Alaska school districts have until Sept. 18 to seek hunter education grants

Alaska school districts have until 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, to apply for state hunter education grants of up to $50,000 each, with $500,000 available for fiscal 2027 from the Department of Education and Early Development.

The federal Department of Education has determined schools sponsoring hunter education and similar outdoor-skills programs could be ineligible for federal funds under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Congress amended that law in October 2023 to exempt hunting and shooting sports.

Fifteen districts received awards last year. The money trains adult instructors through Fish and Game's Hunter Education program and pairs a six-to-eight-hour online course and written test with a four-to-five-hour field day at a range, including proficiency on a .22 caliber rifle or air rifle.

DEED plans award notices Oct. 2, an appeal period ending Oct. 16 and final grants Oct. 17. The grant period runs through June 30, 2027, with a final report due June 28, 2027.