Local Sportsmen's Group Grant Program is a grant from the Arizona Game and Fish Department that funds projects promoting wildlife conservation through hunter, angler, shooter, and trapper recruitment and retention. Created in 2007, the program awards competitive grants to local sportsmen's groups for progressive skills programs that develop participants across beginner to experienced levels of hunting and fishing.

Projects must align with recruitment, retention, and reactivation goals and involve the pursuit or harvest of fish or wildlife. Approximately $75,000 is available annually, with applications due July 8, 2026.

## Helping Sportsmen’s Groups Fund Projects Created in 2007, the Local Sportsmen’s Group (LSG) grant is to help local sportsmen’s groups fund projects that promote wildlife conservation through hunter, angler, shooter and trapper recruitment and retention through a competitive application process each year. Local Sportsmen’s Group Grant Program focus, overview and funding information. See contact below for details.

### Grant cycle and program information **FY2026 Local Sportsmen’s Group grant applications will be accepted starting May 15, 2025** **_The deadline to apply is 11:59 p. m. MST (AZ time), Sunday, June 29, 2025.

_** Instructions, information and optional application #### Grant focus FY26: Hunter or Angler Recruitment/ Development via Progressive Skills Programs Hunter or Angler Development and Retention through Progressive Skills Programs.

The Local Sportsmen’s Group grants program places priority on projects that align with event types 2, 3, 4, & 5 that involve the pursuit, or harvest of fish or wildlife with a license/ tag, and are designed for and target participants who have the appropriate experience and skills relevant to the event.

Event Types: AZGFD / OSN / FAN / LSG designed five categories to improve recruitment, retention and reactivation programs by providing the participant a better understanding of which event is best suited based on their skill level, as follows: 1. (for ref only) Introductory: No hunting or pursuit of wildlife, shooting lessons, instructional, typically 1-day activity. 2.

Beginner: Basic take of wildlife, 1-day event, pass shooting, species include dove, ducks, and squirrel. 3. Developing: Pursuit of wildlife, overnight events, remote locations, species include quail, rabbits, predator, javelina and turkey.

4. Intermediate: Pursuit of more challenging species, deer, elk, stalking, remote locations, overnight and lots of field time. 5.

Experienced: Minimal mentoring & resources, base camps or meet ups, self-supported by attendees at a designated camping area and event date. 1. (for ref only) Introductory – Non-live fishing events, classroom, lessons, demonstrations, practice, equipment, casting practice, types of knots and tackle setups, species info, biology, habitats, etc. 2.

Beginner – Beginner fishing events, equipment provided, basic reel and tackle combos, instruction, catching fish, cleaning fish, cooking fish, locally area waters, other outdoor recreation activities. 3.

Developing – Progressive fishing using your equipment, streams, rivers and lakes near local areas, advanced tackle, lures and casting, where to fish, when and why, different fish species and approaches, cleaning / filleting fish, cooking as well as catch and release techniques and ethics. 4.

Intermediate – Mountain water fishing, advanced casting, equipment and tackle, more challenging / rarer fish species, use of watercraft (boats, kayaks, canoes, float tubes) trolling, specialty baits and lures. 5. Experienced – Remote fishing location, unique / rare destinations, specialty species, challenges, tournaments, using electronics, watercraft, advanced fishing experiences.

Record of Applicant List Local Sportsmen’s Group Grant Program from FY2025 AZGFD continues to evolve this grant program for the best results by incorporating the latest national science in Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation (R3), Adoption Sequence, partnership building, and through review and evaluation.

Key elements related to R3 are: right audience, progressive events, providing continued engagement / support, partnership models, collecting customer data, evaluation and improvement. There is no cost to Arizona taxpayers for the Local Sportsmen’s Group grant program. Game and Fish does not receive any of the state’s general funds and operates on a user-pay, public-benefit model.

The Local Sportsmen’s Group grant program is an investment in the continuance of wildlife conservation efforts and outdoor recreation participation in Arizona and funded through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, permit-tags and stamps. ### how much grant funding is available?

