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.Apply for F16AS00076
- 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the R3 WR Hunter Ed Section 10 grant (F16AS00076)?
The R3 WR Hunter Ed Section 10 grant is a mandatory federal grant offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). It supports hunter education and other natural resource-related activities connected to hunter training and safe, responsible shooting opportunities. The funding opportunity number (FON) is F16AS00076, and it is associated with CFDA 15.626.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to state fish and game agencies. The eligible applicant type listed is state governments only, meaning this opportunity is reserved exclusively for state-level agencies rather than local governments, nonprofits, schools, or private entities.
Is this a competitive grant open to the public?
No. Based on the opportunity description, it is reserved exclusively for state fish and game agencies (state governments only). The public, private organizations, and non-state entities are not listed as eligible applicants.
Which federal agency administers this grant?
The grant is offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The opportunity is tied to USFWS Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) program materials referenced for Hunter Education/Section 10.
What is the CFDA number and why does it matter?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.626. CFDA numbers (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) are used to identify and track federal assistance programs and are commonly referenced in grant administration and reporting.
What type of funding instrument is this?
The posting identifies the instrument type as a grant.
What is the purpose of “Section 10” funding?
Section 10 funding is intended to create measurable improvements in hunter education and shooting range development by setting aside dedicated funding specifically for enhancing existing hunter education and shooting range programs, rather than having those needs compete with other wildlife restoration priorities.
What kinds of activities does this grant support?
Based on the opportunity description, it supports education and natural resource-related activities tied to hunter training and safe, responsible shooting opportunities. It is intended 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.
How does this relate to the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act?
This opportunity is rooted in the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (passed in 1937). The Act originally focused on wildlife habitat restoration and improvement, wildlife management research, and sharing information produced through those projects.
What changed in 1970 under Pittman-Robertson?
In 1970, Congress expanded the Pittman-Robertson Act to cover hunter safety programs and the development, operation, and maintenance of firearm and archery ranges. This reflected the idea that long-term wildlife conservation funding and support also depends on educated, safe, engaged hunters and having appropriate places to practice.
When and why was “Section 10” created?
Section 10 was created through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000. It was established after concerns that states were not consistently using available allocations to strengthen hunter education and shooting range development, even though these efforts were viewed as essential to the long-term future of hunting.
How much funding was set aside nationally for Section 10?
The Section 10 set-aside was described as $7.5 million nationally in 2001 and 2002, and $8 million annually thereafter, to support enhancements to hunter education and shooting range programs.
What is the award ceiling for this specific posting?
For this particular opportunity posting, the listed award ceiling is $250,000.
What was the application closing date shown in the posting?
The posting shows an original closing date of September 30, 2016.
The record shows “ExpectedAwards: 0.” Does that mean no awards will be made?
Not necessarily. The opportunity description notes that this figure in source listings can reflect internal posting metadata rather than the practical reality of whether awards are made. Applicants typically confirm current year allocations and award expectations through administering program contacts and guidance.
Where can applicants find more background or guidance referenced for this program?
The opportunity references the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Hunter Education/Section 10 materials for additional background and context.
Is the funding focused on creating new programs or improving existing ones?
The description emphasizes enhancing existing hunter education and shooting range programs by providing dedicated funding, rather than leaving these needs to compete within broader wildlife restoration funding streams.
What broader outcomes is this grant trying to support?
The grant’s stated intent is to strengthen hunter and bowhunter education and safety, support safe and responsible shooting opportunities, and help maintain public-facing shooting ranges that improve safety, competency, and participation. The background context also connects these efforts to sustaining wildlife conservation funding and long-term public support for wildlife management.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (F16AS00076) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| R8 (CA/NV) Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program for State Fish and Game Agencies Apply for F16AS00078 Funding Number: F16AS00078 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| R8 (CA/NV) Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program for State Fish and Game Agencies Apply for F16AS00080 Funding Number: F16AS00080 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $180,000 |
| R6 Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program TO STATE FISH & GAME AGENCIES ONLY Apply for F16AS00057 Funding Number: F16AS00057 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education, Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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