Region 7 Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety Program- State Fish and Wildlife Agency Only | F20AS00030

Opportunity Information: Apply for F20AS00030

The Region 7 Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety Program is a mandatory grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) program. It is rooted in the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, as amended), a long-standing federal funding mechanism designed to support wildlife habitat work, wildlife management research, and the sharing of information produced by those efforts. Over time, Congress expanded the Act to address hunter safety and shooting sports infrastructure, recognizing that safe participation and accessible places to practice are essential to sustaining hunting and its conservation benefits.

A key turning point described in the opportunity is the 1970 amendment that explicitly added support for hunter safety programs and for the development, operation, and maintenance of firearm and archery ranges. Later, after hearing concerns that some states were not fully using available funding or maintaining a consistent effort in hunter education and range development, Congress passed the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000. That law created the Firearm and Bowhunter Education and Safety Program, often called Section 10 or EHE, specifically to enhance existing hunter education and shooting range programs. The set-aside funding levels noted are $7.5 million in 2001 and 2002 and $8 million per year thereafter, reserved for enhancement activities rather than basic program maintenance alone.

The opportunity also highlights an additional legal update that affects eligible activities related to ranges: the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (Public Law 116-17), signed May 10, 2019. This amendment was intended to make it easier to acquire land for, expand, or construct public target ranges, including ranges located on federal land. In practical terms, the program is positioned to support both hunter education and the physical infrastructure that enables safe, controlled firearms and archery practice, reflecting a broader federal emphasis on safety, skills development, and sustainable participation in hunting and shooting sports.

Eligibility is limited to state governments, specifically state fish and wildlife agencies (the title explicitly indicates "State Fish and Wildlife Agency Only"). The funding instrument is a grant, the activity category is education, and the CFDA number listed is 15.626. The opportunity information provided indicates an award ceiling of $1,000,000 and an expectation of 99 awards, suggesting the program is designed to support multiple state-level projects rather than a small number of large awards. The original posting date is November 12, 2019, with an original closing date of August 31, 2020, indicating this particular notice covered that application cycle.

Finally, the description ties the program to WSFR's broader mission and values. WSFR emphasizes partnership-driven conservation and management of fish and wildlife and their habitats for public use and enjoyment now and in the future. The EHE program is presented as aligned with that mission by strengthening education, safety, and access to training opportunities. It also is described as supporting Department of the Interior priorities related to building a conservation stewardship legacy, responsibly using natural resources, and restoring trust with local communities. In other words, the grant is framed not just as a safety training program, but as part of a larger conservation and public engagement strategy where competent, safe hunters and accessible ranges help maintain long-term participation and support for wildlife conservation.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Region 7 Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety Program- State Fish and Wildlife Agency 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 Nov 12, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 31, 2020. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 99 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

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