The Arizona Legislature and the Arizona Game and Fish Commission determine how much money is available each year, typically, $75,000 is available each Fiscal Year (July 1 – June 30). Applicants may apply for single or multiple grants; more than one grant may be awarded to the same group and must be stand-alone projects. The Arizona Game and Fish Department may partially fund project(s) at its discretion.

The grant is an annual program. It typically coincides with the State’s new Fiscal Year, which begins July 1. When that grant cycle opens, it will be posted on the Department’s website and announced and the application will become available.

Application window is a minimum of six weeks. To be eligible for the Local Sportsmen’s Group Grants applicants must meet the following requirements. Applications that do not meet these criteria will be rejected.

Be a not-for-profit, non-commercial, local, Arizona-based, or Arizona-chapter of national sportsmen’s / outdoor development group / organizations. The project must meet the current Funding Window. The project must be related to hunter, angler, shooter, trapper, recruitment, retention, reactivation – and specifically related to the annual Funding Window.

The project must be conducted in Arizona and open to Arizona’s public. The project must register participants using the Department’s free online registration system. The project must collect survey information using the Department’s online survey tool.

The project must be completed before before June 30 of the fiscal funding year. The applicant must register in ProcureAZ at https://procure. az.

gov or call 602 542-7600. The applicant must obtain, and submit a certificate of general liability insurance coverage including sexual abuse and molestation insurance (S. A.

M. I.) to the Department prior to signing the grant agreement to receive funding.

#### What types of projects are eligible to receive grant funds? The project must be related to hunter, angler, shooter, trapper, recruitment, retention, and / or reactivation. Specific Funding Window Focus priorities can change from year to year depending on objectives and priorities for the program and will be outlined in the annual application packet.

Grant dollars cannot be used for activities such as group banquets, raffle prizes, hunting competitions, for-profit projects, or for the purchase of hunting or fishing licenses, tags or stamps. Capital equipment investments and pilot educational projects are typically not funded. ### How are grant awards determined?

Grant applications are scored by a panel of at least three department employees according to how well the proposed project meets the funding window priority and scoring criteria, which are listed in the grant application packet. The Arizona Game and Fish Department Director will approve final awards. Local Sportsmen’s Group Grant Administrator dburt@azgfd.

gov, 623-236-7487 ## Outdoor Skills & FishAZ Networks and Other Grants ### Outdoor skills & Fishaz networks Groups that apply for the Local Sportsmen’s Group Grant Program are encouraged to join the Outdoor Skills and/or the FishAZ Networks (OSN and FAN respectively). The OSN and FAN are collaborative partnerships with local conservation groups that are dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and their recreational pursuits.

The primary approach of OSN and FAN for assuring wildlife conservation is through hands-on, skill development, mentored, in the field experiences, events, activities and informative programs. ### events, projects and activities If you’re interested in attending an event funded by the Local Sportsmen’s Group Grant program, visit the Outdoor Skills or FishAZ Network program page.

Both are filled with events, opportunities, projects and activities that are hosted by our dedicated partners to help you learn the ins and outs of hunting, fishing, trapping, shooting and conservation. * Outdoor Skills Network – www. azgfd.

gov/outdoorskills * FishAZ Network – www. azgfd. gov/fishaz Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation: The Wildlife Conservation Fund from the conservation license plate program is a grant program open to 501c3 organizations for the purpose of habitat projects deemed beneficial for all species of wildlife in Arizona, wildlife conservation education, and hunter/ angler recruitment activities.

For information, visit https://azsfwc. org/grant-information ## Want to Go Hunting in Arizona? Find ways to experience big game and small game hunting or find a mentored hunt camp.

### buy your hunting license Arizona residents and non-residents 10 years and older need a valid hunting license to hunt in Arizona. ### find a mentored hunt camp The award-winning Outdoor Skills Network is your source for hands-on, learn-to-hunt events. view the outdoor skills page