50 CFR § 80.50 Activities eligible for funding under the Wildlife Restoration Act

The following activities are eligible for funding under the Wildlife Restoration Act:

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.

Availability of funds for obligation:

• 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?

No special provisions apply. (50 CFR 80.60)

May an activity be eligible for funding if it is not explicitly eligible in this part?

An activity may be eligible for funding even if this part does not explicitly designate it as an eligible activity if the State fish and wildlife agency justifies in the project statement how the activity will help carry out the purposes of the Wildlife Restoration Act and the USFWS Regional Director concurs with the justification. (50 CFR 80.52)

Are costs of State central services eligible for funding?

Administrative costs in the form of overhead or indirect costs for State central services outside of the State fish and wildlife agency are eligible for funding under the Acts and
must follow an approved cost allocation plan. These expenses must not exceed 3 percent of the funds apportioned annually to the State under the Acts. (50 CFR 80.53)

What activities are ineligible for funding?

The following activities are ineligible for funding under the Acts, except when necessary to carry out project purposes approved by the Regional Director:

• Law enforcement activities.
• Public relations activities to promote the State fish and wildlife agency, other State administrative units, or the State.
• Activities conducted for the primary purpose of producing income.
• Activities, projects, or programs that promote or encourage opposition to the regulated taking of fish, hunting, or the trapping of wildlife. (50 CFR 80.54)