Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety Program (Section 10 Hunter Education Grant Program) | F19AS00057

Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00057

The Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety Program, also referred to as the Section 10 Hunter Education Grant Program, is a mandatory federal grant program run by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), within its Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) program. It exists to strengthen and expand state-level hunter education, hunter safety, and shooting range efforts, with an emphasis on improving established programs rather than starting from scratch. The opportunity is tied to CFDA number 15.626 and is framed as an education and natural resources funding activity.

The legal backbone for this program traces back to the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (originally the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937). That Act was created to fund major wildlife conservation work, including selecting, restoring, rehabilitating, and improving wildlife habitat, supporting wildlife management research, and distributing information produced by those conservation projects. In 1970, Congress expanded the allowable uses of Pittman-Robertson funds to include hunter safety programs and the development, operation, or maintenance of firearm and archery ranges. Over time, Congress and stakeholders concluded that states were not consistently using the full level of available support for hunter education and range development, even as the needs of modern hunting, public safety, and recreational shooting opportunities were growing.

To address that gap, Congress passed the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000, which created the Firearm and Bowhunter Education and Safety Program, commonly called "Section 10." Section 10 set aside dedicated funding specifically to enhance existing hunter education and shooting range programs. The description notes that the set-aside was $7.5 million in 2001 and 2002 and $8 million in later years, reflecting a sustained federal commitment aimed at helping states meet 21st-century challenges in hunter education and safe shooting opportunities.

In practical terms, the grant opportunity is designed for state governments, meaning eligible applicants are state-level agencies (often fish and wildlife agencies) responsible for hunter education, hunter safety, and related public programs. The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity category is listed as mandatory, indicating it is tied to statutory funding mechanisms rather than a purely discretionary competition. The notice lists an award ceiling of $1,000,000, though the number of expected awards is shown as 0 in the source data (which can reflect how the opportunity is posted, timing, or how awards are recorded rather than a statement that nothing will be funded). The funding opportunity number is F19AS00057. The posting shows a creation date of November 28, 2018, with an original closing date of August 31, 2019.

The program is also positioned as a direct fit with WSFRs broader mission and values. WSFR emphasizes conservation and management of fish and wildlife and their habitats through partnerships, so that current and future generations can use and enjoy these resources. Its vision highlights healthy, diverse, and accessible fish and wildlife populations that support recreation, economic activity, and broader societal benefits while maintaining sustainable ecological functions. Within that framework, enhanced hunter education and safer, well-managed shooting facilities are treated as key tools for responsible wildlife-related recreation, improved public safety, and long-term support for conservation-oriented hunting traditions.

Finally, the opportunity explicitly states that it supports Department of the Interior priorities in three areas: building a lasting conservation stewardship legacy, responsibly utilizing natural resources, and restoring trust with local communities. In the context of hunter education and range support, that typically translates into helping states deliver consistent, high-quality safety instruction; maintaining or improving places where people can practice shooting safely and responsibly; and strengthening community confidence that hunting and recreational shooting are being managed with safety, accountability, and conservation in mind. For additional program background, the notice points to the Section 10 information page hosted by WSFR at http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/HunterEd/HE.htm.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the education, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety 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 Nov 28, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 31, 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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

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