The Wildlife Society’s Wildlife Restoration Awards recognize outstanding projects supported by Wildlife Restoration funds (also known as Pittman-Robertson funds) and associated non-federal matching funds. Established in 2018, the annual awards highlight the importance and effectiveness of the United States’ Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration program and recognize excellence in wildlife management and research.

Two Wildlife Restoration Awards will be given each year, one in each of the following categories:

  • Wildlife Management (restore, conserve, manage, and enhance wild bird and mammal populations)
  • Wildlife Research and Surveys

The Wildlife Restoration program, also known as the Pittman-Robertson program after its primary Congressional sponsors, is funded by manufacturer excise taxes collected on pistols, handguns, revolvers, other firearms, ammunition, bows, quivers, broadheads and points, which are apportioned to State fish and wildlife agencies for wildlife conservation and hunter education. It was first created in 1937 and has provided over $14 billion since its inception. TWS recognizes the critical importance of this program for state wildlife agencies, but also realizes that the program is subject to ongoing scrutiny from the users who pay the excise tax. This annual awards program identifies and showcases outstanding projects from across the continent to generate continued support for the Wildlife Restoration program.

AWARD NOMINATIONS PROCESS AND CRITERIA

Completed projects or current projects with defined completion dates are eligible. To nominate a project click here to learn about the criteria and the nomination process.

Nomination materials must be submitted via the online nominations system by May 1 at 11:59 PM ET.

For questions related to TWS Awards please email, awards@wildlife.org.

WILDLIFE RESTORATION AWARDS RECIPIENTS

The recipients of these awards will be recognized at the TWS Annual Conference. Funds for travel to the conference will not be provided.

2023 Wildlife Management: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
2022 Wildlife Management: Alaska Department of Fish and Game: Nelchina Brown Bear Demographics (2009-2018)
Wildlife Research and Surveys: South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks: Spatially explicit habitat-based occupancy models for prairie grouse in South Dakota
2021 Eastern Woodcock Migration Research Cooperative
2020 No recipient
2019 Alaska Department of Fish and Game: Factors Limiting Moose at High Densities in GMU 20A in Interior Alaska (1996–2019)
Kansas Parks, Wildlife, and Tourism’s Project: Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat Use, Survival, and Recruitment