Public Shooting Range Grant Program

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game Public Shooting Range Grant program supports the establishment, upgrade, expansion, and improvement of public firearms and archery shooting ranges in Idaho. The program is intended to increase public access to safe shooting facilities and provide professional and safe projects where members of the public can learn, practice, and improve shooting skills. Funding originates from two potential sources: federal Pittman-Robertson funds derived from manufacturer excise taxes on firearms and ammunition, and Idaho fine and forfeiture monies remitted from fish and game violations. Award availability varies annually. Projects are evaluated for their potential to expand and enhance shooting opportunities for the general public and Idaho hunter education programs. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations registered with the Idaho Secretary of State and units of state or local government that manage shooting ranges. Applicants must be able to demonstrate ownership of the range property or a long-term lease agreement. Clubs operating a range under an agreement with a landowner must provide a contract establishing that the club is responsible for capital projects on the property. Grant recipients must provide a reasonable number of agreed-upon, regularly scheduled public shooting hours for recreational shooting or target practice. Public users cannot be required to enroll in a class, purchase club membership, be a guest of a member, participate in an organized competitive event, or pay more than a modest fee to access the facility. Eligible activities include shooting range improvements, berms, accessibility improvements such as sidewalks and ramps, safety improvements, restroom facilities, classroom construction or improvements, shelters, trap machines, fire mitigation equipment, fencing, lighting, storage, and other qualifying range improvements. Ineligible projects include clubhouse improvements, employee residences, facilities that are not essential to range operations, items with a useful life of less than five years, portable items other than trap machines, and projects that violate state or federal code requirements. Projects cannot be contracted to board members or directors of the organization requesting the grant. Federal reimbursement grants require a 25 percent match, and requested federal funds cannot exceed 75 percent of the estimated total project cost. Match may consist of donated labor, materials, equipment, or other non-governmental grants. Applicants must complete the Public Shooting Range Grant Application and submit the completed application and documentation by email no later than November 2, 2026. Required documentation includes a W-9, documentation of public access hours, proof of registration as a business entity through the Idaho Secretary of State, documentation of property ownership or a lease agreement, current range liability insurance, range rules and standard operating and emergency procedures, and bids or estimates for proposed projects. Bids and estimates are required for all projects and may be provided through December 31. Applicants unable to submit materials by email are directed to contact their local Idaho Department of Fish and Game Volunteer Services Coordinator or the Statewide Shooting Range Manager. The application allows applicants to present up to three projects. For each project, applicants provide a title, brief description, requested funds, and club share through cash or labor. Detailed project information includes measurements and plans where applicable, drawings and designs, bids and estimates, area photographs, an aerial photograph showing the project location and equipment staging areas, other funding or partnerships, potentially negatively affected parties, and an explanation of how the project will create or enhance regional shooting opportunities. Federal compliance questions address structures, project coordinates, project acreage, environmental setting, supplies purchased with grant funds, machinery involved, ground disturbance, and contributions from range or organization members. Applications are competitively evaluated by Idaho Department of Fish and Game staff and the Citizen's Public Shooting Range Advisory Committee. Ranking considerations include whether a project increases general public accessibility, provides new or improved public-use opportunities, is well designed and practical at a reasonable cost, improves accessibility for mobility-impaired individuals, benefits Hunter Education programs, can be completed within the two-year grant cycle, can satisfy federal compliance requirements, remains within its original scope, and is supported by reasonable bids or estimates. The Advisory Committee reviews applications in January and February 2027, with recommended projects presented to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Director and Commission for approval from March through May 2027. Projects are then submitted to federal grant managers for review in June and July 2027. Fine and Forfeiture grants are expected to be disbursed in July and August 2027, while federal compliance review may continue from September 2027 through spring 2028. Grant funding is provided after required approvals, and the grant operates on a reimbursement basis for applicable expenses paid by the grantee. Grantees have up to two years to complete projects, with completed projects subject to inspection by regional Idaho Department of Fish and Game staff. The final report must document how grant funds were spent and include copies of invoices for purchased materials or contractor-completed work; before-and-after photographs are also beneficial when appropriate. The program identifies June 1 as the deadline for project completion and final reporting. Applicants selected for federally funded projects will be notified if a Unique Entity ID is required. The primary statewide contact is Sarah VanAcker, Statewide Shooting Range Manager, at sarah.vanacker@idfg.idaho.gov or 208-287-2848.

Demonstrate how the project increases general public access and provides new or improved shooting opportunities. Clearly address accessibility for mobility-impaired individuals and usefulness for Hunter Education programs where applicable. Present a practical, well-designed project with reasonable bids and estimates. Provide detailed federal compliance information, including precise project location, acreage, environmental setting and ground disturbance. Keep the proposed work within its original scope and demonstrate that it can be completed within the two-year grant cycle. Do not contract project work to board members or directors of the applicant organization.