How Firearm and Ammunition Makers Are Helping Fund the Future of Hunting
You already know that buying a hunting license supports conservation — but did you know that every time you purchase firearms, ammunition or archery equipment, you’re helping protect wildlife and improve access to the outdoors?
A new video from the Partner with a Payer series shows how firearm and ammunition manufacturers, like Beretta USA, are playing a direct role in funding habitat restoration, public shooting ranges and education programs for hunters and new shooters — all through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act.
In this latest episode, representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency visit Beretta’s manufacturing plant in Tennessee to see where the funding begins. The dollars generated from the federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition are a major reason why we have healthy wildlife populations and great places to hunt across the country.
“Wildlife restoration dollars are so important to our agency. They touch just about every project that we have on the ground,” said Emily Buck, Director of Communications and Outreach at Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. “We’re so incredibly grateful for our hunters and anglers who contribute to the funding model, as well as the federal excise taxes that come from manufacturers that really make what we do possible.”
These funds—combined with money from hunting and fishing licenses—go toward restoring iconic game species like elk, deer, turkey and bear, maintaining and building shooting ranges and supporting hunter education programs that introduce the next generation to the outdoors.
“Knowing that those dollars go to the creation of habitat, to the education of target shooters and to the education of hunters as they become new hunters is extremely important to me,” said Ted Caldwell, Vice President, Supply Chain & Manufacturing Ops at Beretta USA.
The Partner with a Payer program is all about showing how hunters, anglers, manufacturers and wildlife agencies are working together to conserve our outdoor traditions. It’s a team effort — and every time you head to the range or the field, you’re a part of it.
In a buckskin outfit and knee-high boots, this hunter holds a shoulder cannon nearly as long as he is tall. What’s your guess on that rifle for #whatriflewednesday? pic.twitter.com/RBEmaZWDkx
How Pittman-Robertson Funding Helps Keep America’s Elk Herds Thriving
For hunters across the country, elk represent one of North America’s most majestic and sought-after big game species. Whether it’s the crisp mountain air of the Rockies or the dense forests of the East, the opportunity to hunt elk is a privilege made possible by decades of dedicated conservation efforts—funded largely by hunters and the firearms industry through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act.
https://youtu.be/yjGRitBCQAI?si=jPEw93wq-j_V3AfU
A new video in the Partner with a Payer® series highlights how Pittman-Robertson funds have contributed to the restoration and management of Pennsylvania’s elk herd, an effort that mirrors similar success stories across the country. Thanks to the excise taxes paid by firearms, ammunition and archery manufacturers—matched with the dollars spent on hunting licenses—state wildlife agencies have been able to restore elk populations, improve habitat and ensure that future generations will continue to have opportunities to experience these incredible animals.
Pennsylvania’s Elk Success Story
Elk were once abundant in Pennsylvania, but overhunting and habitat loss in the 1800s nearly wiped them out. Thanks to conservation funding, including Pittman-Robertson dollars, the state successfully reintroduced elk in the early 1900s. Today, Pennsylvania boasts a thriving herd of 1,400 to 1,500 elk, attracting hunters and wildlife enthusiasts alike.
“With any wildlife species and especially our precious elk here in Pennsylvania, it's the primary economic driver of this whole area,” said David Gustafson, Director, Bureau of Wildlife Habitat Management, Pennsylvania Game Commission. “The visitation, the tourism from elk helps engage the greater public with wildlife and our mission as an agency.”
Each year, Pennsylvania hunters eagerly apply for a coveted elk tag, helping to manage the herd responsibly while also funding future conservation efforts. But the impact of Pittman-Robertson funding isn’t just limited to Pennsylvania—this funding model has helped restore elk herds across the country, from the Appalachian Mountains to the Western Plains.
How Hunters and Manufacturers Keep Conservation Thriving
Through the Pittman-Robertson Act, a 10-11% excise tax is placed on the sale of firearms, ammunition and archery equipment, with those funds being directed to state wildlife agencies for conservation projects, habitat restoration, hunter education and shooting range development.
Companies like Beretta USA, a long-time supporter of conservation efforts, recently sent a team to Pennsylvania to see firsthand how their contributions are being used to sustain the elk population.
“Because of the Pittman-Robertson Act, they were able to fund the habitat for the reintroduction of elk. Now they actually have a huntable population,” said Joe Cunniffe, Brand Marketing Manager, Hunting, Beretta USA.
