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Wildlife Restoration Program
About
The Wildlife Restoration Program (WR) provides grant funds to the states and insular areas fish and wildlife agencies for projects to restore, conserve, manage and enhance wild birds and mammals and their habitat. Projects also include providing public use and access to wildlife resources, hunter education and development and management of shooting ranges. The Program is authorized by the Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson PR) of 1937.
The WR Program is the nation's oldest and most successful wildlife restoration program. Through the purchases of firearms, ammunitions and archery equipment the WR Program is a successful user pay, user benefit program.
The WR Program symbol may be downloaded and displayed by authorized users.
Learn more about Wildlife Restoration Program accomplishments.
Preview or download 2011 information brochures for the WSFR Program and Items Taxed to Support Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration in America.
Source of Funds
Excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment and arrow components are collected and appropriated from the Wildlife Restoration Account. These funds are apportioned to states, the District of Columbia and insular areas based on a formula. The formula for apportioning WR Funds is based on land area, number of paid license holders, minimums and maximums. The formula for apportioning Hunter Education funds is based on population and also includes minimums and maximums. Learn about the economic benefits of the use of these funds.
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50 CFR § 80.50 Activities eligible for funding under the Wildlife Restoration Act
The following activities are eligible for funding under the Wildlife the Wildlife Restoration ActProgram:
Restoration, conservation, management, and enhancement of wild birds and wild mammals, and providing for public use and benefit from these resources.
Educating responsible hunters and archers in skills, knowledge, and attitudes
Wildlife Restoration program
- Restore and manage wildlife for the benefit of the public.
- Conduct research on the problems of managing wildlife and its habitat if necessary to administer wildlife resources efficiently.
- Obtain data to guide and direct the regulation of hunting.
- Acquire real property suitable or capable of being made suitable for:
- Wildlife habitat, or
- Public access for hunting or other wildlife-oriented recreation.
- Restore, rehabilitate, improve, or manage areas of lands or waters as wildlife habitat.
- Build structures or acquire equipment, goods, and services to:
- Restore, rehabilitate, or improve lands or waters as wildlife habitat; or
- Provide public access for hunting or other wildlife oriented recreation.
- Operate or maintain:
- Projects that the State fish and wildlife agency completed under the Wildlife Restoration and related programs and subprograms.
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- Two Federal fiscal years.
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Basic Hunter Education and Safety subprogram
Activities eligible for funding for Basic HE:
- Teach the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to be a responsible hunter.
- Construct, operate, or maintain firearm and archery ranges for public use.
Availability of funds for obligation:
- Two Federal fiscal years.
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Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety program
Activities eligible for funding for Enhanced HE:
Enhance programs for hunter education, hunter development, and firearm and archery safety. Hunter development programs introduce individuals to and recruit them to take part in hunting, bow hunting, target shooting, or archery.
- Enhance interstate coordination of hunter-education and firearm- and archery-range programs.
- Enhance programs for education, safety, or development of bow hunters, archers, and shooters.
- Enhance construction and development of firearm and archery ranges.
- Update safety features of firearm and archery ranges.
Availability of funds for obligation:
- One Federal fiscal year
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Frequently Asked Questions
What if Basic HE funds are not fully obligated during the period of availability?
The Service may use unobligated funds to carry out the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715 et seq.).
What if Enhanced HE funds are not fully obligated during the period of availability?
The Service reapportions unobligated funds to eligible States as Wildlife Restoration funds for the following fiscal year. States are eligible to receive unobligated Enhanced HE funds only if their Basic HE funds were fully obligated in the preceding fiscal year for eligible Basic HE activities as listed above and according to 50 CFR § 80.50(b).
What if Basic HE funds are fully obligated during the period of availability?
If Basic Hunter Education funds are fully obligated for eligible Basic HE activities as listed above and according to 50 CFR § 80.50(b), the agency may use that fiscal year’s Enhanced Hunter Education funds for eligible activities related to Basic Hunter Education, Enhanced Hunter Education, or the Wildlife Restoration program. (50 CFR 80.60)
What if Enhanced HE funds are fully obligated during the period of availability?
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Additional eligible activities are provided through the Basic and Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety subprograms of the Wildlife Restoration Act
Basic and Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety subprograms
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Frequently Asked Questions
May an activity be eligible for funding if it is not explicitly eligible in this part?
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