R3 WR Hunter Ed Section 10 (TO STATE F&G AGENCIES ONLY) | F16AS00076

Opportunity Information: Apply for F16AS00076

The R3 WR Hunter Ed Section 10 grant (Funding Opportunity Number F16AS00076) is a mandatory federal grant offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under CFDA 15.626. It is reserved exclusively for state fish and game agencies (eligible applicants are state governments only) and supports education and natural resource-related activities tied to hunter training and safe, responsible shooting opportunities.

This opportunity is rooted in the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, originally passed in 1937 to fund wildlife habitat restoration and improvement, wildlife management research, and the sharing of information produced through those projects. In 1970, Congress expanded the Act to also cover hunter safety programs and the development, operation, and maintenance of firearm and archery ranges. That expansion reflected the idea that sustaining wildlife conservation funding and public support for wildlife management also depends on keeping hunters educated, safe, and engaged, and ensuring they have appropriate places to practice.

The specific program described here, often referred to as “Section 10,” was created later through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000. Congress established it after concerns that states were not consistently using available allocations to strengthen hunter education and shooting range development, even though sportsmen’s organizations and other stakeholders saw these efforts as essential for the long-term future of hunting. Section 10 was designed to push measurable improvements by setting aside dedicated funding specifically to enhance existing hunter education and shooting range programs, rather than leaving those needs to compete with other priorities inside broader wildlife restoration funding streams.

In terms of funding context, Section 10 set aside $7.5 million nationally in 2001 and 2002 and $8 million annually thereafter to support these enhancements. For this particular opportunity posting, the listed award ceiling is $250,000. The posting shows an original closing date of September 30, 2016, and identifies the instrument type as a grant. While the record lists “ExpectedAwards: 0,” that figure in source listings sometimes reflects internal posting metadata rather than the practical reality of whether awards are made, so applicants typically confirm current year allocations and award expectations through the administering program contacts and guidance.

Overall, the grant is meant to strengthen the infrastructure and delivery of hunter and bowhunter education and safety, and to support the development and upkeep of public-facing shooting range opportunities that improve safety, competency, and participation. More program background and context is referenced through the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Hunter Education/Section 10 materials.

• The Fish and Wildlife Service in the education, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "R3 WR Hunter Ed Section 10 (TO STATE F&G 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 2016-01-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-09-30. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

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