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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

National Guard
Firearms & Ammunition

The Path to Shooting Sport Participation Starts Close to Home

This February, millions of viewers are tuning into the Winter Olympics. On their screens biathletes glide across snow and into shooting lanes. In seconds, the biathletes still their skis, shoulder their rifles, and aim at the five small steel targets that stand between triumph or a penalty. 

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February 23, 2026
Drone thermal camera over Kerr WMA TPWD photo
Management

Drones and Whitetails

The leading-edge conservation work was an intersection science, technology, know-how, and reliable Pittman-Robertson funding—the federal excise taxes paid by the manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, and archery gear.

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February 17, 2026
California trout in the classroom
Angling

West Coast Schools Turn Small Tanks Into Big Lessons

Along the West Coast, salmon and trout are threads in the cultural fabric. They have sustained Native Tribes, fueled the economies of entire towns, and sparked wonder in countless anglers. They have even found their way into thousands of schools. Through state fish and wildlife agency salmon and trout in the classroom programs, students are rolling up their sleeves and becoming fish stewards. 

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December 12, 2025
Four pheasant hunters in Vermont
Angling

An Abundance of Thanks

In this season of gratitude, we give thanks for another year outdoors, for time well spent with loved ones, for meals gathered from the land and waters we all share, and for the generations of foresight that made this abundance possible.

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November 21, 2025
Biologist stands on bow of boat holding net to catch snakehead during survey.
Angling

Into the Weeds: Virginia Biologists Track the Life of Invasive Snakehead

With funding from the Sport Fish Restoration Act, Virginia DWR has been collecting data and building one of the most expansive long-term snakehead research repositories to understand how the non-native fish are interacting with Virginia fish communities. The species has established itself in creeks, rivers, and even reservoirs through illegal introductions.

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November 18, 2025

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