Federal Partnership

Federal Government Pumps Money Into West Virginia Wildlife August 24, 2011 Reporter: Patrick McMurtry Videographer: Brad Rice

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This is one of the cold water hatcheries run by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources to help build up the population of catchable trout in West Virginia rivers, streams, and lakes. Running these is an expensive proposition, but because of the support of everyone who buys hunting and fishing licenses, it's going to continue. Money from every hunting and fishing license you buy goes through the federal government and then comes right back here to our state.

Jen Stone, with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service explains how the funding works. "We have a fund that is generated through sport fish gear and the excise tax on gas, and that money is used to match the state dollars for wildlife research."

This is some of the money being spent on catfish stocking and management. The DNR uses the money in other programs, like walleye, bass and trout stocking and management. You could say many of the fish you catch in this state have a federal connection.

"This partnership depends on the sportsmen and women of each state and the joy that they have in hunting and fishing, so as long as they buy licenses and the equipment they need to participate, this will continue forever." says Stone.

This partnership is close to 75 years old and continues to go strong. In fact, Jen says the state can expect millions this year again.

"They're given about 3.5 million a year. That fluctuates depending on how much of the taxes are collected and how much water they have in the state and how many fishing licenses they sell. West Virginia uses this money for research." says Stone.

Research you can profit by every day of the year.

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