This grant provides funding to carry out the hunter education programs for nebraska

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6 awarded $951,797 to the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission on January 1, 2026, under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) to carry out hunter education programs for Nebraska.

The funding supports convenient hunter and bowhunter education options that meet Nebraska's firearms and archery education mandates, with emphasis on reducing hunting-related accidents involving firearms, archery equipment, and elevated hunting stands. The program raises awareness of safe, respectful, responsible, and ethical hunting practices; enhances public understanding of wildlife conservation and management; provides advanced skills-based learning opportunities; maintains and enhances existing public shooting ranges or constructs new shooting facilities through partnerships; and encourages lifelong outdoor participation and reactivation of lapsed hunters and target shooters.

The award covers the period January 1 through December 31, 2026, with place of performance in Nebraska. The assistance type is a formula grant, funded through revenues collected from excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment deposited into the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund and apportioned annually to eligible state agencies under a legislatively established formula.

The purpose of the nebraskahunter education programs are to:provide convenient options for all citizens to meet the nebraska firearm hunter and bowhunter educationmandate.reduce hunting-related accidents, especially those involving, firearms, archery equipment and elevated huntingand tree stands.raise awareness of the need to hunt in a safe, respectful, responsible and ethical manner.enhance public awareness and understanding of wildlife conservation and management.provide opportunities for individuals to further their hunting knowledge through advanced skills-basedlearning.maintain and or enhance existing public shooting ranges and or construct new shooting facilities and orestablish partnerships with range facilities.encourage lifelong learning and outdoor participation among new and current hunters and target shooters andencourage reactivation of lapsed hunters and target shooters.