FA Resources and Job Aids

WSFR-Administered Program Funding Diagrams

Wildlife Restoration Act Funding

The Pittman-Robertson (Wildlife Restoration) Act was enacted in September 1937.  It created a financial assistance program whereby Federal funds collected through excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, pistols, revolvers, handguns, and certain archery equipment are deposited into the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund.  A significant portion of these funds are then disbursed, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) – Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Program, to State and Territory Fish and Wildlife Agencies for use in approved wildlife-restoration; hunter education; public target range development; and hunter/recreational shooter recruitment, retention, and reactivation projects.

Wildlife Restoration funds are a permanent, indefinite appropriation.  The Service annually provides these funds through three separate apportionments (Traditional Wildlife Restoration Program, Basic Hunter Education and Safety Subprogram, and Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety Program).  The Service apportions Traditional Wildlife Restoration funds to State and Territory Fish and Wildlife Agencies using a two-part formula: (1) 50% based on the area of each State bears to the total area of all the States; and (2) 50% based on the number of paid, certified hunting license holders in each State bears to the total number of paid, certified hunting licenses holders of all the States.  No State shall receive more than 5% or less than 0.5% of the total available funds.  Puerto Rico shall receive 0.5% of the total available funds, while the Territories shall receive 1/6 of 1%.

Basic Hunter Education and Safety Subprogram and Enhanced Hunter Education And Safety Program funds are apportioned using a different formula.  Each is a separate apportionment, and the formula is based on each State's population compared to the total U.S. population using the most recent census figures.  No State shall receive more than 3% or less than 1% of the total available funds.  Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana islands each receive 1/6 of 1%.  

pdf symbolClick here to view a visual representation of how the Wildlife Restoration excise taxes are collected and apportioned.   

Sport Fish Restoration Act Funding

The Dingell-Johnson (Sport Fish Restoration) Act was enacted in August 1950.  It created a financial assistance program whereby Federal funds collected through excise taxes on fishing equipment; electric motors; import duties on boats, yachts, tackle; motorboat fuel tax; and small engine fuel tax are deposited into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.  These funds are then disbursed, by the Service – WSFR Program, to State and Territory Fish and Wildlife Agencies for use in approved fish restoration and management projects.

Sport Fish Restoration funds are a permanent, indefinite appropriation.  The Service annually apportions the funds to State and Territory Fish and Wildlife Agencies using a two-part formula: (1) 40% based on the area of each State (including coastal and Great Lakes waters) bears to the total area of all the States; and (2) 60% based on the number of paid, certified sport fishing license holders in each State bears to the total number of paid, certified sport fishing license holders of all the States.  No State shall receive more than 5% or less than 1% of the total available funds.  Puerto Rico shall receive 1% of the total available funds, while the Territories shall receive 1/3 of 1%.

pdf symbolClick here to view a visual representation of how the Sport Fish Restoration program excise taxes are collected and apportioned.

State Wildlife Grants Funding

The State Wildlife Grants program is funded through annual appropriations of Congress and the total available funds may vary from year to year.  The purpose of the State Wildlife Grants program is to provide States and Territories federal financial assistance for the development and implementation of programs for the benefit of wildlife and their habitats, including species that are not hunted or fished.  Funding must benefit species identified by the State or Territory as “species of greatest conservation need” in their Wildlife Action Plan.

In order to be eligible to receive funding, States and Territories must have developed a comprehensive Wildlife Action Plan by October 1, 2005.  Approved plans must be reviewed and updated at a maximum of every 10 years.  The Service annual apportions State Wildlife Grants funding to State and Territories using a two-part formula: (1) 1/3 based on the area of each State bears to the total area of all the States; and (2) 2/3 based on the population of each State bears to the total U.S. population using the last census figures.  No State shall receive more than 5% or less than 1% of the total available funds.  The District of Columbia and Puerto Rico shall receive 0.5% of the total available funds, while the Territories shall receive ¼ of 1%.

pdf symbolClick here to view a visual representation of how State Wildlife Grant program is apportioned.