Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program (Section 10 Hunter Education Grant Program) | F17AS00047

Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00047

The Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program, commonly referred to as the Section 10 Hunter Education Grant Program, is a mandatory federal grant administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) framework. It traces back to the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, which originally created a long-running funding mechanism to support wildlife habitat work, wildlife management research, and public information and outreach tied to those projects. In 1970, Congress expanded the law to explicitly include hunter safety programs and the development, operation, and maintenance of firearm and archery ranges. Later, lawmakers and partners in the sporting community argued that states were not consistently using available support to keep hunter education and shooting range programs strong and modern, especially as participation trends, safety expectations, and infrastructure needs changed.

To address those concerns, Congress passed the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000, which created the Firearm and Bowhunter Education and Safety Program (Section 10). The central idea is to provide dedicated funding that helps states enhance existing hunter education and shooting range efforts rather than simply maintain the status quo. The legislation set aside $7.5 million nationally in 2001 and 2002 and $8 million each year thereafter to strengthen hunter education, hunter development, and shooting range opportunities. A key requirement built into the program is that Section 10 funds are meant to supplement, not replace, the separate Section 4(c) Hunter Education funds. In practical terms, states are expected to use Section 10 to add capacity, improve quality, expand reach, or modernize services rather than shifting existing costs onto this funding source.

States may use their apportioned Section 10 funds in several broad ways. These include enhancing hunter education, hunter development, and firearm and archery safety programs, where hunter development is specifically described as efforts that introduce new participants and recruit individuals into hunting, bowhunting, target shooting, or archery. The program also supports improving coordination across state lines for hunter education and shooting range programs, which can help standardize approaches, share best practices, and support multi-state initiatives. Another eligible area is expanding education, safety, or development programs focused specifically on bowhunters and archers. Importantly, Section 10 also supports tangible infrastructure work: it can fund the construction and development of firearm and archery ranges, as well as updates to range safety features, reflecting Congresss intent to pair education with safe, accessible places for supervised training and practice.

Examples of eligible activities illustrate how the grant can be used on the ground. Funds can support training that builds safe and proficient use of hunting equipment, teaches hunter responsibility, covers principles of wildlife management, improves wildlife identification skills, and reinforces safe firearms handling. Funding can also be applied to constructing or improving instructional facilities such as classrooms, shooting ranges, and other support buildings needed to deliver training effectively. States can use the program to gather and analyze information needed to develop, implement, and evaluate hunter education and safety grants, supporting evidence-based improvements over time. The scope also includes trapper education when it is tied to safety, responsibility, humane trapping methods, avoiding non-target species, and building practical trapping skills. Finally, the program allows communication and outreach efforts that share information about WSFR-funded hunter education and recreational shooting sports activities, which can help increase awareness and participation while reinforcing safety messages.

In the specific opportunity record provided, the funding opportunity is listed as F17AS00047, categorized as a mandatory grant in the education and natural resources activity areas, with CFDA number 15.626. Eligible applicants are state governments. The posting lists an award ceiling of $200,000, an original closing date of August 31, 2017, and identifies the administering agency as the Fish and Wildlife Service. The overall purpose remains consistent throughout: to strengthen and modernize hunter and bowhunter education and safety, support recruitment and development of new participants, and improve or expand safe firearm and archery range infrastructure through targeted supplemental funding.

• The Fish and Wildlife Service in the education, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program (Section 10 Hunter Education Grant 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 2016-12-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-08-31. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

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