Wisconsin to receive $37 million from federal excise tax programs

Two key federal excise tax programs will once again benefit conservation programs across the nation as $1.2 billion will be distributed in 2026 to state agencies, according to a Feb. 12 announcement by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The funding is allocated annually by the Service through the Wildlife Restoration and Sport Fish Restoration programs. The monies are obtained from excise taxes on sales of firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing gear and motorboat fuel and distributed according to formulas that include state size and number of hunting or fishing licenses sold. The funds are disbursed to partner fish and wildlife agencies through grants by the Service’s Office of...