Every year, on the fourth Saturday of September, millions of Americans celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day. This day highlights the importance of outdoor sports and the role they play in conservation efforts. Did you know that hunters and anglers play a huge role in protecting our natural environment? Every year, they contribute billions of dollars through licenses, permits, and special taxes. This money goes directly toward managing wildlife habitats, protecting endangered species, and maintaining the beautiful natural spaces we all enjoy.
In other words, National Hunting and Fishing Day isn’t just about enjoying the outdoors—it’s about recognizing the important connection between these activities and the ongoing efforts to conserve our environment for future generations.
The History of National Hunting and Fishing Day
National Hunting and Fishing Day was established to recognize the vital role that hunters and anglers play in conserving our nation’s wildlife. The idea was first proposed in the early 1970s by Ira Joffe, a Pennsylvania gun shop owner. His vision caught the attention of outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists, leading to the day’s official proclamation by President Richard Nixon in 1972. The inaugural celebration took place on September 23, 1972, marking the beginning of a tradition that has grown stronger every year.
When Is National Hunting and Fishing Day?
National Hunting and Fishing Day is always celebrated on the fourth Saturday in September, which means that the date changes every year. To help you, we have created this table listing the dates for the upcoming years:
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2024 | September 28, Saturday |
| 2025 | September 27, Saturday |
| 2026 | September 26, Saturday |
| 2027 | September 25, Saturday |
| 2028 | September 23, Saturday |
| 2029 | September 22, Saturday |
| 2030 | September 28, Saturday |
5 Fun Facts About National Hunting and Fishing Day
A lot of people love spending time outdoors, and National Hunting and Fishing Day is the perfect time to celebrate that passion. But there are also a lot of fun facts to learn about this day! These fun and fascinating facts are sure to reel you in and make you appreciate this special day even more:
- Hunters and anglers contribute over $1.5 billion annually to wildlife management through licenses, taxes, and fees, funding a significant portion of state wildlife agencies.
- The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, also known as the Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937, was one of the first programs to use funds from hunting to support conservation, showing a long-standing connection between the two.
- The hashtag #NationalHuntingAndFishingDay has been used in 5,932 posts on Instagram as of August 2024. The shorter hashtag, #HuntingAndFishingDay, has been used in 626 Instagram posts.
- Bowhunting, fly fishing, and even bird watching are popular activities associated with the day, showing that it’s about more than just traditional hunting and fishing.
- Many outdoor retailers and conservation groups offer special promotions, discounts, and events to encourage participation on this day.
7 Ideas for Celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day
Many people who learn about National Hunting and Fishing Day are eager to find ways to celebrate, so we’ve put together a list of seven ideas for enjoying this day the way it is supposed to be enjoyed:
- The most obvious way to celebrate is obviously by heading out to your favorite spot for some fishing or hunting. Grab your gear and enjoy the day doing what it’s all about—outdoor fun!
- Introduce someone new to the joys of hunting or fishing. Teaching a friend or family member is a great way to share your passion and pass on the traditions.
- Check out what’s happening near you! Many communities host events like fishing derbies, workshops, and conservation activities in honor of National Hunting and Fishing Day.
- Spend the day visiting a wildlife refuge or conservation area. Take time to appreciate the habitats that hunters and anglers help protect, and you might even spot some wildlife in action.
- Share your outdoor adventures on social media! Use hashtags like #NationalHuntingAndFishingDay and #HuntingAndFishingDay to spread the word and inspire others to get involved.
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendar 2025 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
