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Education

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service supports a range of educational initiatives aimed at promoting responsible attitudes and ethics towards the environment. Through grants authorized by the Sport Fish Restoration Act, aquatic resource education programs are funded to enhance public understanding of aquatic resources and sportfishing. Additionally, the Hunter Education Program, funded by excise taxes, provides safety and conservation-focused training to over a million individuals annually, with funds also supporting the development of shooting range facilities. Beyond these, grant funding extends to workshops such as Trapping Matters and Becoming an Outdoors Woman, offering hands-on experiences in various outdoor activities.

Aquatic Education

Over 850,000 people receive aquatic education supported by excise taxes in the United States

Aquatic Resource Education grant funds are authorized through the Sport Fish Restoration Act, which provide funds to the states, the District of Columbia and insular areas fish and wildlife agencies, for their aquatic resource education programs. The purpose of these funds are to enhance the public’s understanding of aquatic resources and sportfishing, and to promote the development of responsible attitudes and ethics toward the aquatic environment.

Hunter Education

Over 1 million people receive hunter education supported by excise taxes in the United States

Every year, over 1 million people receive hunter education that is supported by excise taxes administered through the Hunter Education Program. The goal of these hunter education efforts is to teach students to be safe, responsible, conservation-minded hunters. Most states require completion of a hunter education course prior to purchasing a hunting license. Program funds may also be used for the development, operation, and enhancement of target range facilities. Over 800 shooting ranges have been designed, constructed, renovated, or opened to the public using excise taxes, like Arizona’s Ben Avery Shooting Facility, the largest of its kind in the United States.

Additional Workshops

In the United States, 38 states offer Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) workshops

Additional education opportunities supported by grant funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service extend beyond hunter education or aquatic education programs to include workshops like Trapping Matters or Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW). These workshops touch on a variety of outdoor activities and participants are able to engage in hands-on experiences.

In the News

Midwest Association Of Fish And Wildlife Agencies
Marine Manufacturing

First Motorized Boating Addendum Report Records Public Participation Across U.S.

Motorized boating is a popular American outdoor pastime, an economic force, and funds conservation efforts across the Nation. To capture metrics on the time spent outdoors along with the economic impacts of recreational boating, the 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation included motorized boating survey questions for the first time in the Survey’s 67-year history.

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December 11, 2024
White Breasted Nuthatch Courtney Celley Usfws
Management

Birding Proves to be Good for the American Economy

A robust number of birders exist in the United States. An addendum to the 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (Survey) reveals that a great number of people take part in birding, be it at home or beyond their residence.

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November 19, 2024
Fur trappers inspecting their goods
Education

Pittman-Robertson, Trapping, and Furbearer Conservation

Trapping is highly regulated by the state fish and wildlife agencies; biologists set harvest rates, trapping seasons, bag limits, and restrict trap types. Pittman-Robertson dollars, the federal excise taxes paid by firearms, ammunition, and archery manufacturers on select goods, fund furbearer management.

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November 12, 2024
Three Boys Upland Game Hunting With Two Dogs
R3

Report Offers a Snapshot of Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation of Hunters and Anglers in the U.S.

Released last year, the 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation indicates that hunting and fishing remain highly important outdoor pursuits in the United States. However, there are a number of indications that participation in fishing and hunting has been declining over the years. To address this decline Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation, also known as R3, efforts have been implemented across the nation to increase hunting and fishing access and participation.

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September 26, 2024
Plato Madonna And National Hunting And Fishing Day 02
Angling

Plato, Madonna, and National Hunting and Fishing Day

September 28 marks the 52nd National Hunting and Fishing Day, an annual event first proclaimed by President Nixon in 1972.  Hunting and fishing and target shooting were then, and remain, lifestyle choices enjoyed by millions of Americans from all walks of life on every rung of the economic ladder.

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September 20, 2024

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