This is a resource summary page of information I have found regarding the
Pittman-Robertson Act.
In a nutshell, there is tax money available to be gotten from your state
Parks and Wildlife Department to support certain aspects of archery.
The funds arise from a tax levied on all hunting licenses. This act has
been in existence for many years and has put millions into preserving wild lands
and resources.
Brief Overview of PR Act - this act promotes
wildlife conservation and supports certain archery functions, such as the
building of shooting ranges.
Heritage Testimony Before Congress
Provides excellent over view of PR Act, July 20, 1999
Sept. 3, 2001 - grant given to three ranges,
total of $150K
Aug. 30, 1999 - grant given to two ranges, total
of $100K
Aug. 2001 - grant given, this one shows good
example of the "Target Range Plan" used to assign priority to grant requests
This information was posted by Wayne Caviness:
Trolling the Internet produced a lot of info on P-R. The following is an
excerpt of the archery-related content...
Source: http://fa.r9.fws.gov/wr/fawr.html ... (alternate
local link)
States are encouraged to develop or enter into third-party agreements in
order to gain a suitable number of safe shooting and archery facilities
nationwide. To accomplish this hands-on experience, the States may lease or
rent or enter into third party agreements to provide archery and shooting
range facilities or services from local clubs.
Source: http://www.nracentral.com/pittman-robertson-funds.php ... (alternate
local link)
The other proviso on funding provides that 1/2 of the revenue accruing to
the fund from the tax imposed upon pistols and revolvers, bows and arrows
shall be apportioned among the states in a proportion to the ratio that the
population of each state bears, to the population of all states, provided
that each state shall be apportioned not more than 3% nor less than 1% of
such revenue. Population here is determined by the most recent census. This
portion may be used by any state to pay up to 75% of the cost of a hunter
safety program including the construction, operation, and maintenance of
public target ranges as a part of such a program. The non Federal share of
such costs may be derived from license fees paid by hunters, but not from
other Federal grants or programs. (Sec.669c(b))
The basic requirements for target ranges to qualify under these laws are
safety, public accessibility, and their use in the State's Hunter Training
Program. Impact areas, backstops, safety zones, berms, and baffles may be
required to maximize safety of a range. Proper supervision and adequately
posted and enforced regulations must be maintained to insure the safety of
users.
Link to Oregon’s grant Application Handbook: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/outdoor_skills/hunter/range_development.asp
... (alternate local link)
Oregon Range Development Manual
as an acrobat file
Grant Eligibility
This grant program is available to organizations that maintain a non-profit
status and that provide access to the general public and hunter education
class instructors and participants.
Projects eligible for reimbursement include backstops, berms, target
holders, benches, baffles, protective fencing, signs, lighting, field
courses, platforms, roads, parking areas, sanitary facilities, storage
rooms, shelter buildings and classrooms. All range construction must be on
lands owned by the applicant or lands controlled by the applicant by a use
permit, lease or easement that ensures use for a minimum of 10 years.
Ineligible projects include clubhouses, employee residences, similar or
other facilities not essential to the operation of the shooting range or the
conduct of hunter education classes, maintenance expenses, portable items
that are easily stolen or lost, and items that do not have an expected life
of at least 10 years.
Indiana Shooting Range grant program: a 123 page manual can be accessed at
the following link: http://www.in.gov/dnr/outdoor/grants/shooting.html ...(alternate
local link)
Local link to the
acrobat file.
To summarize:
> P-R funds can be used to develop archery ranges via grants available from
the fish and wildlife departments/divisions of each state.
> Such ranges must be used in the state's hunter education program, though
none of the sites that I visited specified a degree of involvment required.
> Almost all aspects of range construction are funded by P-R grants,
including backstops, signs, fencing, berms, field courses, roads, parking
areas, etc. Notably, the land on which the range sits is not covered (see
next item).
> All states require grant applicants to already own the land underneath the
proposed range, although there appear to be some other grants which, under
certain circumstances, will fund the purchase of land for these purposes in
some states.
> Many states have websites that provide detailed information on the grant
application process (see those listed above for examples).
> And older ranges can use the funds to renovate.
Thanks to OldReliable (Wayne Caviness, dad to Luke)
