Ducks Unlimited Set to Sponsor National Hunting and Fishing Day
Ducks Unlimited 07.27.12
Ducks Unlimited is a new sponsor of National Hunting and Fishing Day, the official federal commemoration of hunters, anglers and conservation.
NHF Day continues to grow and reach new outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen each year with the continued support of generous sponsors. Through licenses, permits and special taxes, hunters and anglers generate $100,000 every 30 minutes—totaling more than $1.75 billion per year—for fish, wildlife and habitat. No one contributes more for conservation.
NHF Day is set to take place Sept. 22, 2012.
The sponsorship by NSSF supports the Wonders of Wildlife museum—the official home of National Hunting and Fishing Day. The Springfield, Mo., facility oversees educational initiatives to help the American public understand the indelible relationship between hunting, angling, healthy habitat, and wildlife and fisheries conservation.
Each year National Hunting and Fishing Day chooses an honorary chairperson, and this year NASCAR Sprint Cup driver/owner Tony Stewart is serving in that capacity and will deliver the message of NHF Day.
As the driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Stewart has won 12 driving championships, including three Sprint Cup Series titles, in a career spanning more than three decades.
Stewart is a champion off the racetrack as much as he is on, and has been recognized for his philanthropic efforts via his Tony Stewart Foundation, which raises funds for distribution to three specific groups – chronically ill children, drivers injured in motorsports activities, and organizations dedicated to the protection of various animal species.
“Ducks Unlimited is committed to conserving critical waterfowl habitat across North America, and the success of this mission would not be possible without DU’s dedicated base of more than 1 million volunteers, members and other supporters, the vast majority of whom are hunters, anglers and outdoorsmen,” said DU CEO Dale Hall. “We are honored to support National Hunting and Fishing Day and to commemorate the important contributions of sportsmen to America’s economy and outdoor heritage.”
In 1972, Congress formalized NHF Day to remind the public that conservation depends on funding and leadership from hunters and anglers. Every president from Richard Nixon through Barack Obama has issued official proclamations of support for the annual commemoration, now recognized as one of the most effective grassroots campaigns ever undertaken to promote traditional outdoor sports.
“National Hunting and Fishing Day is thrilled to have Ducks Unlimited as a sponsor,” said Misty Mitchell, Director of Conservation Programs, Wonders of Wildlife. “They have proven themselves as strong advocates for conservation and their support for NHF Day reinforces these beliefs. We look forward to working with them in years to come.”
Ducks Unlimited was built on the bedrock of conserving wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. Established in 1937 by a small group of sportsmen with big dreams for the future of waterfowl populations and America’s great outdoors, DU is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year with a host of special events, conservation projects and programs across the country, as well as sponsoring important events such as NHF Day.
The growing list of sponsors for NHF Day 2012 includes Wonders of Wildlife, NSSF, Bass Pro Shops, Smith & Wesson, North American Media Group Inc., Sportsman’s Channel, Realtree, GunBroker.com, Yamaha, Pope and Young Club, Ducks Unlimited and the Izaak Walton League of America.
For more information about NHF Day, visit www.nhfday.org.
