40th Anniversary of National Hunting and Fishing Day This Saturday
OutdoorHub Reporters 09.19.12
Organizations nationwide are gearing up for this weekend’s commemoration of hunters and fishers everywhere. This Saturday, September 22 is National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF). What better way to celebrate the opening of various fall hunting seasons with fellow enthusiasts than a weekend hunting- or fishing-focused event?
The holiday was created by Congress in 1972 and signed into law by then-President Richard Nixon. It’s a celebration meant to raise awareness of the conservation contributions of hunters and anglers nationwide.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has been involved with the event since its inception. A press release (pdf) for NHF describes the large contribution sportsmen and women make every year to America’s wildlife.
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.
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.
Watch a PSA with Tony Stewart below supporting the Wildlife and Sport Fishing Restoration Program and NHF.
httpv://youtu.be/WtZwxGVOC0w
Organizations that are sponsoring the event or are somehow involved as a partner include:
- Yamaha
- Realtree
- Bass Pro Shops
- Sportsman Channel
- Pope and Young
- Ducks Unlimited
- North American Fishing Club
- GunBroker.com
- North American Hunting Club
Visit www.nhfday.org to see what events are taking place in your area.
