R8 (CA/NV) Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program for State Fish and Game Agencies | F16AS00080

Opportunity Information: Apply for F16AS00080

The R8 (CA/NV) Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program for State Fish and Game Agencies (Funding Opportunity Number F16AS00080) is a mandatory grant program administered by the U.S. 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 apportionment funds to strengthen hunter education and safety efforts, expand opportunities for responsible participation in hunting and shooting sports, and improve the infrastructure that makes those activities safer and more accessible. The funding is intended for education and natural resource-related public benefits, with the overall emphasis on safety, skills, and responsible recreation tied to wildlife conservation and management goals.

A central focus of the opportunity is helping states enhance existing hunter education, hunter development, and firearm and archery safety programs. In this context, "hunter development" is not limited to traditional classroom instruction; it also includes recruitment and introduction programs that bring new participants into hunting, bow hunting, target shooting, or archery in a structured way. The program also supports improved interstate coordination, recognizing that hunter education standards, range safety practices, and program delivery often benefit from consistency and collaboration across state lines. Another major priority is strengthening bowhunter and archer-specific education, safety, and development initiatives, acknowledging that archery has distinct equipment, techniques, and safety needs compared to firearms.

The grant explicitly allows funds to be used for range-related projects, both for building and improving facilities and for making existing sites safer. That includes enhancing construction and development of firearm and archery ranges, as well as updating range safety features, which can cover a wide range of improvements depending on state needs, such as safer shooting lines, improved backstops, signage, barriers, access controls, or other design changes that reduce risk and support safe instruction. These infrastructure investments are framed as part of the broader educational mission, since ranges and classrooms are often essential for delivering hands-on safety training and proficiency development.

An important condition of the program is that Section 10 funds are meant to supplement, not replace, the separate Section 4(c) Hunter Education funding stream. In practical terms, states are expected to use this opportunity to add capacity or improvements beyond what their regular hunter education allocations already support, rather than shifting existing costs from one funding source to another. The intent is to expand and enhance a state's overall hunter education and safety system, not simply maintain baseline operations.

The opportunity lists several examples of eligible activities that illustrate how funds can be applied. These include hands-on training for participants in safe and proficient use of hunting equipment, reinforcement of hunter responsibility and ethical practices, instruction in wildlife management principles, wildlife identification, and proper firearms handling. Funds may also support construction of instruction-related facilities, such as classrooms, shooting ranges, and other support spaces necessary for delivering courses and field components. In addition, states may use funding to gather and analyze information that helps develop, implement, and evaluate hunter education and safety grants, which supports continuous program improvement and better outcomes. The program also allows training in trapper education, specifically where it relates to safety, responsibility, humane trapping methods, avoiding non-target species, and building practical trapping skills. Finally, states may use funds for communication and outreach about Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) grant-funded hunter education and recreational shooting sports activities, which can include public information efforts that raise awareness, encourage participation, and reinforce safety messaging.

Eligibility is limited to state governments, aligning with the program's design as a state fish and game agency support mechanism. The posted award ceiling for the opportunity is $180,000, and the original closing date listed is August 30, 2016. Overall, the grant is structured to help states improve the quality, reach, and safety of hunter and archer education programs while also supporting the physical and administrative foundations needed to deliver those programs effectively, including coordinated efforts, facility improvements, and targeted outreach.

• The 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 2016-01-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-08-30. (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 $180,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for F16AS00080

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