The organization Western Association of Fish and Wildlife (WAFWA) is organized and operated exclusively to promote the preservation of natural resources and for other charitable and educational purposes as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a 501(c)(4) organization. Members consist of the game and fish commissioners, or their equivalents, and the chief executive officers of the fish and game departments, or their equivalents, which are member agencies of Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). Such individuals are referred to as “members” and the agencies they represent as “member agencies.” The chief executive officers, or their equivalents, from these state agencies and Canadian provinces shall constitute the Board of Directors (Board).

A non-profit, public benefit corporation (501(c)(4))

WAFWA has been recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code as organizations described in Section 501(c)(4).

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WAFWA Objectives – Constitution and Bylaws

The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ objectives – as set forth in its Constitution and Bylaws –  are (a) to protect the right of jurisdiction of the western states over their wildlife resources on public and private lands; (b) to scrutinize carefully state and federal wildlife legislation and regulations and to offer opposition to or support for legislative proposals or federal regulations that are deemed necessary to the best interests of the members; (c) to consult with and make recommendations to the federal wildlife and public land agencies in order that federal wildlife management programs and programs involving federal aid to the western states shall be so conducted as to be in the best interests of the western states; and (d) to serve as a clearinghouse for the exchange of ideas concerning wildlife management and research techniques. 

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