Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety

The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act provides grants to State, Commonwealth, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies for projects to restore, conserve, manage, and enhance wild birds and mammals and their habitat. Projects also include p

The Wildlife Restoration Grant Program provides funding to the States to aid in wildlife-restoration projects. The Basic Hunter Education Program teaches the skills and knowledge to be responsible and safe shooters, offers shooting skills development programs, constructs/operates public target ranges, and supports programs to recruit/retain/reactivate hunters and recreational target shooters. Participation is limited to State agencies (excluding the District of Columbia) with lead management responsibility for fish and wildlife resources in the United States of America that have passed assent language. These programs are funded by revenues collected from excise taxes on certain firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment. Revenues are deposited into the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund and apportioned annually following a legislatively established formula to each of the State agencies.

State governments, U.S. Territories, and Commonwealths Participation is limited to State, Territory, or Commonwealth agencies (excluding the District of Columbia) with lead management responsibility for fish and wildlife resources in the United States of America. These entities must pass laws (assent legislation) for the conservation of fish and wildlife. The law(s) must require that revenue from hunting and fishing licenses be only used for the administration of the fish and wildlife agency.

State governments, U.S. Territories, and Commonwealths

Program funds the selection of projects for restoration, rehabilitation, and improvement of wildlife habitat; wildlife management research; wildlife population surveys and inventories; land acquisition; coordinating, developing, operating, and maintaining facilities, acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing public target ranges (up to 10 percent); provisions for public use of wildlife resources, and public relations activities as well as provides training in the safe handling and use of firearms and archery equipment, hunter responsibilities, ethics, and survival; construction, operation, and maintenance of public target ranges; recruiting, retaining, and reactivating hunters and recreational shooters; and basic wildlife management and identification.

Program funds the selection of projects for restoration, rehabilitation, and improvement of wildlife habitat; wildlife management research; wildlife population surveys and inventories; land acquisition; coordinating, developing, operating, and maintaining facilities, acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing public target ranges (up to 10 percent); provisions for public use of wildlife resources, and public relations activities as well as provides training in the safe handling and use of firearms and archery equipment, hunter responsibilities, ethics, and survival; construction, operation, and maintenance of public target ranges; recruiting, retaining, and reactivating hunters and recreational shooters; and basic wildlife management and identification.

Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education Program funds are available each Fiscal Year and must be obligated within two years. A State may allocate up to 10 percent of its apportioned WR funds to supplement Enhanced Hunter Education (EHE) funds for acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing public target ranges. The allocated WR funds, in addition to Basic and EHE funds allocated for the same activities, will be available for 5 years with up to 90 percent Federal cost share for those specific activities.

An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth, or territory for more information on this process when applying for assistance if the State has selected the program for review.

The State, Commonwealth, or Territorial agency having lead responsibility for the management of their wildlife resources must submit the projects. The Regional office approves projects submitted for funding under the program that meet the basic criteria outlined in the regulations and the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual.

The Regional Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service or his designee approves or disapproves proposed grants. Regional Offices are responsible for notification of grant approval to the grantee.

Average 30 days.

Grantees may renew projects on an annual basis if justifiable and if funds are available.

Regional Directors will consider differences of opinion concerning the eligibility of proposals. Final determination rests with the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service.