BUY A HUNTING & FISHING LICENSE PLUS WMA PERMIT
Hunters and anglers have an avenue to annually pay into conservation efforts for fish and wildlife by purchasing licenses. Wildlife-watchers, including birdwatchers, don’t really have a similar, dedicated way to pay into state-level conservation.
One easy way for non-hunters and non-anglers to contribute funds directly to wildlife conservation in your state is to purchase an annual hunting and fishing license. Yes, this might sound counterintuitive if you’re a nature lover but not a hunter or angler. Most of the funds generated from the sale of these licenses go back to wildlife and users in many forms including habitat restoration, data collection and analysis by state agency biologists, and enhanced access by users.
When you buy a state hunting and fishing license, also buy a permit to access your state Wildlife Management Areas or WMAs. If you’re not a hunter or angler, in some states, they offer a permit for non-consumptive users like birdwatchers and hikers. WMAs can be great places to look for birds and other wildlife. Study the calendar to see when game species are in-season so you can avoid any crowds. Other than feral hog hunting, there are many months of the year when hunters are not accessing WMAs. These are state-owned lands so contact your state’s game and fish agency or visit this site fws.gov/initiative/hunting.
As birders, let’s pay our way. Do it for the owls!