§669a. Definitions

As used in this chapter-

(1) the term "conservation" means the use of methods and procedures necessary or desirable to sustain healthy populations of wildlife, including all activities associated with scientific resources management such as research, census, monitoring of populations, acquisition, improvement and management of habitat, live trapping and transplantation, wildlife damage management, and periodic or total protection of a species or population, as well as the taking of individuals within wildlife stock or population if permitted by applicable State and Federal law;

(2) for the purposes of determining the number of paid hunting-license holders in a State, the term "fiscal year" means the fiscal year or license year of the State;

(3) the term "hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment" means any activity or project to recruit or retain hunters and recreational shooters, including by-

(A) outreach and communications as a means-

(i) to improve communications with hunters, recreational shooters, and the general public with respect to hunting and recreational shooting opportunities;

(ii) to reduce barriers to participation in these activities;

(iii) to advance the adoption of sound hunting and recreational shooting practices;

(iv) to promote conservation and the responsible use of the wildlife resources of the United States; and

(v) to further safety in hunting and recreational shooting;

(B) providing education, mentoring, and field demonstrations;

(C) enhancing access for hunting and recreational shooting, including through range construction; and

(D) providing education to the public about the role of hunting and recreational shooting in funding wildlife conservation;

(4) the term "public target range" means a specific location that-

(A) is identified by a governmental agency for recreational shooting;

(B) is open to the public;

(C) may be supervised; and

(D) may accommodate archery or rifle, pistol, or shotgun shooting;

(5) the term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior;

(6) the term "State fish and game department" or "State fish and wildlife department" means any department or division of department of another name, or commission, or official or officials, of a State empowered under its laws to exercise the functions ordinarily exercised by a State fish and game department or State fish and wildlife department.¹

(7) the term "wildlife" means any species of wild, free-ranging fauna including fish, and also fauna in captive breeding programs the object of which is to reintroduce individuals of a depleted indigenous species into previously occupied range;

(8) the term "wildlife-associated recreation" means projects intended to meet the demand for outdoor activities associated with wildlife including, but not limited to, hunting and fishing, wildlife observation and photography, such projects as construction or restoration of wildlife viewing areas, observation towers, blinds, platforms, land and water trails, water access, field trialing, trail heads, and access for such projects;

(9) the term "wildlife conservation and restoration program" means a program developed by a State fish and wildlife department and approved by the Secretary under section 669c(d) ² of this title, the projects that constitute such a program, which may be implemented in whole or part through grants and contracts by a State to other State, Federal, or local agencies (including those that gather, evaluate, and disseminate information on wildlife and their habitats), wildlife conservation organizations, and outdoor recreation and conservation education entities from funds apportioned under this chapter,² and maintenance of such projects;

(10) the term "wildlife conservation education" means projects, including public outreach, intended to foster responsible natural resource stewardship; and

(11) the term "wildlife-restoration project" includes the wildlife conservation and restoration program and means the selection, restoration, rehabilitation, and improvement of areas of land or water adaptable as feeding, resting, or breeding places for wildlife, including acquisition of such areas or estates or interests therein as are suitable or capable of being made suitable therefor, and the construction thereon or therein of such works as may be necessary to make them available for such purposes and also including such research into problems of wildlife management as may be necessary to efficient administration affecting wildlife resources, and such preliminary or incidental costs and expenses as may be incurred in and about such projects.

(Sept. 2, 1937, ch. 899, §2, 50 Stat. 917 ; July 2, 1956, ch. 489, §1, 70 Stat. 473 ; Pub. L. 86–624, §10, July 12, 1960, 74 Stat. 412 ; Pub. L. 106–553, §1(a)(2) [title IX, §902(c)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2762 , 2762A-119; Pub. L. 116–17, §4(a), May 10, 2019, 133 Stat. 867 ; Pub. L. 116–94, div. P, title V, §501(c), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3191 .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 669c(d) of this title, referred to in par. (9), was in the original "section 304(d)", and was translated as reading "section 4(d)", meaning section 4(d) of Act Sept. 2, 1937, ch. 899, to reflect the probable intent of Congress, because Act Sept. 2, 1937, ch. 899, does not contain a section 304(d), and section 4(d) relates to wildlife conservation and restoration programs. Section 669c(d) of this title was redesignated section 669c(e) of this title by Pub. L. 116–94, div. P, title V, §501(d)(2)(A), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3192 .

