Empower Public Shooting Range Access in Maine with Every Shot

Discover how the Pittman-Robertson Act turns your equipment purchases into vital funding for local shooting ranges.

How Does the Pittman-Robertson Act Benefit You?

Enacted in 1937, the Pittman-Robertson Act channels funds from excise taxes on firearms, archery equipment, and ammunition into wildlife conservation and public shooting range development. These excise taxes are paid by the manufacturers. This essential legislation, supported by the Office of Conservation Investment, partners with state agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to enhance public shooting facilities, ensuring safe, inclusive, and accessible shooting opportunities nationwide.

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HOW YOUR FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION PURCHASES HELP FUND AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGES: A DEEP DIVE

How It Works:

Funding and Benefits

Your purchases do more than improve your shooting experience—they support the entire shooting sports community by helping to fund the development of public ranges and the conservation of our natural habitats, securing the future of wildlife and providing safe spaces for shooting enthusiasts.

Explore The Impact

Maine Impact and Statistics

190,000,000

Total Multiplier Effect

1800

Jobs Supported

59,000,000

Salaries & Wages

100,000,000

Contributions to GDP

14,000,000

Federal Taxes

13,000,000

State & Local Taxes

Shooting Range Spotlight:

Local Success Story

Take a closer look at how Summerhaven Shooting Range provides a safe and educational environment for shooters of all ages and skills. From beginner courses to advanced competitions, this shooting range, funded by the Pittman-Robertson Act, is a beacon of responsible shooting and conservation leadership.

The Summerhaven Range serves the greater Augusta Area and is a modern concrete-baffled facility. This facility can accommodate a variety of implements, but receives most use from handgun and rifle shooters, and to a lesser degree archers.

MDIFW ranges are available for public use, free of charge, when an authorized Range Safety Officer is on duty. The range is open to everyone, including people who have never fired a gun before, seasoned hunters, and experienced target shooters. The range rules ensure the range is a safe and enjoyable place to shoot.

If you are a new shooter and are looking for additional guidance we can schedule some time for you to come and meet with one of our volunteer staff to help you gain that extra confidence you are looking for. Or if you want to learn basic firearm or archery safety but don’t have access to your own equipment, check out one of our next steps programs at the range and we can help you begin your journey into shooting sports.

WSFR Funded Target Shooting Ranges
in the United States

Funds from the Wildlife Restoration program, sourced from manufacturers’ excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment, contribute to the construction, operation, and maintenance of over 800 public target shooting ranges across the United States. Use this interactive map to discover these shooting ranges; simply click on any dot to learn more about a specific location.