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Wildlife Restoration |
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Wildlife Restoration Program HighlightsPresented by In the early 1930s, severe drought and the worst economic depression in America's history brought into sharp focus the serious decline of our nation's wildlife. With a handful of far-sighted conservationists leading the way, organized sportsmen and the firearms and ammunitions industries joined efforts with State wildlife agencies to meet the crisis. The result was the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, popularly known as the Pittman-Robertson Act, which was approved by Congress in 1937. The Act authorizes the placement of an 11 percent federal excise tax on sporting arms, ammunition and archery equipment, and a 10 percent tax on handguns. These funds are made available through grants to State wildlife agencies for a variety of activities like research, habitat management, species restoration, population surveys, technical guidance, land acquisition and hunter education. In fiscal year 2002 over $20 million were made available to the states in Region 2. By working with our state partners, we continue to help restore our spectacular wildlife heritage at no cost to the general tax payer. About |
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 In the early 1900s, populations of white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, black
bear, turkey and wood duck dropped to record low levels from which they could
not recover on their own. Thanks to state fish and game managers and activities
funded by the Wildlife Restoration Act, these species are now abundant. Other
game and non-game species also benefit from the Act, including waterfowl, shore
birds, quail, dove, pheasant, elk, deer and bighorn sheep. |
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Today 13 million hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts enjoy America's outdoor heritage while contributing more than $20.6 billion annually to the nation's economy. Federal excise taxes on their purchases of firearms, ammunition and archery equipment generate $200 million annually for the Wildlife Restoration Program. Who benefits? Hunters, sportsmen and sportswomen, and an estimated 66.1 million wildlife watchers who observe, photograph and feed a rich diversity of wildlife species -- the direct recipients of more than seven decades of wildlife conservation efforts. FundingThe Act authorizes an 11 percent federal excise tax on sporting arms, ammunition and archery equipment, and a 10 percent tax on handguns. Each time a hunter purchases one of these items, the retail price includes the federal excise tax. This tax, supported and paid by the manufacturers, is available to state fish and wildlife agencies through grants-in-aid administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The grant money is apportioned to the states based on a formula. States are required to provide at least a 25 percent share of the project cost from non-federal funds. As a result, hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts directly fund wildlife management and restoration - making this one of the first and most successful "user-pay / user-benefit" programs. More than $20 million is annually made available to state fish and wildlife agencies in the Southwest Region. More on funding. Activities
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For general information contact: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
Resources Related Sites and Organizations
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Fish and Wildlife AgenciesLast updated: July 30, 2007
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