U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- Each year firearm and ammunition manufacturers pay millions of dollars in excise taxes into the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) program that result in long-term benefits to industry, target shooters, and hunters. A new study, announced by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, reveals how these payments—some $792 million in 2020 alone—provide not only bedrock funding for the enjoyment of the shooting sports but also a major return on investment for the industry.
With support from a grant awarded by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ (AFWA) Multistate Conservation Grant program, a new report titled “Benefits & ROI of Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration Funds” highlights for industry leaders the financial returns their businesses receive from investing in the WSFR program.
WSFR is funded by a 10-11 percent tax on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment paid by the manufacturers, along with similar excise taxes on fishing and boating equipment. These funds are distributed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to their state agency counterparts to invest in conservation and recreational access programs that benefit hunters, target shooters, anglers and boaters. The excise taxes on shooting sports equipment date to 1937 when the Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act was passed by Congress, establishing a model of conservation funding that eventually would lead to significant expansion of hunting and shooting opportunities nationally.
“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
