All license fees must go to an account separate from a state's general fund in order for a state to qualify for federal Pittman-Robertson money (that is collected on excise taxes on all firearms, ammo, etc, purchases). NY's separate account is called the Conservation Fund. All sales of assets from the Fish and Wildlife department, as well as their products, income from leases, etc, must go back into the Conservation Fund. The upkeep of the pheasant farm is *supposed* to be paid from these two sources, AND, the income that *could* have come from selling pheasants or the land should also have been placed into the Conservation Fund unless a separate piece of legislation were enacted directing otherwise. In other words, even if the State did this, it would not offer ANY relief from the budget problems the state is facing.
