There is a need to develop safe and responsible hunters in texas by decreasing the hunting incident rate IE keeping IT below national average of 5.5 incidents per one hundred thousand participants

The Department of the Interior (DOI) Fish and Wildlife Service Region 2 awarded $2,133,554.01 under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for the two-year period from September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2027. This formula grant supports the development of safe and responsible hunters in Texas by decreasing hunting incident rates to maintain performance below the national average of 5.5 incidents per 100,000 participants, while simultaneously increasing understanding of and compliance with Texas hunting regulations. The funding enables TPWD to promote responsible outdoor actions and behaviors among hunters and target shooters, with emphasis on reducing wounding rates and enhancing ethical hunting practices and public image.

Under this award, TPWD delivers hunter education and safety programming through subawards to partner organizations, including the Wildlife Association of Texas, which operates the Texas Hunter Education Program as well as youth and adult hunting education initiatives. The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act framework supports these state-level efforts through wildlife conservation and hunter safety training aligned with TPWD's broader portfolio of habitat management, wildlife research, and recreational access services across Texas's diverse ecosystems.

As well as increasing understanding of and compliance with texas hunting regulations. Also by promoting responsible outdoor actions and behaviors by hunters and target shooters including reduced wounding rates and enhanced public image and ethical behaviors