Office of Conservation Investment

09/04/2026

Every time you enjoy a day out on the range, you’re a part of the unique system that funds wildlife conservation and public access to outdoor opportunities in the United States. At ranges like the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Arizona, the federal excise tax paid by manufacturers of fi****ms, ammunition, and archery equipment funds public access to the shooting sports. In this Partner with a Payer™ video, learn how target shooting supports wildlife, their habitat, and increases access to outdoor opportunities.

Every time you enjoy a day out on the range, you’re a part of the u...

08/12/2026

What does it take to manage a growing black bear population? Join us this Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site in Springfield, MA to find out! Hear from Paul Rego, a retired wildlife biologist with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, who spent his career managing furbearer species, including Connecticut’s black bears.

As black bears returned to Connecticut, Rego led efforts to monitor and manage their expanding population. During this presentation, he’ll share insights from his career and discuss how federal excise taxes collected through the Pittman-Robertson Act support wildlife research, habitat conservation, and on-the-ground management benefiting wildlife across America.

Photo Credit: Shaun Terhune Photography

08/05/2026

The state fish and wildlife agencies hatcheries that sustain healthy fish populations are made possible through the contributions of anglers, boaters, and industry. This Partner with a Payer™ video shows how the federal excise tax paid by manufacturers of fishing equipment as well as a portion of the federal gas tax that is attributable to motorboats and small engines funds hatcheries that not only help fish thrive but also engage local communities in conservation.

The state fish and wildlife agencies hatcheries that sustain health...

07/23/2026

When you go out on the water, you’re not just making memories—you’re investing in healthy waters and thriving fish populations for everyone to enjoy. Through the Sport Fish Restoration program, federal excise taxes paid by manufacturers and importers of fishing equipment as well as a portion of the fuel tax attributable to motorboats and small engines go to state fish and wildlife agencies to fund their vital conservation work. In our latest Partner with a Payer™ video, learn how those investments are used to study fish populations, protect our waterways, and promote access to fishing and boating opportunities.

When you go out on the water, you’re not just making memories, you’...

07/16/2026

Reminder! Join us this Saturday, July 18 at 1:00 PM, for the next installment of our American System of Conservation Funding Speaker Series at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site.

This session, "Saving America's Wildlife: History, Conservation Funding, and the Pittman-Robertson Act," features Mark Madison, Historian for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Discover how the Pittman-Robertson Act transformed America's wildlife and wild places by revolutionizing the way wildlife conservation and restoration are funded.

Session attendees will have the opportunity to see the pen President Franklin D. Roosevelt used to sign the Pittman-Robertson Act as well as other historical artifacts from the USFWS Archives on display during Madison’s session.

Check out U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service History to learn more about the USFWS Museum and Archives.

07/15/2026

ICAST 2026 is underway, and the Office of Conservation Investment is on the show floor.

We're excited to connect with industry and state fish and wildlife agency partners to highlight the benefits of the American System of Conservation Funding. Together, this partnership supports healthy fisheries, clean waters, and access to outdoor opportunities across the country.

If you're attending the event, stop by the Partner with a Payer booth #5914 to connect with our team!

06/10/2026

Join us this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Springfield Armory National Historic Site in Springfield, MA for the first talk in our America 250 Speaker Series. Steve Sanetti will explore the lasting impact of the National Armory on firearm manufacturing across New England’s historic Gun Valley. Drawing on decades of industry expertise, Sanetti will trace how innovation, craftsmanship, and infrastructure from the Armory shaped a regional hub that became central to American firearm production. In addition to this historical perspective, the session will highlight the modern-day importance of the Pittman-Robertson Act, through which firearm manufacturer federal excise taxes support wildlife conservation and access to outdoor pursuits.

06/02/2026

Vermont’s wild turkey restoration is one of the state’s greatest conservation success stories. After turkeys disappeared for nearly a century, biologists, partners, landowners, and local communities worked together to rebuild the species through strategic translocations, habitat recovery, and science‑based stewardship. This project highlights how effective Pittman-Robertson funding is to restoring lost species back to the landscape. Explore how this once‑vanished bird became a thriving part of Vermont’s landscape in our new StoryMap:

Vermont’s Wild Turkey Comeback Supported by Wildlife Restoration Funding

05/20/2026

History, industry, and conservation come together this summer at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site!

Join us for a FREE speaker series exploring the lasting impact of firearm manufacturing in Gun Valley, the Pittman-Robertson Act, and the American System of Conservation Funding in the United States.

🎤 Part One begins June 13 with “Fi****ms, History, and Conservation: The Lasting Impact of Gun Valley” featuring guest speaker Steve Sanetti. Learn how the Springfield Armory helped shape New England’s historic Gun Valley and how today’s firearm industry supports wildlife conservation and outdoor access through the Pittman-Robertson Act.

📍 The three-part series is hosted at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site
📅 June 13, July 18, and August 15 at 1pm
🎟️ Free and open to the public

Come discover how America’s outdoor heritage has been shaped by innovation, conservation funding, and the industry-state-federal partnerships that continue to restore and conserve wildlife across the nation.

05/20/2026

On the week of May 11th, Partner with a Payer participated in a field tour of the Pharsalia Wildlife Management Area with NY DEC Wildlife Staff. We also were hosted by CZ Fi****ms and Dan Wesson Fi****ms on a factory tour in New York. These events highlighted the wildlife conservation benefits of the American System of Conservation Funding, funds generated from hunter license fees, and a manufacturer federal excise tax on fi****ms, ammunition and archery equipment.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
CZ-USA
NSSF—The Firearm Industry Trade Association