Alaska Fish & Wildlife News
January 2022

Hunter Access Program
Grant Funding Opportunities Available in 2022

Maud Road. Completed in 2019, improvements to Maud Road near Palmer included the road surface, drainage, and habitat rehabilitation

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Hunter Access Program has been hard at work in 2021. Some of our readers may recall our program’s article last year where we detailed our program and announced our selection of several new projects to receive federal grant funds. With much of the construction scheduled to begin in 2022, these three projects aim to develop and enhance access to hunting, trapping, shooting, and other wildlife-related recreation in Southeast, Southcentral, and Interior Alaska.

While we have made considerable progress with the pre-construction phases of these new projects, we have also been preparing and initiating our current application period, which began December 1st and closes March 1, 2022. Our program anticipates a minimum of $1.5 million in federal funds will be available this application period, with additional funds available over the next few years.

What projects are eligible?

Improvements to campgrounds have received funding, such as Moon Lake State Recreation Site near Tok.

Our program has a list of requirements that access projects must meet in addition to the applicant’s eligibility requirements. Most important of these is the necessary benefit to hunters, trappers, and shooters that make our program possible through Pittman-Robertson funds. Projects must also be located on public land and come with support from the land manager, as they will ultimately be responsible for the long-term maintenance for the duration of the design life.

Brushing and establishing a durable trail surface have been large components for this ongoing project in Denali State Park, slated to finish in 2022.

A diverse range of improvement types have received funding, including boat launches, parking lot expansions, bridges, trailhead signage, constructing or repairing trails, and more. Shooting ranges have recently made their way onto this list, with a noteworthy example being Fairbanks North Star Borough’s South Cushman Shooting Range. Selected for award in 2020, this project focuses on expanding capacity while improving safety on the range.

Who is eligible?

The Hunter Access Program partners with public and non-profit organizations that must be capable of providing the required 25% non-federal match. Since our program utilizes federal grant funds, eligible partners must also be eligible to do business with the Federal government and must have experience receiving federal awards and funding. If you or your organization are interested in eligibility requirements, please visit our grant application page for more information.

Still have questions?

Repairs are needed for Oliver Inlet’s tramway for light watercraft in Southeast Alaska.

For those who want more background information, a previous article by Katie Sechrist provides a breakdown of the Hunter Access program and how it works, including details on the Pittman-Robertson funds that make this program possible. Potential applicants can also visit our Grant Application webpage to find other relevant information, including our FAQ section.

Alaska State Parks received funding to increase parking lot capacity for trailers at the Eklutna Lake motorized trailhead.

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, where you can also find our latest survey.

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