Eastern Washington Pheasant Habitat Enhancement Grant Program

Introduction

The 1997 Washington State Legislature passed Substitute Senate Bill 5104 creating the Washington Pheasant Enhancement Program in order to increase pheasant hunting opportunities. Under this law, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is authorized to release pheasants and award grants to improve pheasant habitat. To fund this program $10 from the small game license of each eastern Washington pheasant hunter is placed in a special account. Up to 20% of these funds may be used for pheasant habitat enhancement; approximately $50,000 will be available annually for habitat projects.

Who May Apply

Private landowners, nonprofit corporations, cooperative groups, and federal and state agencies.

Purpose

For pheasant habitat enhancement in areas that will be available for public hunting in Eastern Washington.

Eligibility For Funding

• Projects must benefit pheasant habitat in areas that will be available for public hunting.
• Project applications must include a Regulated Access Cooperative Agreement signed by the landowner that allows public access to the project site for hunting.
• Grant requests for a pheasant enhancement project can receive up to a maximum of $5,000 from this program in a given year.
• Grants are allowable without matching funds (in-kind or cash), however identified matching funds can significantly enhance project proposals in the evaluation process.
• Non-profit organizations must be registered with the Washington Secretary of State or Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c) corporation in Washington State.

Key Criteria

Grant applications should include the following key criteria:

• A statement on how the project provides a significant improvement in pheasant habitat.
• The project is located within the WDFW Primary Pheasant Management Zone.
• The project site is on land enrolled in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Conservation Reserve Program.
• A project site maintenance plan including the control of noxious weeds.
• Whether matching or in-kind funds are available and description of in-kind funds.
• Matching funds must be verified by a Letter of Commitment from partners.

When, Where And How To Apply For Grants

• Deadline for receipt of grant applications is December 31 of each year for grant funds available on July 1 of the following year.
• A review team consisting of staff from WDFW will evaluate and rank proposals using a scoring criteria that emphasizes location of project, type of access provided for hunting, the makeup of ideal pheasant habitat, food plot diversity, project cost and whether partnership matching is available or not.
• More information and application instructions/forms are available at WDFW Regional Offices in:

  Spokane 8702 N. Division St., Spokane, WA 99218-1199 (509) 892-1001	Yakima 1701 S 24th Ave., Yakima, WA 98902-5720 (509) 575-2740
  Ephrata 1550 Alder St. NW, Ephrata, WA 98823-9699 (509) 754-4624	Olympia 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501-1091 (360) 902-2515