Back when I started out it was the WA Department of Sport Fishing and Hunting. The head of the Fish Division had a cow when the agencies monthly magazine had an article on mudminnows.

There was some truth to that model as the agency was funded by license funds almost entirely. In the 70s, the first personalized license plates were implemented and the funds went to non-Game resources.

It is true, to a point, that maintaining habitat for consumed species benefits the non-consumed. But, as seen in CA, concern for lead poisoning of Condors is a trigger point with many hunters.

The mission statement of the agency (WDFW) is to preserve, protect, and enhance the wildlife resources of WA. That means conservation of all the resources is primary with harvest secondary. The fly in the ointment is that the Leg expects consumptive users to pay the freight and this isn't right. License fees should produce resources that benefit the payees. If the state wants to produce salmon (say) for Indians, commercial non-Indians, Alaska, and Canada then the General Fund needs to pay up.