Organizations challenge decades-long diversion of interest revenue and warn that more than $11 million in annual federal wildlife funding could be at risk.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - Safari Club International (SCI), the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) and the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine (SAM) are calling on Maine to end the alleged diversion of interest earned on funds designated for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW), return money improperly retained by the state, and ensure compliance with state and federal law.
In a formal notice to Maine Attorney General Frey, the organizations challenged a practice they say has diverted interest earned on IFW funds to the state's General Fund for more than three decades. SCI and its partners estimate that tens of millions of dollars have been diverted from resources to support Maine's fish and wildlife agency.
The organizations contend that the practice violates the Maine Constitution, as well as federal requirements governing hunting and fishing license revenue. They are calling for immediate corrective action and are prepared to pursue all available remedies, including litigation, if the state fails to resolve the issue.
Millions in Federal Wildlife Funding are at risk, and the consequences could extend far beyond the interest revenue itself. Maine received more than $11 million in federal Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act funding in 2024 alone, nearly half of the IFW's annual appropriation.
Pittman-Robertson funding supports state wildlife conservation and management, including habitat improvement, fisheries and hatcheries, wildlife research, population management and hunter recruitment and retention. A loss of these funds could significantly constrain IFW's ability to carry out these responsibilities and protect Maine's wildlife resources.
"Wildlife conservation depends on funding being used for its intended purpose, not diverted away from the agency responsible for managing these resources," said W. Laird Hamberlin, CEO of Safari Club International. "Maine's hunters and anglers contribute directly to conservation through their licenses and excise taxes. Those dollars support the programs that sustain healthy wildlife populations and protect our hunting heritage. The state must address these concerns, account for the funds at issue, and ensure conservation resources are protected for the future."
A Dispute Over Revenue and Accountability
Article IX, Section 22 of the Maine Constitution requires that IFW appropriations reflect all revenue collected by the department. SCI, NRA and SAM contend that interest earned on these funds must be credited to IFW and not retained by the state. Federal regulations governing Pittman-Robertson funding similarly include interest earned on license revenue.
The organizations are demanding Maine end the diversion, credit interest to IFW going forward, and repay accumulated funds improperly retained in the General Fund. If the state fails to take corrective action, they are prepared to pursue litigation and other remedies to enforce compliance and protect funding for Maine's fish and wildlife conservation programs.
For SCI, the issue reflects a fundamental principle: revenue dedicated to wildlife conservation and management should remain available for those purposes.
About Safari Club International: Safari Club International is a global leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. Through advocacy, litigation, and education, SCI fights to promote the sustainable use of wildlife resources and to defend the rights of hunters. Visit www.safariclub.org today to join the mission.