FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 17, 2025
Contact: Emily Iehl, DNR Hunting & Shooting Sports Program Specialist
[email protected] or 608-445-8168

DNR Accepting Grant Applications To Build Hunting Community

Applications Due Sept. 15

Grants are available for projects that teach people hunting skills. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting applications for the Hunter Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation (R3) Grant Program.

The Hunter R3 Grant supports projects that promote awareness, understanding and participation in safe, ethical hunting and hunting-related outdoor skills for anyone who wants to learn. These skills offer individuals a unique connection with nature and wildlife and foster confidence and comfort in wild places.

Past grant recipient projects included archery range upgrades for urban after-school clubs, start-up costs for scholastic clay target teams and 4-H shooting sports programs, support for hunting-related expos focusing on recruiting new or underserved audiences, Learn to Hunt programs and the purchase of outdoor wheelchairs and other equipment for public use.

A total grant pool of $75,000 is available. Individual grant awards are typically limited to $25,000. These cost-sharing funds can be awarded to individuals or community-based organizations, Wisconsin tribes, universities and schools.

The grant is a sub-award of federal Pittman-Robertson Act funds and is administered as a reimbursement program.

The deadline to submit grant applications is 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 15, 2025. Applicants should plan to start projects approximately one year from the application deadline.

Learn more and apply on the DNR’s Hunter R3 Grant Program webpage.