Jan 18, 2026
Evergreen Revival of Episode 27 (Originally released December
28, 2013)
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.
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
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
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.
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.
