hunt deer today, this law is part of your story — whether you knew it or not.

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What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• How close deer and other game species came to disappearing in the early 1900s
• Why unregulated market hunting devastated wildlife populations
• How sportsmen themselves pushed for federal conservation funding
• What the Pittman–Robertson Act actually does
• How the firearms and ammunition excise tax funds wildlife restoration
• How states receive and use Pittman–Robertson funds
• How deer populations rebounded from a few thousand to tens of millions
• Why hunters are America’s largest conservationists
• What has changed in conservation funding since 2013
• Why this system still matters for the future of hunting

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Featured Guest (Original Interview)

Jeff Makemson
Certified Wildlife Biologist
Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

Jeff shares firsthand insight into:

• Managing public wildlife lands

• Restoring deer populations

• Funding realities inside state agencies

• Why most hunters don’t realize they fund conservation

• How habitat, research, and enforcement are supported

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Why This Episode Matters

Without the Pittman–Robertson Act:

• Whitetail deer would be rare or nonexistent in many states

• Public hunting lands would be minimal

• Wildlife agencies would lack scientific staff

• Modern hunting culture would not exist

Every rifle, box of ammunition, and bow sold today continues to fund the system that keeps wildlife thriving.

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Episode Structure

• New opening introduction and historical context
• Summary and clarification of the original 2013 interview
• Updated facts and modern funding perspective
• Full deep-dive monologue on the Pittman–Robertson Act
• Playback of the original 30-minute Episode 27 interview
• Closing summary and reflections on hunters as conservationists

If you value hunting, share this episode.
Every hunter who understands this story becomes a stronger advocate for conservation.