This chapter, referred to in par. (9), was in the original "this title", and was translated as reading "this Act", meaning Act Sept. 2, 1937, ch. 899, to reflect the probable intent of Congress, because Act Sept. 2, 1937, ch. 899, which enacted this chapter, does not contain titles.

Amendments

2019-Pars. (2) to (11). Pub. L. 116–94 added pars. (2) and (3) and redesignated former pars. (2) to (9) as (4) to (11), respectively.

Pub. L. 116–17 added par. (2) and redesignated former pars. (2) to (8) as (3) to (9), respectively. Such pars. (2) to (9) were subsequently redesignated (4) to (11) by Pub. L. 116–94.

2000-Pub. L. 106–553 inserted section catchline and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "For the purposes of this chapter the term 'wildlife-restoration project' shall be construed to mean and include the selection, restoration, rehabilitation, and improvement of areas of land or water adaptable as feeding, resting, or breeding places for wildlife, including acquisition by purchase, condemnation, lease, or gift of such areas or estates or interests therein as are suitable or capable of being made suitable therefor, and the construction thereon or therein of such works as may be necessary to make them available for such purposes and also including such research into problems of wildlife management as may be necessary to efficient administration affecting wildlife resources, and such preliminary or incidental costs and expenses as may be incurred in and about such projects; the term 'State fish and game department' shall be construed to mean and include any department or division of department of another name, or commission, or official or officials, of a State empowered under its laws to exercise the functions ordinarily exercised by a State fish and game department."

1960-Pub. L. 86–624 struck out provisions which defined "State" as including the several States and the Territory of Hawaii.

1956-Act July 2, 1956, included definition of "State".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1956 Amendment

Act July 2, 1956, ch. 489, §5, 70 Stat. 473 , provided in part that: "The amendments made by this Act [amending this section and sections 669g–1, 777a, and 777k of this title] shall be applicable only with respect to fiscal years beginning after the passage of this Act [July 2, 1956]."

Findings, Purpose, and Definition Regarding Public Target Ranges

Pub. L. 116–17, §§2, 3, May 10, 2019, 133 Stat. 866 , 867, provided that:

"SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

"(a) Findings.-Congress finds that-

"(1) the use of firearms and archery equipment for target practice and marksmanship training activities on Federal land is allowed, except to the extent specific portions of that land have been closed to those activities;

"(2) in recent years preceding the date of enactment of this Act [May 10, 2019], portions of Federal land have been closed to target practice and marksmanship training for many reasons;

"(3) the availability of public target ranges on non-Federal land has been declining for a variety of reasons, including continued population growth and development near former ranges;

"(4) providing opportunities for target practice and marksmanship training at public target ranges on Federal and non-Federal land can help-

"(A) to promote enjoyment of shooting, recreational, and hunting activities; and

"(B) to ensure safe and convenient locations for those activities;

"(5) Federal law in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, including the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.), provides Federal support for construction and expansion of public target ranges by making available to States amounts that may be used for construction, operation, and maintenance of public target ranges; and

"(6) it is in the public interest to provide increased Federal support to facilitate the construction or expansion of public target ranges.

"(b) Purpose.-The purpose of this Act [see Short Title of 2019 Amendment note set out under section 669 of this title] is to facilitate the construction and expansion of public target ranges, including ranges on Federal land managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

"SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF PUBLIC TARGET RANGE.

"In this Act, the term 'public target range' means a specific location that-

"(1) is identified by a governmental agency for recreational shooting;

"(2) is open to the public;

"(3) may be supervised; and

"(4) may accommodate archery or rifle, pistol, or shotgun shooting."

¹ So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.

² See References in Text note below.