R8 (CA/NV) Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program for State Fish and Game Agencies | F17AS00057

Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00057

The R8 (CA/NV) Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program for State Fish and Game Agencies (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00057) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service under CFDA 15.626. It is aimed specifically at supporting state fish and game agencies in California and Nevada by providing Section 10 funds to strengthen hunter education, hunter development, and safe participation in firearms and archery-related outdoor recreation. The core purpose is to improve public safety and competence among hunters and recreational shooters while also supporting the long-term sustainability of hunting and shooting sports through responsible recruitment, training, and infrastructure improvements.

A central theme of the program is that Section 10 funding is meant to supplement, not replace, the traditional Section 4(c) Hunter Education funding stream. In other words, the grant is intended to add capacity, expand reach, modernize programs, and fill gaps rather than backfilling existing state commitments. The opportunity recognizes that hunter education today goes beyond basic licensing requirements and can include broader hunter-development efforts that introduce new participants to hunting, bow hunting, target shooting, and archery in a structured, safety-focused way. It also supports stronger coordination across state lines, acknowledging that consistent training standards and shared approaches to range development and hunter education can improve outcomes regionally.

The eligible uses of funds are broad but clearly tied to education, safety, and development. States may use funds to enhance hunter education programs and firearm and archery safety instruction, including efforts that teach safe and proficient handling of equipment, hunter responsibility and ethics, wildlife identification, and the principles of wildlife management. The grant can also support bow hunter and archer-specific education and development, recognizing that archery has its own safety practices, training needs, and equipment considerations. Another priority area is interstate coordination of hunter education and firearm and archery range programs, which can include collaborative planning, consistent curriculum approaches, and alignment of safety practices that help participants who train or recreate across state borders.

Infrastructure is also explicitly eligible. The program can fund the construction and development of firearm and archery ranges, as well as related support facilities needed for instruction, such as classrooms and other training spaces. Beyond new construction, the opportunity highlights updating safety features at existing firearm and archery ranges, reflecting an emphasis on risk reduction and modern safety standards. These kinds of improvements can include range design updates, safety barriers, signage, and other features that directly reduce the likelihood of accidents while improving the quality of instruction and supervised practice.

In addition to direct training and facility work, the opportunity allows states to gather and use information to develop, implement, and evaluate hunter education and safety grants. That can include data collection and evaluation activities that help agencies understand participation, training effectiveness, safety outcomes, and program gaps, which in turn supports better program design and accountability. The grant also permits training in trapper education when tied to safety and responsibility, including humane trapping methods, avoidance of non-target species, and practical skill development. Finally, communication and outreach are eligible when focused on informing the public about WSFR grant-funded hunter education and recreational shooting sports activities, which supports awareness, participation, and transparency around how grant funding is used.

Eligibility is limited to state governments, aligning with the program goal of strengthening state-run fish and game agency capacity. The opportunity was created on December 8, 2016, with an original closing date of August 31, 2017, and it lists an award ceiling of $240,000. Overall, the grant is structured as a practical investment in safety training, participant development, and the facilities and coordination needed to deliver high-quality hunter education and shooting sports programs across the covered states.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the education, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "R8 (CA/NV) Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program for State Fish and Game Agencies" 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 Dec 08, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 31, 2017. (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 $240,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for F17AS00057

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