Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education Region 5 Northeast Region | F20AS00008

Opportunity Information: Apply for F20AS00008

The Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education Region 5 Northeast Region opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F20AS00008) is a mandatory federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. This law was originally passed in 1937 and implemented starting in 1938 to create a long-term funding mechanism for core wildlife conservation work. In practical terms, the program is designed to support activities that help select, restore, rehabilitate, and improve wildlife habitat, carry out wildlife management research, and share information and findings that come out of those funded projects.

Over time, Congress expanded what the program can fund. A key amendment in 1970 added explicit authority to support hunter safety efforts, which is why this opportunity includes "Basic Hunter Education" in its title and scope. That same amendment also broadened eligible uses to include the development, operation, and maintenance of firearm and archery ranges. More recently, a 2019 amendment, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (Public Law 116-17), further strengthened the program's ability to support public target shooting infrastructure by making it easier to acquire land for, expand, or construct public target ranges, including ranges located on federal lands. Taken together, the underlying purpose is both conservation-focused (habitat and research) and public-safety and access-focused (hunter education and safe places to practice shooting sports).

This specific listing is categorized as a grant with a Natural Resources funding activity category and is tied to CFDA number 15.611. Eligibility is limited to state governments, reflecting the way Pittman-Robertson funds are commonly passed through to state fish and wildlife agencies for on-the-ground implementation. The opportunity record shows an award ceiling of $10,000,000, an original closing date of August 31, 2021, and a creation date of October 3, 2019. The listing also indicates "Expected Awards: 0," which can appear on certain mandatory or formula-style grant postings where funding is allocated through established processes rather than competitive selections, even though projects may still be approved and funded under the program framework.

Overall, the opportunity supports state-led work in the Northeast Region (Region 5) that advances wildlife habitat improvements, wildlife research and management, and the sharing of project results, while also investing in hunter education programs and the development or upkeep of firearm and archery ranges. It sits within the broader Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program structure run by the Fish and Wildlife Service and relies on the statutory authorities created and expanded through the 1937 act and its later amendments.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education Region 5 Northeast Region" 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 Oct 03, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 31, 2021. (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 $10,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

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