Birdshot and backlashes

$176,026,493. That’s one hundred sixty seven million, twenty six thousand four hundred ninety three bucks. That’s the amount of money fishermen, fisherwomen, hunters and boaters have contributed to preserving and increasing fish and wildlife populations in Minnesota through excise taxes on fishing tackle, boats, motors, guns and ammunition. In a previous column, it was pointed out that not a whole lot of sportsmen and sportswomen know about these programs. Nationally, it amounts to almost four and one half billion dollars.The money is collected in a tax of 11% on fishing and hunting equipment before it goes on store counters. It is included in the price of a product so it still comes out of the pocket of the sportsman or sportswoman. It supports a variety of programs including much of the research done on fish and wildlife, creation and maintenance of wildlife refuges, public fishing and hunting areas, boat accesses and dozens of initiatives we simply take for granted. The wildlife programs began back in the 1930s with the federal Pittman-Robertson Act and was updated to include fish and fishing with the Dingel-Johnson Act in 1950.Congress passed these laws at the behest of sportsmen to fund necessary programs which the states were not doing. Sportsmen’s organizations requested the taxes on fishermen and hunters themselves, somewhat unique in U.S. tax history. Because a large part of today’s sportsmen and sportswomen do not know of these ongoing programs, it is our contention that an explanation and tally of this funding should be included in the fish and game regulation booklets fisherfolk and hunters get with their state licenses.Details and figures on the programs were obtained from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and from Congressman Jim Oberstar’s office. No matter what one’s take on Oberstar’s politics, Jim’s office is always prompt to responds to questions from Minnesota voters. Which is one reason he gets re –elected time and again. He takes care of his constituency.FABULOUS BLUEBERRIES The reports are in. 2005 is one of the greatest berry picking seasons on record. Not only were there lots of blueberries, but they were extra large. Pickers we have talked to noted that in many areas berries on the tops of the bushes appeared small, but if a picker lifted up the branches, the big ones were underneath. Last week they were universally ripe and could be stripped off the bushes by the handful. At our house, we have something like six gallons in the freezer for blueberry jam, blueberry pancakes, blueberry muffins, blueberry pies and blueberries on cereal with cream.This follows on the heels of great wild strawberry and raspberry crops. We do not have a report yet on the wild rice crop but it should be good. Wild rice ripens in late August and must be harvested by hand from canoes, the traditional way. Wild rice is the most nutritious grain in nature and is the only crop where a special license is required to harvest.Other goodies in the woods include hazel nuts, wild currants and June berries or Saskatoons. These bluish-purple fruits are prolific this year and are good with cereal or as jam. Some folks pick rose hips, the fruit of the wild rose, but usually after the first frost. A few people gather pin cherries and choke cherries and squeeze out the juice for jelly. Old timers point out that there are a lot of foods available in the woods but fewer and fewer people in this affluent society bother to go harvest them Picking berries and nuts is not particularly popular any more, probably because it can’t be done it sitting down.