FY17 Region 7 Section 10 Hunter Education Grant Program - Open to State Fish and Game agencies only | F17AS00075

Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00075

The FY17 Region 7 Section 10 Hunter Education Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00075) is a mandatory grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under CFDA 15.626. It is only open to state governments, specifically state fish and game agencies. The program is rooted in the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, as amended), a long-standing federal funding mechanism designed to support wildlife habitat work, wildlife management research, and public information efforts related to wildlife conservation. In 1970, Congress expanded the Act to also support hunter safety programs and the development, operation, or maintenance of firearm and archery ranges, recognizing the growing need for structured hunter education and safe places to practice shooting sports.

This particular grant opportunity reflects a later expansion of that commitment through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000, which created the Firearm and Bowhunter Education and Safety Program, commonly referred to as Section 10. Section 10 was established because Congress and stakeholder groups, including sportsmens organizations, believed many states were not fully using available funding or maintaining a consistent effort to strengthen hunter education and shooting range programs. To address that gap, Section 10 set aside dedicated national funding (initially $7.5 million in 2001 and 2002, and $8 million annually thereafter) specifically intended to enhance existing hunter education and shooting range efforts, rather than simply maintaining the status quo.

The funding is meant to supplement, not replace, other hunter education funds available under Section 4(c), meaning states are expected to use Section 10 dollars to add capacity, improve quality, or expand reach beyond what they are already doing. Allowable uses include strengthening hunter education, hunter development, and firearm and archery safety programs, including recruitment and introductory efforts that bring new people into hunting, bowhunting, target shooting, or archery. The program also supports improving interstate coordination among hunter education and range programs, enhancing education and safety initiatives specifically for bowhunters and archers, and investing in the construction, development, or modernization of firearm and archery ranges, including updates to safety features.

Examples of eligible activities described in the opportunity include hands-on and classroom training that emphasizes safe and proficient handling of hunting equipment, responsible hunting behavior, wildlife identification, and basic principles of wildlife management. Funds can also be used to build or improve facilities needed for instruction, such as classrooms, shooting ranges, and related support structures. States may support data gathering and evaluation work that helps design, implement, and assess hunter education and safety projects. The opportunity also explicitly includes trapper education when it is focused on safety, responsibility, humane trapping practices, avoiding non-target species, and skill development. Finally, states may use funds to communicate information about Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) grant-funded hunter education and recreational shooting sports activities, helping the public understand and engage with these programs.

For this FY17 Region 7 posting, the recorded award ceiling is $85,000, and the original closing date listed is August 31, 2017. The funding activity categories emphasized are education and natural resources, reflecting the program's dual purpose: building safer, better-trained participants in hunting and shooting sports while supporting broader wildlife conservation goals through responsible use and public engagement.

• The Fish and Wildlife Service in the education, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY17 Region 7 Section 10 Hunter Education Grant Program - Open to State Fish and Game agencies only" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.626.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-12-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-08-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $85,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

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