The National Shooting Sports Foundation and American Sportfishing Association released a report on March 11 that highlights for industry leaders how the excise taxes they pay on their products through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs have benefited their customers and their bottom line. The report (available as a downloadable PDF), produced by Southwick Associates through a Multistate Conservation Grant, documents the benefits and return on investment by showing how states have utilized these funds to create more opportunities for hunters, shooters, and anglers. The trade associations have been working together through the Partner with a Payer program to document the successes of these critical programs that serve as the foundation for state-based conservation and recreation efforts.

“Manufacturers and other businesses frequently ask about the importance and effectiveness of the excise tax program. The findings of this study clearly show that decades of sound investment, wildlife management and conservation, and increased recreational access have significantly helped the shooting sports industry grow to where it is today. The excise tax program is an investment in the continued growth of our industry,” said NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi.

A supporting website developed by the NSSF shows how the Wildlife Restoration Program, also known as the Pittman-Robertson program, has worked since it was created over 80 years ago. Since the program went into effect, it has benefited 500 species of wildlife, supported development or renovation of 553 public shooting ranges, trained 1 million people in hunter education every three years, and opened public access or improved habitat management on 46.9 million acres. The website also offers a clickable map with specific statistics for every state and several case studies that document highlight projects in a number of states.