“We cannot have places to go and spend time in the outdoors without the conservation efforts from the excise tax dollars,” added David Armistead, Manufacturing Manager, Beretta USA.
The work doesn’t stop with elk—Pittman-Robertson funds support conservation for deer, waterfowl, upland birds and countless other game species. Whether you hunt elk in the mountains, whitetails in the Midwest or turkeys in the South, the dollars you spend on firearms, ammunition and licenses help sustain the future of hunting and wildlife conservation.
Why This Matters for Every Hunter
The next time you step into the field, remember that the very landscapes and wildlife populations we enjoy today exist because of a conservation funding model that hunters and industry have supported for decades. Pittman-Robertson funding is proof that hunters are the original conservationists and our continued support of this system ensures that elk and other wildlife will thrive for generations to come.
You may also be interested in
https://www.letsgohunting.org/resources/articles/explore-hunting/understanding-the-crucial-relationship-between-firearm-manufacturers-and-wildlife-conservation/
https://www.letsgohunting.org/resources/articles/hunter-education/archery-fuels-conservation-through-excise-taxes/
Year after year, the knife industry continues to evolve. And 2025 is going to be no exception. One of the biggest changes seen while browsing the knife booths at SHOT this year was subtle, but possibly profound. Everyday carry knives continue to be among the most prominent products in most knife companies’ offering, but the style of those EDCs is slowly turning away from the utilitarian to one that is distinctly more tactical. While these EDC knives can still pull everyday duties, more and more they’re also complementing consumers’ personal protection gear. This new trend doesn’t mean, however, there is a shortage of hunting, fishing, and traditional EDC knives that you’ve come to expect from these prominent knife manufacturers. So, make sure you make your way to each of their booths, and you can be sure you’ll find a wide selection of the knives your customers have been asking for.
5.11
5.11 will be featuring its Pryme Double Duty DP folder in 2025. Featuring a 3.25-inch blade made from 420J stainless steel, the Pryme Double Duty has a rugged, sturdy construction, which allows it to tackle nearly any job thrown its way. Adding to its versatility, the Double Duty has a built-in pry bar extension of the tang. Designed as an alternative to a multi-tool on law enforcement officers’ belts, the Double Duty has a robust G10 handle and a deep, reversible pocket clip. SRP: $80.
The Bear OPS model MC-1000-ALBK-B has a 3.25-inch blade made from 14C28N steel with a black carbide finish and quick-release thumb stud. The drop-point blade is housed in a black aluminum handle with a slide-lock release mechanism. The U.S.-made knife weighs in at 3.1 ounces. SRP: $90.
Benchmade continues its commitment to quality with several new knives set to release in 2025. Among them is an upgrade to Benchmade’s popular Bugout knife. The new Bugout has a chassis built with premium blade steel and a bolstered/onlay design. As part of its new Blue Class offering, the Bugout has a 3.24-inch CPM-S90V stainless-steel blade and an Ash Gray aluminum handle with Redstone Richlite Onlay. (SRP: $400).
Benchmade is also expanding its Water Class collections with the Adira (SRP: $260) and Mini Adira (SRP: $240). Both knives feature MagnaCut steel blades housed in Benchmade’s Grivory handles, which offer a sure grip even with wet hands. The Adira has a 3.9-inch blade while the Mini Adira has a 3.2-inch blade. Both have the saltwater blue finish that has come to define Benchmade’s Water Class Collection.
Buck is expanding its EDC offering in a big way for 2025 with several new knives covering a wide range of price points. At the top of the list is the 791 Range Elite (SRP: $220) with a 3.4-inch MagnaCut drop-point blade. For those looking for a slightly smaller option, Buck is also releasing the Mini Range Elite with a 2.6-inch MagnaCut blade (SRP: $210). Both knives have anodized aluminum handles and are available in gray, olive green, or black. Adding to the prestige of the Mini Range, these are the first knives in Buck’s offering to feature a Cross Bar Lock mechanism.
Buck is also releasing the Range Pro (SRP: $125) and Mini Range Pro ($115). Both of these knives also feature the Cross Bar Lock and are available in the same colors as the Range Elite knives. To meet a lower price point, the blades on the Range Pro knives are made from 154CM steel instead of the MagnaCut and feature glass-filled nylon handles. The Range Pro has a 3.4-inch blade while the Mini has a 2.6-inch blade.
