Overviewthis grant agreement between the US fish and wildlife service (USFWS) and the wisconsin department of natural resources (department) defines how the department will administer and implement…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) awarded the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) a Formula Grant totaling $38.76 million under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. This award funds comprehensive wildlife conservation and management activities across Wisconsin's 1.8 million acres of public land, including wildlife areas, natural areas, and shooting ranges. The primary products and services delivered encompass wildlife resource protection and conservation; habitat restoration and enhancement; wildlife population surveys and research; hunter education and safety training programs; shooting range development and maintenance; land acquisition and real estate services; recreational facility development; and public outreach initiatives designed to recruit, retain, and reactivate hunters and trappers while promoting appreciation for Wisconsin's native species and ecosystems.

WDNR implements these initiatives through the Comprehensive Management System (CMS) approach, which requires systematic assessment of fish and wildlife resources, establishment of management goals, development of strategic plans, and evaluation of implementation progress. The award supports subawards to strategic partners including the University of Wisconsin-Madison for wildlife population assessment using trail camera technology and analysis of environmental stressors on wildlife populations; Michigan State University for collaborative Great Lakes region wolf management research; and Ducks Unlimited, Inc., for wetland restoration and enhancement engineering capacity development. These coordinated efforts deliver science-based wildlife management, hunter education, habitat restoration, and recreational access improvements throughout Wisconsin.

Overviewthis grant agreement between the US fish and wildlife service (USFWS) and the wisconsin department of natural resources (department) defines how the department will administer and implement its wildlife restoration and hunter education programs under the comprehensive management system (CMS) option. The CMS approach requires the department to 1. Assess the status of fish and wildlife resources 2. Establish future goals for those resources 3. Develop a fish and wildlife strategic plan 4. Implement that plan through the use of the management system and 5. Evaluate progress in implementing that plan.action areathis grant includes activities on wildlife areas and natural areas and shooting ranges throughout wisconsin.goals and OBJECTIVES1. Protect conserve and manage wildlife resources on over 1.8 million acres of public land.2. Provide high quality opportunities for hunting trapping and wildlife watching.3. Manage and maintain department owned properties.4. Enhance restore and increase public appreciation of wisconsins native species and ecosystems.5. Plan for future resource management and recreation use and public use facilities.6. Provide professional real estate services to the department.7. Design recreational and employee support facilities.8. Conduct research to acquire original knowledge and analyze information to inform policies and support science based management decisions.9. Protect and enhance and promote public safety.10. Educate hunters about safe and ethical hunting practices.11. Recruit new hunters and trappers and retain exiting hunters and trappers and reactivate lapsed hunters and trappers.12. Develop and manage state owned shooting ranges.13. Support external partners in achieving these same goals through subawards.OUTCOMES1. Management and enhancement of wildlife populations and their habitats.2. Enhanced understanding of wildlife through research.3. Management of emerging wildlife health issues.4. Availability of high quality public outdoor recreation opportunities.5. Enhanced understanding of wildlife through public outreach and education.6. Increased participation in hunting.7. Continued decrease in hunting accidents.8. Excellence in public service.