Next time someone asks you what sportsmen do for conservation projects, mention that we raised $700 million to fund them.
That’s how much is being distributed this year to 56 state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies to support fish and wildlife conservation efforts, boat access, shooting ranges and hunter education.
The funding is made available to states and territories through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration programs, which are administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Funds are generated by federal excise taxes on purchases of firearms, ammunition, archery and angling equipment, and boat motor fuels.
“Over the past 71 years, hunters and anglers have paid more than $11 billion through these landmark programs, providing critical support for wildlife conservation efforts across North America,” said Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne. “Many of our most important wildlife success stories would not have happened without the commitment of sportsmen and women and industry leaders, who anticipated serious conservation needs and shouldered the burden of meeting those needs.”
The Wildlife Restoration apportionment for 2008 totals nearly $310 million, with more than $61 million tagged for hunter education and shooting range programs. Federal Assistance funds pay up to 75 percent of the cost of each eligible project of which the states are required to contribute at least 25 percent.
Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act funding is apportioned through a formula based on land area and the number of hunting license holders in each state. State and territorial wildlife agencies use the money to manage wildlife, conduct habitat research, carry out studies and surveys, acquire lands for wildlife as well as public access, conduct hunter education programs and maintain shooting ranges.
More than 62 percent of the Wildlife Restoration funds have been used to buy, develop, or operate and maintain state wildlife management areas. Since the program began, 68 million acres have been acquired through simple purchase, lease agreements, or easements and more than 390 million acres have been operated and maintained using this funding.
Numerous species of wildlife such as the wild turkey, whitetail deer, pronghorn, American elk, and black bear have increased in numbers due to advances in research and habitat management funded by the Wildlife Restoration program. The state wildlife agencies have also improved more than 30 million acres of habitat and developed more than 44,000 acres of waterfowl impoundments. In addition, the states have certified more than 8.9 million hunter education and safety students, with more than 3 million participating in live fire exercises on a shooting range.
For additional information concerning these conservation programs and a comprehensive list of state-by-state funding allocations, visit: http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov.
