To fund the south dakota hunter safety and firearms education (huntsafe) program, the south dakota bowhunter education program, trapper education, and the south dakota hunter development program

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6 awarded $556,282 to the State of South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Wildlife Division on April 1, 2026, under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) to fund hunter and bowhunter education, trapper education, and hunter development in South Dakota.

The award funds recruitment, retention, and reactivation of hunters through a system of programs that teach safe, legal, and responsible hunting skills and knowledge. The recipient will conduct 600 training events for hunter, archery, and trapper education; facilitate completion of hunter, archery, and trapper education for 3,300 students; and train 200 trainers and mentors for hunter, archery, and trapper education programs. These programs are designed to cultivate informed public consent of hunting and support teaching of hunter skills and opportunities throughout the state.

Performance extends through March 31, 2027, with all work conducted in South Dakota. The Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program is funded through excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment, with revenues apportioned annually to state fish and wildlife agencies through a legislatively established formula.

The purpose is to fund the recruitment, retention, and reactivation of current and future generations of hunters in south dakota by developing a system of programs that promotes the skills, knowledge and attitudes pertaining to being a safe legal, and responsible hunter. These programs support the teaching of hunter skills and opportunities throughout the state and cultivate an informed consent of hunting by the general public. Objectives performed under this grant will be to conduct 600 training events for hunter, archery, and trapper education, have 3,300 studentscomplete hunter, archery, and trapper education, and to train 200 trainers mentors for hunter, archery andtrapper education.