Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education | F19AS00056

Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00056

The Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00056) is a mandatory federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under CFDA 15.611. It is rooted in the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, better known as the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669-669k). The core idea behind this program is to provide sustained funding to states to support practical, on-the-ground wildlife conservation work and the public-facing education that goes with it. The opportunity is designed to help states select, restore, rehabilitate, and improve wildlife habitat, carry out wildlife management research, and distribute information and findings produced through funded projects so the benefits extend beyond a single site or study.

A key feature of this program is that it is not limited to habitat and research. A major expansion came with the 1970 amendment, which explicitly added support for hunter safety and education, along with the development, operation, and maintenance of firearm and archery ranges. In other words, the program connects wildlife conservation outcomes with safe, well-managed recreational hunting infrastructure and education. That includes basic hunter education efforts that improve safety, promote responsible participation, and help ensure hunting-related activities are compatible with long-term conservation goals and public expectations.

Eligibility is limited to state governments, reflecting the program's structure as a federal-state partnership model rather than an open competition to nonprofits or local governments. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity categories are education and natural resources, matching the program's dual emphasis on conservation delivery and hunter education components. The posted award ceiling is $7,000,000, and the listing shows an expected awards value of 0, which often indicates that awards may be handled through formula allocations or rolling approvals rather than a traditional competitive cycle with a fixed number of awards announced in advance.

In terms of timing and administrative details, the opportunity record shows a creation date of November 28, 2018, and an original closing date of August 31, 2020. The description also points applicants to additional background about the broader Wildlife Restoration Grant Program, signaling that this opportunity fits within an established, ongoing program framework rather than a one-time initiative.

Programmatically, the opportunity aligns with the mission, vision, and guiding principles of the Fish and Wildlife Service's Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) program: working through partnerships to conserve and manage fish and wildlife and their habitats for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations; aiming for healthy, diverse, and accessible fish and wildlife populations that provide recreation, economic activity, and other societal benefits while maintaining sustainable ecological functions; and emphasizing that society benefits when fish and wildlife and their habitats are managed through a conservation-based approach that also supports opportunities for public use and enjoyment.

Finally, the grant is framed as supporting Department of the Interior priorities, specifically building a lasting conservation stewardship legacy, responsibly utilizing natural resources, and restoring trust with local communities. In practical terms, that framing signals an emphasis on conservation results that are visible and durable, paired with public engagement and safety-focused education that helps maintain community support for wildlife management and outdoor recreation.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the education, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.611.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 28, 2018.
• 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 $7,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

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