Opportunity Information: Apply for F16AS00057
The R6 Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program (Funding Opportunity Number F16AS00057) is a mandatory federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under CFDA 15.626. It is available only to state governments, specifically state fish and game agencies, and it supports education and natural resource-related public benefits tied to hunting safety and shooting sports infrastructure. The original closing date listed for this opportunity was August 31, 2016, and the posting was created on December 16, 2015. The notice does not specify an award ceiling (listed as 0) and does not provide a number of expected awards in the source data.
This funding traces back to the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, originally enacted as the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 and implemented beginning in 1938. That law was designed to fund core wildlife conservation priorities such as selecting, restoring, rehabilitating, and improving wildlife habitat, conducting wildlife management research, and distributing information produced by federally supported projects. In 1970, Congress expanded the law to explicitly include hunter safety programs and to allow support for the development, operation, and maintenance of firearm and archery ranges. That amendment recognized that conservation outcomes and public safety are closely linked to well-run hunter education systems and safe places for the public to practice shooting skills.
The modern grant emphasis described in the announcement comes from later congressional action responding to concerns that states were not consistently using available funding or maintaining a steady level of effort for hunter education and shooting range development. According to the description, the Congressional Resource Committee cited broad support from sportsmens organizations, which argued that stronger and more reliable investment was needed to sustain hunting participation and safety into the 21st century. 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 (often referenced as Section 10). Section 10 set aside dedicated funding to enhance existing hunter education and/or shooting range programs, with $7.5 million allocated in 2001 and 2002 and $8 million in subsequent years for that enhancement purpose.
In practical terms, the opportunity is meant to help state fish and game agencies strengthen and expand hunter education and safety efforts, including firearms and archery-focused instruction, and to support shooting range-related needs that align with the statutory authorities. The central idea is not to replace basic state responsibilities, but to provide targeted federal support that improves program quality, capacity, and long-term consistency in hunter education and safe shooting opportunities. The announcement also points applicants to additional Section 10 program information through the Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration web resources.Apply for F16AS00057
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the education, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "R6 Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program TO STATE FISH & GAME 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 2015-12-16.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-08-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the R6 Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program (F16AS00057)?
The R6 Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program is a mandatory federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It supports hunting-related public benefits, with a focus on hunter education and safety and related shooting sports infrastructure needs that align with federal statutory authorities.
Who administers this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F16AS00057.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.626.
Is this a competitive or mandatory funding opportunity?
The notice describes it as a mandatory federal grant opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply?
It is available only to state governments, specifically state fish and game agencies.
Are local governments, tribes, nonprofits, or individuals eligible?
No. Based on the notice, eligibility is limited to state governments and, more specifically, state fish and game agencies.
What is the purpose of the funding?
The funding supports education and natural resource-related public benefits tied to hunting safety. In practical terms, it is meant to help state fish and game agencies strengthen and expand hunter education and safety efforts (including firearms and archery-focused instruction) and support shooting range-related needs that fit within the statutory authorities described.
What kinds of activities does the program emphasize?
The announcement emphasizes enhancing hunter education and safety efforts and supporting shooting range-related needs, including infrastructure elements connected to firearms and archery practice, where consistent with the governing law and program authorities referenced in the notice.
Does the opportunity support shooting ranges?
Yes. The background described in the notice explains that Congress expanded the underlying law in 1970 to allow support for the development, operation, and maintenance of firearm and archery ranges, and the modern program emphasis includes shooting range development needs aligned with those authorities.
Does the opportunity support both firearms and archery (bowhunter) education?
Yes. The program title and description reference both firearm and bowhunter education and safety, and the practical description includes firearms and archery-focused instruction.
What law is this funding tied to?
The notice traces the funding back to the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, originally enacted as the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 and implemented beginning in 1938.
How does hunter education fit into the Pittman-Robertson framework described?
According to the notice, Congress expanded the Pittman-Robertson law in 1970 to explicitly include hunter safety programs and to allow support for firearm and archery ranges. The notice frames hunter education and safe practice facilities as closely linked to conservation outcomes and public safety.
What is "Section 10" as referenced in the opportunity description?
The notice explains that the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000 created the Firearm and Bowhunter Education and Safety Program, often referenced as Section 10. It set aside dedicated funding to enhance existing hunter education and/or shooting range programs.
Why was Section 10 created, according to the announcement?
The description states that Congress acted in response to concerns that states were not consistently using available funding or maintaining a steady level of effort for hunter education and shooting range development. The notice also cites broad support from sportsmens organizations for stronger and more reliable investment to sustain hunting participation and safety.
How much funding does the notice say was allocated under Section 10?
The notice states that $7.5 million was allocated in 2001 and 2002 and $8 million in subsequent years for the enhancement purpose described.
Is this funding intended to replace basic state responsibilities for hunter education?
No. The notice states the central idea is not to replace basic state responsibilities, but to provide targeted federal support that improves program quality, capacity, and long-term consistency in hunter education and safe shooting opportunities.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting was created on December 16, 2015.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date listed for this opportunity was August 31, 2016.
Does the notice list an award ceiling?
No. The notice does not specify an award ceiling; it is listed as 0 in the source data.
Does the notice state how many awards are expected?
No. The notice does not provide a number of expected awards in the source data.
Where does the announcement direct applicants for additional program information?
The announcement points applicants to additional Section 10 program information through the Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration web resources.
What types of public benefits are highlighted?
The notice highlights education and natural resource-related public benefits tied to hunting safety, and it connects those benefits to well-run hunter education systems and safe places for the public to practice shooting skills.
What is the overall goal of the opportunity as described?
As described, the overall goal is to strengthen and expand hunter education and safety efforts and support shooting range-related needs in ways that enhance quality, capacity, and long-term consistency, consistent with the statutory framework referenced in the announcement.
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