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.Apply for F17AS00057
- 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.
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FAQs: R8 (CA/NV) Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program (F17AS00057)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity titled the R8 (CA/NV) Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program for State Fish and Game Agencies. It is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, under CFDA 15.626, and uses Section 10 funds to support hunter education, hunter development, and safe participation in firearms and archery-related outdoor recreation.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F17AS00057.
Which federal agency administers the program?
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.
What does CFDA 15.626 mean in this context?
CFDA 15.626 is the program listing associated with this grant opportunity, indicating it falls under the Fish and Wildlife Service assistance program tied to hunter education and safety-related efforts described in the opportunity.
What is the main purpose of the grant?
The core purpose is to improve public safety and competence among hunters and recreational shooters, while supporting the long-term sustainability of hunting and shooting sports through responsible recruitment, training, and infrastructure improvements.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to state governments, consistent with the goal of strengthening state-run fish and game agency capacity.
Which states does this opportunity target?
This opportunity is aimed specifically at supporting state fish and game agencies in California and Nevada (R8 CA/NV).
What type of funding is being provided (Section 10 vs. Section 4(c))?
The opportunity provides Section 10 funds. A central requirement is that Section 10 funding is intended to supplement, not replace, the traditional Section 4(c) Hunter Education funding stream.
What does "supplement, not replace" mean for these funds?
It means the grant is intended to add capacity, expand reach, modernize programs, and fill gaps rather than backfilling or substituting for existing state commitments supported by Section 4(c) Hunter Education funds.
What kinds of program activities can the grant support?
Eligible uses are broad but must be tied to education, safety, and development. The opportunity supports strengthening hunter education, hunter development, firearm and archery safety instruction, interstate coordination, range construction and improvements, program evaluation and data efforts, trapper education tied to safety and responsibility, and outreach about WSFR grant-funded hunter education and recreational shooting sports activities.
What topics can be included in hunter education and safety instruction?
The opportunity explicitly includes instruction on safe and proficient handling of equipment, hunter responsibility and ethics, wildlife identification, and the principles of wildlife management, in addition to firearms and archery safety instruction.
Does the grant support bow hunter and archery-specific education?
Yes. The opportunity recognizes that archery has its own safety practices, training needs, and equipment considerations, and it supports bow hunter and archer-specific education and development.
Does the grant support hunter development beyond basic licensing requirements?
Yes. The opportunity notes that hunter education can go beyond basic licensing requirements and may include broader hunter-development efforts that introduce new participants to hunting, bow hunting, target shooting, and archery in a structured, safety-focused way.
Is interstate coordination an eligible use of funds?
Yes. Interstate coordination of hunter education and firearm and archery range programs is an eligible priority area, including collaborative planning, consistent curriculum approaches, and alignment of safety practices across state lines.
Can funds be used to build firearm and archery ranges?
Yes. The construction and development of firearm and archery ranges are explicitly eligible uses of funds.
Can funds be used for facilities that support instruction (like classrooms)?
Yes. The opportunity allows related support facilities needed for instruction, including classrooms and other training spaces.
Are upgrades to existing ranges eligible?
Yes. The opportunity highlights updating safety features at existing firearm and archery ranges as an eligible use, reflecting an emphasis on risk reduction and modern safety standards.
What kinds of range safety improvements are mentioned?
Examples 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.
Can the grant fund data collection or program evaluation?
Yes. States may gather and use information to develop, implement, and evaluate hunter education and safety grants, including data collection and evaluation activities related to participation, training effectiveness, safety outcomes, and program gaps.
Is trapper education an eligible activity?
Yes, when tied to safety and responsibility. The opportunity includes training in trapper education, including humane trapping methods, avoidance of non-target species, and practical skill development.
Is communication and outreach eligible under this grant?
Yes. Communication and outreach are eligible when focused on informing the public about WSFR grant-funded hunter education and recreational shooting sports activities, supporting awareness, participation, and transparency around how grant funding is used.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $240,000.
When was this opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on December 8, 2016, and the original closing date listed is August 31, 2017.
What broader outcomes is the grant trying to achieve?
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, with an emphasis on responsible recruitment, training, and long-term sustainability of hunting and shooting sports.
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