R7 Alaska - Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety Program (Section 10 Hunter Education Grant Program)- Open to Alaska Department of Fish and Game only | F19AS00037

Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00037

The R7 Alaska Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety Program (Section 10 Hunter Education Grant Program) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, through its Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) program. It is specifically limited to a single eligible applicant: the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The program’s purpose is to strengthen and modernize hunter education and safety efforts in Alaska, building on a long-standing federal funding framework that supports wildlife conservation and responsible hunting.

This opportunity traces back to the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, commonly known as the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669-669k). That law created a durable funding mechanism for wildlife-related work, including selecting, restoring, rehabilitating, and improving wildlife habitat, conducting wildlife management research, and sharing information produced by those projects. In 1970, Congress expanded the Act to also support hunter safety programs and the development, operation, and maintenance of firearm and archery ranges. Over time, Congress concluded that states needed stronger incentives and dedicated resources to keep hunter education and shooting range programs effective and up to date, especially as participation patterns, equipment, and safety expectations evolved.

To address those concerns, Congress passed the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000, which established the Firearm and Bowhunter Education and Safety Program, often referred to as “Section 10.” The intent of Section 10 was to provide dedicated funding to enhance existing hunter education and shooting range programs, responding to feedback that some states were not fully using available allotments or were not maintaining a consistent level of effort to support the future of hunting and safe firearms and archery practices. Under Section 10, Congress set aside $7.5 million in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 and $8 million annually thereafter for these enhancement purposes. In practical terms, the Alaska-focused opportunity sits within that broader national program and targets improvements that expand reach, quality, and safety outcomes rather than simply maintaining the status quo.

From an administrative standpoint, this funding opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00037, with the activity category centered on Education and Natural Resources and associated with CFDA number 15.626. The grant instrument is a standard grant award. The posting indicates an award ceiling of $200,000 and an expectation of up to two awards, reflecting a relatively focused investment meant to support discrete projects or components within Alaska’s hunter education and safety system. The opportunity was created on October 31, 2018, and had an original closing date of August 30, 2019, which places it within a specific funding cycle rather than an open-ended program solicitation.

Programmatically, the grant aligns with WSFR’s stated mission to work through partnerships to conserve and manage fish and wildlife and their habitats for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations. It also reflects WSFR’s vision of healthy, diverse, and accessible fish and wildlife populations that provide recreational opportunities, economic activity, and broader societal benefits while maintaining sustainable ecological functions. The guiding principle running through the program is that conservation-based management, paired with responsible access and use, benefits society overall. In the context of hunter education, that philosophy shows up in efforts to reduce accidents, promote ethical hunting practices, encourage compliance with regulations, and support the long-term social license for hunting as a wildlife management and cultural activity.

Finally, the opportunity is framed as supporting several Department of the Interior priorities, including building a conservation stewardship legacy, responsibly utilizing natural resources, and restoring trust with local communities. In real-world terms, an enhanced hunter education and safety program can contribute to those goals by improving public confidence in hunting practices, making safety training more accessible and effective, and reinforcing connections between state agencies and the communities they serve. For additional background on Section 10 and its national structure, the notice points applicants to WSFR’s hunter education grant program information page.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the education, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "R7 Alaska - Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety Program (Section 10 Hunter Education Grant Program)- Open to Alaska Department of Fish and Game 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 Oct 31, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 30, 2019. (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.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

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