Hunting Heritage Partnership

Guidelines for the Grant Program are as follows:

This information available in Guideline PDF document.

1. Only project proposals submitted by and in the name of state wildlife agencies and regional state fish and wildlife agency associations shall be eligible for funding under the Grant Program. Project proposals from organizations other than state wildlife agencies and regional state fish and wildlife agency associations will not be accepted.

2. Recipients that previously received funding and have met all prior reporting requirements are eligible to apply for grant funding again in 2012-2013.

3. A total of $500,000 will be available to qualified state wildlife agencies for the purpose of supporting projects designed to put more hunters in the field. The amount of funding that selected applicants may be awarded shall be at the sole discretion of NSSF. The NSSF reserves the right, at any time, to terminate, suspend or amend the Grant Program, to adjust the total amount of funding available under the program, to correct any errors made in awarding grant funds, or to take any other action deemed necessary and appropriate, in NSSF's sole discretion. NSSF shall also be authorized to terminate, suspend or amend the Grant application process, reject any or all grant applications, in whole or in part, waive minor irregularities in applications, or to allow applicants to correct minor irregularities, if the best interests of the Grant Program will be served by doing so.

4. All projects must help NSSF's goal of increasing hunting participation AND must address at least one of the following focus areas in your proposal:

   • Electronic Outreach & Promotions: Leveraging social media to increase hunting recruitment and/or retention. There are many electronic tools available to reach out to your audience today. Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and electronic newsletters to name a few, can all be used as a constant reminder of what is happening within your state and prompt your target audience to take action. Electronic newsletters, such as NSSF's "Pull the Trigger", or emails can alert to instant online renewals, show "how-to" videos to sight in your firearms before hunting in the field, etc. Taking advantage of social media can reach audiences from youth to adults. It is important to reach out to your license holders, which are your customers. Do you currently update your database? Are you collecting emails to communicate electronically, which is cost-effective and time-saving? Do you have programs such as Constant Contact to deliver electronic messages to your customers? All the above questions can help you in the direction of communicating with your lapsed, current or potential new hunters.
   • Increase Hunter Access & Awareness: A research study was produced by Responsive Management and National Shooting Sports Foundation titled "Issues Related to Hunting Access in the United States: National Results" conducted under a Multi-State Conservation Grant. This needed research looked into the effectiveness of access programs and data for future programs that can help guide the future use of funding access programs. It is critical to identify how access in your state can be enhanced before the problem becomes worse. There are several access efforts that are working such as GIS mapping, paper maps, Walk-in access programs, lease programs, etc. Not only is it important to implement access efforts, it is equally important to spread awareness of available access sites and programs. Proposals that leverage state funds or federal funds such as the USDA's Voluntary Public Access program are welcome and encouraged. Oregon Division of Fish and Wildlife is an excellent example of creating an user-friendly, on-line map for hunters: www.OregonHuntingMap.com. Once the map was completed, it was promoted to boost hunting renewals in the state. The map was extremely successful in less than a year of launching, creating nearly 9,400 additional hunter days boosting Oregon's economy $1.4 million; created nearly $53,000 ODFW's revenue; and finally, the map helped to recruit 662 new hunters.
   • Promoting & providing next steps to create a life-long hunter: Many states have apprentice licenses to offer to the new hunter to safely hunt with a licensed mentor. It is important to promote this opportunity as well as following through to encourage the next step: hunter education. "Follow-through" services can include leading hunter education graduates directly to license purchasing opportunities (web sites, toll free numbers, etc.), helping them acquire basic hunting equipment, or helping them learn where to hunt and the local rules and regulations.  Any efforts that help encourage new hunters to take the field will be considered.
   • Looking outside of your agency - Expanding partnerships: The NSSF encourages states to reach out to retailers, ranges and even sportsman's clubs who would benefit from increased hunting or exposure to the hunting market. These natural partners often have communication, advertising and equipment expertise not available to many state agencies and can help your programs become more effective. These resources can help create an additional dimension to your program plans.
     
     
5. The following types of projects are not eligible for Grant Program funding:
   • Projects including activities other than hunting with a firearm.
   • Projects that include the purchase of land.
   • Projects that focus specifically on the management of wildlife habitats or ecosystems.
   • Projects that involve building new or improving existing structures, including shooting ranges.
   • All other projects that are not directly related to the above-stated project eligibility requirements as determined by the NSSF.
     
     
6. Projects must be completed by March 1, 2013. Grant recipients shall also be required to submit midterm and final written reports regarding their projects. Midterm progress reports shall be due by October 5, 2012; final written reports shall be due March 12, 2013.
   
   
7. Be advised that grant awards shall be disbursed as follows:  50% after April 1, 2012 contingent upon NSSF receipt of signed agreement; the remaining 50% within a reasonable time following NSSF's receipt and satisfactory review of both Grantee's progress and final written reports.

Please seriously consider this schedule prior to submitting a grant proposal to be sure that your department can cover up-front costs.