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Paying for Fisheries Management

Anglers, do you know how much of every tax dollar is used to fund the Department and its fisheries management programs?

Answer: None.

The Department does not receive any state tax appropriations, but operates chiefly on two other sources of income. 

1) Hunting and fishing license fees
2) Sport Fish Restoration Program - which is a federal program that levies an excise tax on fishing equipment and boat fuel. 
3) product sales, leases and fines.

The Sport Fish Restoration Program apportions money to state wildlife agencies based on a formula that factors in the size of the state and the number of licensed anglers. Oklahoma receives about $3.5 million a year. This money is used for fisheries management projects, stocking, capital improvements, research, aquatic education and boating/fishing access projects such as new and improved boat ramps.