Opportunity Information: Apply for F16AS00056

The Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the broader framework of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. The original Pittman-Robertson Act, passed in 1937 and implemented in 1938, was designed to support core wildlife conservation work nationwide by funding the selection, restoration, rehabilitation, and improvement of wildlife habitat, along with wildlife management research and the distribution of information produced through those projects. Over time, Congress expanded the Act to respond to changing needs in conservation and outdoor recreation, recognizing that sustaining hunting as a safe, responsible activity is closely tied to long-term wildlife management and public support for conservation.

A major expansion came in 1970, when Congress amended the Act to allow funding not only for wildlife restoration but also for hunter safety programs and the development, operation, and maintenance of firearm and archery ranges. This reflected a growing emphasis on safety training and structured shooting facilities as practical tools to reduce accidents, improve hunter competency, and provide safer places for the public to practice. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, Congress and stakeholders argued that states needed a stronger, more consistent level of investment in hunter education and shooting range development to meet modern demands. Sportsmen's organizations and the Congressional Resource Committee expressed concern that some states were not fully using available allotments or were not maintaining steady effort to support the future of hunting and safe participation.

In response, Congress passed 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. The purpose of Section 10 funding is to enhance existing hunter education and/or shooting range programs rather than simply maintain them at the status quo. To make that possible, Congress set aside dedicated amounts specifically for this program: $7.5 million in 2001 and 2002, and $8 million each year thereafter. In practical terms, the program is meant to strengthen the quality, reach, and effectiveness of state-run hunter education efforts and to support the development and upkeep of safe, well-managed firearm and archery ranges that serve the public.

Based on the posted opportunity details, this grant is categorized under Environment and Natural Resources, uses a grant funding instrument, and is limited to eligible applicants from state governments. It is listed under CFDA 15.626 and was published by the Fish and Wildlife Service as Funding Opportunity Number F16AS00056, with an original closing date of August 31, 2016. The notice lists an award ceiling of $0, which typically indicates that awards vary by formula, allocation, or program-specific determinations rather than a single fixed maximum amount stated in the opportunity summary. Overall, the grant exists to ensure states have dedicated support to improve hunter and bowhunter safety education and to expand or strengthen shooting range infrastructure, reinforcing safe hunting practices and responsible participation that ultimately supports long-term wildlife restoration goals.

  • The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program" 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 2015-12-16.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-08-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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