State receives $17M for conservation

Wyoming will receive more than $17 million to support critical state conservation and outdoor recreation projects this year, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is granted this funding annually from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration acts.

The funding is part of more than $1 billion going to state wildlife agencies from revenues generated by excise taxes paid by the hunting, shooting, boating and angling industries on firearms, bows, ammunition, sport fishing tackle, some boat engines and small engine fuel. The amount of money allocated is based, in part, on the number of licensed anglers and hunters a state has, and each state must provide a 25 percent match. Funds are distributed to states as reimbursements. Wyoming apportionments include more than $5.5 million in Sport Fish Restoration funds and about $11.7 million in Wildlife Restoration funds.

Department does not receive any general tax revenue or state general funds. Other than PRDJ revenue, Game and Fish is mostly funded by the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. PRDJ funds only cover projects to:

*Manage and restore wildlife and sportfish

*Research fish and wildlife

*Obtain data to direct regulations

*Acquire property for habitat and/or access

*Restore habitat

*Operate and maintain facilities necessary to carry out PRDJ activities

*Fund hunter education and aquatic resource education

*Operate firearm and archery ranges for public use

*Fund fish stocking for recreation

*Provide boating access

“Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson funds account for nearly 25 percent of the Game and Fish’s revenue used to protect and conserve Wyoming fish and wildlife,” WGFD Deputy Director John Kennedy said. “Thank you to hunters, anglers, shooters and trappers for their ongoing support for wildlife management through this important source of funding.”

Congress has authorized more than $21 billion through PRDJ for wildlife conservation in U.S. states and territories since the act was created.