The Voice of Fish & Wildlife Agencies: How WSFR & Boating Safety Trust Funds Work

Exempt the Trust Funds

The Trust Funds Cycle of Success

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs are based on a "user-pay/everyone-benefits" principle, which we like to think of the programs as having a cycle of success.

The cycle of success starts with the manufacturers and the excise taxes that are paid on certain hunting and fishing equipment items and also through fuels taxes.

These taxes are collected by federal agencies including the Internal Revenue Service, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and even the Customs and Border Patrol and distributed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to state fish and wildlife agencies for on-the-ground conservation.

Wildlife Restoration funds can be used for reintroduction of declining species, wildlife population surveys, species research, hunter education, acquisition of wildlife habitat and the development of shooting ranges.

Sport Fish Restoration funds can be used for fish research, reintroducing declining sport fish species, restoring aquatic habitat such as coastal wetlands, aquatic education, constructing boat ramps and fishing piers and boating access.

Altogether, the partnerships between outdoor industry and federal and state agencies result in more and better opportunities for hunters, recreational shooters, anglers and boaters to enjoy America’s fish and wildlife resources and ultimately purchase products that start the cycle all over again!

> Watch a video about the Cycle of Success produced by the Colorado Division of Wildlife

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