Delaware Hunter Safety Course - Hunter Education Funding Sources

Effective October 30, 2009, the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife changed their guidelines for distance learning. Students are now required to spend a minimum amount of time on each course page before proceeding to the certification exam.

Click here to go to the latest version of the Today's Hunter in Delaware online course—the official hunter education course of the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Go to the new Delaware course

Hunter Education Funding Sources

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service provides federal aid to state wildlife agencies to support a variety of hunting-related projects, including hunter education, land acquisition, and improvement of wildlife habitat. The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration funding was established in 1937 by the Pittman-Robertson Act.

State wildlife agencies sponsor the hunter education programs that are found in each state or province.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) support various hunting activities.

Some NGOs (Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation) work to save game species habitat.
Others (the IHEA, the National Rifle Association, the Izaak Walton League, and the National Bowhunter Education Foundation) focus on educating hunters and promoting safe, responsible, ethical hunting practices and skills.

Many firearm and archery manufacturers provide training materials to teach hunters how to use their products safely.

Local hunting clubs, civic clubs, and businesses often provide the facilities and equipment for hunter education courses.

Pittman-Robertson Act

Pittman-Robertson Act is the popular name for the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act.

Named for the senators who sponsored the bill, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Act into law in 1937.

The Act helps fund the selection, restoration, and improvement of wildlife habitat and also wildlife management research.

Amended in 1970, the Act now also funds hunter education programs and the development and operation of public target ranges.

Funds come from an 11% federal excise tax on sporting arms, ammunition, and archery equipment, and a 10% tax on handguns. One-half of the excise tax on handguns and archery equipment is used for hunter education and target ranges. The Department of the Interior collects these funds from the manufacturers and each year distributes funding to the states and territorial areas.

Fund distribution is based on the area of each state and its number of licensed hunters. The state covers the full amount of an approved project and then applies for reimbursement through federal aid for up to 75% of the project’s expenses; the state is responsible for the other 25% of the project’s cost.

Non-hunting nature lovers equally benefit from this funding since it supports the management of wildlife areas and wetlands as well as game and non-game wildlife.

“Robertson’s 29 words” are a clause in the Act’s language to prevent states from diverting license fees paid by hunters away from their intended purpose:

“... And which shall include a prohibition against the diversion of license fees paid by hunters for any other purpose than the administration of said State fish and game department ….”