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Wildlife Restoration Program

A brief history of the Wildlife Restoration Program:  

In the 1930's, the American people realized something had to be done to conserve wildlife for the future.  Progressive hunters, conservationists and manufactures joined forces with State fish and wildlife agencies to protect America's wildlife.

Fortunately for wildlife, a prominent "conservation elite" group emerged. The group consisted of sportsmen and leaders of the business, industry, and the science world with strong financial backing.

The group formed on two principles:  "Let those who stand to benefit the most be the ones to shoulder as much of the cost as possible, and give the States authority to do the needed work with just enough Federal monitoring to assure high standards of quality".

The group included former President Theodore Roosevelt and many other prominent men of that era.  These conservation leaders enacted several important Acts and Programs during the 1930's.

With these conservationists leading the way, they joined efforts with State fish and wildlife agencies to meet the wildlife crisis with a long-range plan. They persuaded Congress to extend the life of the existing 10-percent tax on ammunition and firearms used for sport hunting and shooting that was in the process of being abolished by Congress that year.  In addition, the funds collected were earmarked for distribution to the State fish and wildlife agencies for wildlife restoration projects such as scientific research and habitat management.  These funds are apportioned based on a formula consisting of 50% land mass and 50% paid license holders.

This long-range plan became the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (formerly Pittman-Robertson Act) after its principal sponsors, Senator Key Pittman of Nevada, and U.S. Representative A. Willis Robertson of Virginia, and was enacted into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 2, 1937.  Both Senator Pittman and U.S. Representative Robertson chaired committees on wildlife and conservation issues that made the act a reality.

As part of the legislation, hunting and fishing license fees were to be administered by the State fish and wildlife agencies and could not be diverted for other purposes (each state would pass assent legislation to ensure this). This was key to the success of the act.  Before its passage, States could take license revenue and spend it on other programs.  Kansas became the first State to pass the assent legislation.  Within 12 months, 43 of the then 48 States enacted laws prohibiting use of license revenue for any purpose other than to operate the fish and wildlife agency.  Later, other States, Commonwealths, and territories followed suit.

For those not familiar with the Wildlife Restoration program, its funding can be used for:

• Reintroduction of wildlife species that are declining;
• Wildlife Population Surveys;
• Species Research;
• Hunter Education;
• Acquisition of Wildlife Habitat.

Program accomplishments for all of these grants can be looked up on the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Accomplishments Search Page.

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