Region 7 - FY18 Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program - Only open to State Fish and Game agency | F18AS00063

Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00063

The "Region 7 - FY18 Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program" grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00063) is a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It sits within the Education and Natural Resources funding areas (CFDA 15.626) and is specifically limited to state governments, with eligibility narrowed further in the title and description to state fish and game agencies. In other words, it is not a public or nonprofit-facing program; it is designed for state wildlife agencies to apply for federal support to strengthen hunter education and related safety efforts.

This opportunity is rooted in the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, formally the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, which created a long-running funding framework to support wildlife habitat work, wildlife management research, and the sharing of information developed through those projects. Over time, Congress expanded the Act to reflect new needs. A major turning point came with the 1970 amendment, which explicitly added hunter safety programs and the development, operation, and maintenance of firearm and archery ranges as eligible purposes. That expansion recognized that responsible participation in hunting depends not only on conservation and management, but also on consistent, well-funded safety and training infrastructure.

The specific program highlighted here, the Firearm and Bowhunter Education and Safety Program (often referred to as "Section 10"), was created through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000. Congress and the Congressional Resource Committee responded to concerns raised with strong backing from sportsmen's organizations: states were not always drawing down their full potential allotments for hunter education and shooting range development, and in some places the level of effort was uneven. The intent of Section 10 was to push meaningful, consistent investment in hunter education and range-related programs so states could meet modern demands, improve safety, and support the future of hunting as a managed and sustainable activity.

From a funding perspective, the broader Section 10 set-aside was established at $7.5 million nationally in 2001 and 2002 and $8 million annually thereafter, with the stated goal of enhancing existing hunter education or shooting range programs. This Region 7 posting represents a regional, fiscal year 2018 implementation of that authority. The listing shows an award ceiling of $200,000, an original closing date of August 31, 2018, and a creation date of January 4, 2018. The grant instrument is a standard grant (not a contract), meaning the focus is on supporting state program activities that align with the statutory purposes rather than purchasing goods or services for the federal government.

In practical terms, the grant is meant to help a state fish and game agency strengthen firearm and bowhunter safety and education efforts and, where applicable, support shooting range development or improvement tied to hunter education and safe participation. The underlying emphasis is on enhancement, building capacity and consistency in programs that already exist or are being modernized, rather than creating unrelated new initiatives. The overall policy rationale is straightforward: well-funded training, education, and safe shooting opportunities reduce accidents, improve compliance with hunting regulations and ethics, and help sustain hunting participation, which in turn supports conservation funding models tied to wildlife restoration.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the education, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Region 7 - FY18 Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program - Only open to State Fish and Game agency" 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 Jan 04, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 31, 2018. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

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