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February 28, 2025
Conservation Partnerships: Insights from Tom Decker of the USFWS
We interviewed Tom Decker from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to learn how the USFWS has partnered with the industry to promote conservation and public access through a grant program funded by manufacturers of firearm and ammunition. Discover the impact of these funds on wildlife conservation, target shooting ranges and hunter education programs across the country.
How long has the USFWS been coming to SHOT Show?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been coming in partnership for about two decades, down on the show floor with a booth and engaging with industry members.
What is it that you do with USFWS and why are you here?
I work in the communications department. Functionally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers a grant program to state fish and wildlife agencies for conservation and public access, public hunting and public target shooting. Those funds that we administer come from the federal treasury and they’re paid by the manufacturers of firearm and ammunition and have been since 1937, so we administer this conservation program that our industry partners are generating at a 10 or 11 percent manufacturer’s excise tax.
Did NSSF members take a survey to ask people if they know where this money is going?
We have a communications partnership with NSSF, which regularly does surveys of its members. Recently, they did one to ask, “Do you know where this money goes? Do you know what it does in communities around the country?” From that, we build some of our communication strategies. Some people know exactly where that money goes and what it funds: conservation, whitetail deer restoration, black bear management and target shooting ranges. Nationally over 811 ranges are funded, their construction, operations and maintenance to tens of thousands of Americans.
It funds habitat including buying land for wildlife and to hunt on, 36 million acres of land across the country from that funding source. We want the industry to know about and be proud of that work, and NSSF is a strong partner in this collaborative work. The work is mostly done by State Fish and Wildlife agencies, it funds their staff. If you’re interested in Whitetail Deer, they’re doing chronic wasting disease research. If you’re into target shooting, they’re funding youth programs. They fund over 700 members of the public in hunter education programs to get their hunting license, all of that is paid for through these funds. So it’s important for the membership to know they’re an important element of conservation in the United States and access to target shooting in the public.
If someone wants to know how the funds are used in their state, where should they go?
You can visit us at SHOT Show in the booth. There is a website called partnerwithapayer.org where we have a lot of information broken out for the archery, angling and firearm and ammunition who all pay elements of these taxes. We want them to be aware of it, celebrate it and engage, because they’ve made a difference with wildlife conservation in the United States. We also have handouts with features, stories and specific information about different areas around the country.
You may also be interested in:
NSSF Praises U.S. Sen. Steve Daines’ Protecting Hunters and Anglers Act Introduction
NSSF Praises U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman’s Protecting Hunters and Anglers Act Introduction
Categories: BP Item, Conservation, Featured, Hunting, Ranges, Retailers, Top Stories
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