On Saturday, September 27th, the nation came together for National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD) to honor America’s 55 million sportsmen and women for the remarkable role they play in conservation efforts across the country. Established by Congress in 1971 and first observed in 1972, NHFD is held every fourth Saturday in September to recognize our treasured outdoor traditions and to celebrate the many positive impacts sportsmen and women have on conservation, our economy, and society at large.

Since 2015, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has worked with the Administration and Governors to secure proper recognition for NHFD. This year, CSF broke a record in this decade-long charge, securing a presidential proclamation from President Donald Trump and 44 gubernatorial proclamations, alongside legislative recognition in New York, which formally recognized the day and its significance. The proclamations highlight not just the cultural legacy of hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation, but also the critical contributions to fish and wildlife conservation, habitat management, and rural economies from sportsmen and women.

“For nearly a century, America’s sportsmen and women have proudly shouldered the weight of funding conservation in this incredible country,” said CSF President and CEO Jeff Crane. “Their commitment to wildlife and habitat conservation isn’t just tradition; it’s leadership in action. Sportsmen and women invest time, money, and passion in a way that continues to shape the future of our natural resources for the better. That impact is profound and National Hunting and Fishing Day stands as a powerful tribute to honor it.”

Sportsmen and women are conservation, powering the most effective conservation funding model in the world - the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF). Through excise taxes, license fees, and other contributions from hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, trappers, and the industries that support them, billions of dollars have been invested into state-led wildlife conservation and habitat restoration. These dollars directly support fish and wildlife management efforts that benefit all Americans, not just those who hunt and fish.

National Hunting and Fishing Day honors this unmatched legacy, raising awareness about these vital contributions, while encouraging more people to experience the outdoors and take part in conservation through time-honored sporting traditions. Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, MO serves as the official home for National Hunting and Fishing Day and Bass Pro Shops across the country also host events.

For more information on National Hunting and Fishing Day, please visit www.NHFDay.org, and for a list of the proclamations that were issued this year please visit National Hunting and Fishing Day – Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.