Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety

(Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program)
CFDA 15.611 Active Formula Grants (Apportionments)
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Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$927.6M FY2026
$1.11B
FY22
$1.2B
FY23
$989.5M
FY24
$1.07B
FY25*
$927.6M
FY26*
* estimated

Who has received this funding

Organizations awarded under CFDA 15.611 (USAspending.gov).

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2024 General program accomplishments can be viewed here: https://partnerwithapayer.org/news/
FY2025 Program has not yet completed selecting projects for funding.
FY2026 Program has not yet completed selecting projects for funding.

Program Objective

The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act provides grants to State, Commonwealth, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies for projects to restore, conserve, manage, and enhance wild birds and mammals and their habitat. Projects also include providing public use and access to wildlife resources; hunter education and safety; the development and management of shooting ranges, and the promotion of hunting and recreational shooting.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • State governments

State governments, U.S. Territories, and Commonwealths
Participation is limited to State, Territory, or Commonwealth agencies (excluding the District of Columbia) with lead management responsibility for fish and wildlife resources in the United States of America. These entities must pass laws (assent legislation) for the conservation of fish and wildlife. The law(s) must require that revenue from hunting and fishing licenses be only used for the administration of the fish and wildlife agency.

Beneficiaries

  • 4

State governments, U.S. Territories, and Commonwealths

How to Apply

Award Procedure

The Regional Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service or his designee approves or disapproves proposed grants. Regional Offices are responsible for notification of grant approval to the grantee.

Average 30 days.

Program details & compliance

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

Program funds the selection of projects for restoration, rehabilitation, and improvement of wildlife habitat; wildlife management research; wildlife population surveys and inventories; land acquisition; coordinating, developing, operating, and maintaining facilities, acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing public target ranges (up to 10 percent); provisions for public use of wildlife resources, and public relations activities as well as provides training in the safe handling and use of firearms and archery equipment, hunter responsibilities, ethics, and survival; construction, operation, and maintenance of public target ranges; recruiting, retaining, and reactivating hunters and recreational shooters; and basic wildlife management and identification.

Required Documentation

Each year within 60 days of the apportionment notice, States, Commonwealths, and territories must notify the Secretary of the Interior that they want to participate in the program for the year. The State, Commonwealth, or territorial fish and wildlife Director must furnish a certification of the number of paid hunter license holders. Allocable costs are determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.

Matching Requirements

Eligible State agencies (including Puerto Rico) may be paid up to seventy-five percent (75%) of project costs through the program. States are required to provide the remaining twenty-five percent (25%) of the project costs from a non-Federal source, which can include license fees. In accordance with an October 12, 2022 Policy Advisory Notice from the Department of the Interior (Reference No. 2023-001) and 48 U.S.C. 1469(a), Amendment of Subsection (d), the Service's Regional Directors shall waive cost sharing requirements described in this announcement in any grant to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Territories of American Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Matching and cost-share requirements are discussed in 50 CFR 80.84, 50 CFR 80.85, and 2 CFR 200.306.

Up to ten percent (10%) of apportioned WR funds may be allocated to supplement Enhanced Hunter Education (EHE) funds for acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing public target ranges. Any allocated WR funds, in addition to BHE and EHE funds allocated for the same public target range activities, will be available for five (5) years with up to ninety percent (90%) Federal cost share for those specific activities.

Reporting & Compliance

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

Christina Milloy
(703) 862-5761
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Headquarters, Office of Conservation Investment, Policy and Programs Branch, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: WSFR, Falls Church, VA 22041
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2025-05-23. Spec v1.0. Last synced: 2026-06-01 05:53:22.