The restoration, conservation, management and enhancement of wild birds and mammals, and the provision for public use of and benefits from these resources. The education of hunters and archers in the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to be responsible, competent sportspeople. The source of funds for the Act is a manufacturer's excise tax paid on guns, ammunition, and bows and arrows. Funds collected from this excise tax during a given fiscal year are apportioned to states at the beginning of the next fiscal year. The amount received by each state is determined by a formula which considers the total area of the state and the number of licensed hunters in the state.
Funds are available for obligation by the states for two years.
Approved projects are cost-reimbursible, meaning the states carry out the work at their expense and are reimbursed up to a maximum federal share of 75 percent. States must provide at least 25 percent of the project funding from a non-federal source. These are reviewed by Federal Aid staff to determine whether they are eligible under the Act, and substantial in character and design. To be substantial, the projects must address a legitimate, described need, and be designed to meet the need in a reasonable way at a reasonable cost. Once they are approved, the federal share of the project funding is dedicated for use from the state's apportionment.