Wisconsin to Receive $34 Million for Fish, Wildlife Conservation

Wisconsin will receive more than $34 million in funding for 2018 generated through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration acts (PRDJ).

These funds will be used to enhance habitat for fish and wildlife, among other important duties, and help bolster the state’s status as an outdoor destination. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke visited Horicon Marsh March 20 to announce more than $1.1 billion in annual national funding for state wildlife agencies throughout the nation.

“American sportsmen and women are some of our best conservationists and they contribute billions of dollars toward wildlife conservation and sportsmen access every year through the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts,” said Secretary Zinke. “The best way to increase funding for conservation and sportsmen access is to increase the number of hunters and anglers in our woods and waters.”

PRDJ dollars support a wide range of management activities. These funds, which are distributed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are derived from excise taxes paid by the hunting, shooting, boating and angling industries on firearms, bows and ammunition and sport fishing tackle, some boat engines, and small engine fuel.

“Whether through ensuring access to fishing spots, managing Wisconsin’s many habitat types for wildlife, or supporting any number of other important work done by DNR staff, this federal funding is extremely important to ensuring Wisconsin remains a world class outdoor destination,” said Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Daniel L. Meyer.

Allocations of the funds are authorized by Congress. To date, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has distributed more than $20.2 billion in apportionments for state conservation and recreation projects. For more information visit wsfrprograms.fws.gov.