Page 7 - Sept/Oct 2020 Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine
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NATIONAL DAY HONORS CONSERVATION HERITAGE
National Hunting and Fishing life resources. Through the pur-
Day celebrates the time-honored chase of license sales, duck stamps,
traditions of hunting, angling, and excises taxes on outdoor gear,
and the immense conservation firearms, ammunition, archery
and economic contributions equipment, fishing tackle, motor-
made over time by sportsmen boat fuel, and other hunting and
and sportswomen. As the origi- angling-related items, money spent
nal conservationists, sportsmen by sportsmen and sportswomen is
and sportswomen have been the deposited into a dedicated fund
greatest funders and supporters to only be used for conservation,
of science-based wildlife man- creating the American System of
agement through the American Sept. 26, 2020 Conservation Funding.
System of Conservation Funding, In the United States, more than
a unique “user pays, public bene- 53 million sportsmen and sports-
fits” structure that serves as the main funding mechanism for women work tirelessly to protect and promote our sporting
state fish and wildlife agencies like the Oklahoma Department heritage and natural resources. In 1972, the U.S. Congress
of Wildlife Conservation. and President Richard Nixon established National Hunting
Such agencies are the primary managers of our fish and wild- and Fishing Day, recognizing generations of sportsmen and
sportswomen for their contributions to the con-
servation of our nation’s rich sporting heritage
and natural resources.
Since its inception, governors from all 50 states
and more than 600 mayors have proclaimed state
and local versions of National Hunting and Fishing
Day. In doing so, they have promoted over 3,000
hunting and fishing related events, hosting more
than 4 million participants.
National Hunting and Fishing Day is cele-
brated on the fourth Saturday of September.
By encouraging participation and increasing
public awareness of the connection between
hunting, angling, and conservation, the goal is
to recruit new hunters and anglers, resulting in
continued funding for science-based fish and
wildlife management.
National Hunting and Fishing Day remains
the most prominent occasion for promoting
America’s hunting and angling traditions,
and the economic and conservation benefits
provided by sportsmen and sportswomen.
National Hunting and Fishing Day proc-
lamations, resolutions, and celebrations
increase awareness and participation in these
activities, which helps safeguard funding for
conservation throughout the nation.
(Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation)
If you hunt, shoot or fish, thank you! Help
spread the word about National Hunting and
Fishing Day by using #HuntShootFish and pledge
to take someone hunting, fishing or shooting this
year. To take the pledge and maybe win a prize, go
to www.nhfday.org/pledge.
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