The new Founder’s Series of knives pay tribute to Coast founder Henry W. Brands, who was always a proponent of knives that are as functional as they are stylish. And the Founder’s series certainly checks both those boxes. All of the knives in the line feature a slim design not much wider than a fountain pen to make it easy to carry unnoticed in anything from work jeans to a three-piece suit. The line includes two different knives and five different styles and price points. Both styles of the Founder’s Series Select feature 3-inch tanto-style blades that deploy with a flip tab. While the standard Select ($50) has a micarta handle, the Select Titanium ($90) features a titanium handle. The Origin and the Origin Damascus both have a 3.35-inch stiletto-style blade made from 9Cr18Mov steel. The Origin ($50) has a stainless-steel handle with a flat finish while the Damascus ($100) has a stainless-steel handle with a Damascus-style finish. Rounding out the offering is the Origin Tanto that features the same design as the other two Origin knives but features a tanto-style blade ($50).
Cold Steel is adding to its EDC selection with the new Frenzy II folder. The Frenzy II features a 3.5-inch sheepfoot blade made from 3V steel with a solid black PVD finish. The G-10 handle has finger indentions all along its length providing for a much surer grip on the knife. Designed to be suitable for a wide range of everyday uses, as well as an ideal outdoor or survival knife, the Frenzy features Cold Steel’s popular Tri-Ad locking mechanism. SRP: $170.
Columbia River Knife & Tool is launching its first OTF knife. Designed by innovative knifemaker Brian Tighe and made in the U.S. in collaboration with Hogue Knives, the CRKT Twist Tighe Compact is a formidable knife with the stylish looks to match. The Twist Tighe Compact features a 2.65-inch MagnaCut steel spear-point blade that is released with the simple slide of the double-action lever, which also retracts the blade. The blade is housed in a carbon-fiber handle with a stylish Twist camo pattern that’s as distinctive as the knife itself. Available in three models, the Twist Tighe Compact weighs a mere 1.6 ounces (SRP: $300).
CRKT is also launching a new version of one of its most popular EDC knives. The M16-03XK is based on the body and blade shape of other members of this iconic collection, but this latest version features the Cross Bar locking mechanism with the IKBS ball-bearing pivot deployment system for even smoother and easier one-handed opening. The spear-point blade is made from D2 steel and the handle is made from Grivory—an aircraft-grade thermoplastic that provides a sure grip in any condition. SRP: $110.
The Razor APX takes advantage of Outdoor Edge’s popular RazorSafe platform and incorporates it into a fixed-blade hunting knife. Available with either a 3- or a 2.5-inch blade, the Razor APX features removable silicone scales on the handle that allow hunters to store up to five interchangeable blades to make it easy to have replacement blades readily at hand. The 2.5-inch model ($60) comes with five black oxide-coated drop-point blades. The 3-inch version ($80) includes three black oxide-coated drop-point blades, two caping blades, and one stainless-steel blade as well as a 3-inch bone saw blade. The skeleton handle is made from titanium-coated stainless steel with anodized aluminum honeycomb webbing.
SOG is adding to its impressive repertoire of tactical knives with the new Gambit XL fixed-blade knife. Forged as a single solid piece, the Gambit is made from Cryo AUS10A steel with a black stonewash finish. The Karambit talon-shaped blade is 4 inches long, and the handle is wrapped in survival paracord. The Gambit features a large finger hole at the butt of the handle and pronounced finger choils on the spine. SRP: $130.
Case is launching its new Baby Doc collection in 2025. The collection includes 13 different styles with various handle materials. These limited-edition knives feature a 2.2-inch blade and a 2.25-inch blunt-ended spatula. The Baby Doc knives are a smaller version of the knives that doctors once carried as a tool to do everything from cutting bandages and sutures to crushing pills and mixing medicine. The blades are from Tru-Sharp surgical steel. SRP: $64-$115, depending on the handle material.
Case is also releasing its new Crossroads Series Sod Buster Jr. knife this year. Reminiscent of the folding knives carried by early settlers, the Sod Buster Jr. is outfitted with the latest in handle materials to give a practical application to a timeless design. The 2.8-inch blade is made from S35VN steel with a stonewash finish. Available with either wood laminate or G-10 handles. SRP: $85. caseknives.com
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