The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Hunter Access Grant Program Thursday announced the results of the programs 2020 call for proposals and the three new projects that have been selected to receive $1.5 million in Pittman-Robertson funding through the Division of Wildlife Conservation. Project partners will contribute over half a million in non-federal match funds toward the new projects located in Fairbanks, Chugach State Park, and Oliver Inlet State Marine Park near Juneau.
These new Hunter Access grants will provide additional or improved opportunity and access to Alaska’s lands for hunting, trapping, and other wildlife related recreation. And now also includes recreational shooting range enhancements which are made possible through the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (Public Law No. 116-17). The largest grant awarded is approximately $1.3 million and will construct safety and education improvements at the Fairbanks North Star Borough’s Shooting Range in Fairbanks. This project will build and improve the protection berms of the 300-yard range in addition to other features that will expand capacity and improve safety at the facility. ADF&G is proud to support this project as recreational shooters contribute significantly to the federal funds that make this program possible.
Brian Charlton, Parks Projects Coordinator for Fairbanks North Star Borough said, “With this grant funding the Borough hopes to improve opportunities for hunter education and firearms training, improve range safety, and protect people recreating in the vicinity of the Shooting Range”.
Near Anchorage, the Alaska State Parks Eklutna Lake OHV Trailhead parking area has been awarded $180,000 and will undergo expansion to accommodate additional trucks and trailers. And on Admiralty Island, the Oliver Inlet Tram has been awarded $65,000 and will focus on safety and improving degraded sections of the tramway in need of repair. Together these two grants will provide significant benefits for hunters, trappers, and other wildlife related users in Southcentral and Southeast Alaska.
Rys Miranda, Chief of Design and Construction with the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation said “Alaska State Parks is looking forward to partnering with the Department of Fish and Game on these two projects. Both projects will benefit the hunting community by improving hunter access infrastructure at Eklutna Lake and Oliver Inlet. This is a great example of interagency commitment as we work together to provide quality access to Alaska’s great outdoors.”
ADF&G Hunter Access program funds come from federal excise taxes generated by the sale of firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment and are administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program. Local project partners also commit 25 percent match funds. For more information about ADF&G Division of Wildlife Conservation activities funded with Pittman-Robertson funding, or to learn about our grant program and sign up for updates, please visit our website www.hunteraccess.adfg.alaska.gov.
