Vermont Fish & Wildlife has received $80,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife Restoration Program, which is funded by federal excise taxes on hunting and shooting equipment. Grants will be made available for shooting range upgrades to enhance their safety and operation.
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Shooting Range Improvement Grant program seeks applications from clubs and government agencies involved in the operation of shooting ranges, including archery ranges, until 4:30 p.m. on March 15. The grant period begins July 1, 2018.
Eligible projects include shooting range redevelopment, noise abatement structures, safety berms, shooting benches, overhead shelters, and the construction or improvement of access roads and parking lots. Grant money may also be used for lead mitigation, such as recycling, reducing range floor surface drainage or liming range property.
Ranges that receive one of these grants must provide at least 20 hours of public use per month of operation and be open at reasonable times for hunter education courses.
