USFWS Provides Over $1.2 Billion for Conservation and Outdoor Access
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it will provide over $1.2 billion in Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration apportionments to support states, commonwealths and territories in their efforts to fund conservation and outdoor opportunities. This critical funding was made possible through the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux Acts, which establish federal excise taxes on ammunition, firearms, archery and angling equipment.
“Sportsmen and women and recreational shooters are the lifeblood of the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund,” said Matt Lindler, NWTF director of government affairs. “With every firearm, ammunition or archery equipment purchase made by NWTF members and others, they directly support state-level wildlife conservation efforts, the development of shooting ranges, and vital hunter education and outreach programs. This is the ultimate ‘user-pay, public-benefit’ model, where the investments made by hunters and shooters deliver widespread benefits to everyone, not just those who hunt or shoot.”
At the end of the 19th century, as species like the wild turkey were pushed to the brink of extinction, wildlife funding mechanisms were developed through excise taxes on equipment manufacturers and license fees on sportsmen and women. Congress enacted important conservation laws to prevent further loss, like the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 (now called the Pittman-Robertson Act) and the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950 (now the Dingell-Johnson Act), among others.
These funds are distributed to partner fish and wildlife agencies through grants by the USFWS Office of Conservation Investment. Since 1937, more than $31 billion has been distributed through annual apportionments to manage our nation’s fish and wildlife resources; support hunter, trapper and aquatic education; and improve access for outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing and boating.
Partner fish and wildlife agencies have contributed over $10 billion in investments throughout the program’s history. Through these combined funds, agencies have supported monitoring and management of over 800 species of wild mammals and birds; annual stocking of over 1 billion fish; operations of fish and wildlife disease laboratories around the country; and provided hunter, trapper and aquatic education to millions of students. These funds have also supported operations and maintenance of over 800 target ranges, over 9,000 fishing access areas and the opening of over 36 million acres of state land to hunting and angling.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 25 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. Since 2022, the NWTF has also invested over $2.3 million in critical wild turkey research that, when leveraged with partner contributions, has resulted in more than $22 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale to deliver healthy forests and wildlife habitats, clean and abundant water, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF is committed to creating a nation united by the life-changing power of the outdoors.