National Hunting and Fishing Day was established by Congress in 1972 to recognize hunters and anglers for their contributions to wildlife conservation.

This year, National Hunting and Fishing Day will be held on Saturday, Sept. 25. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is hosting or partnering with other organizations on some free events to provide the opportunity for people of all experience levels to learn about or enhance their knowledge of the great outdoors and outdoor recreation pursuits. Events this year are:

Phoenix

National Hunting and Fishing Day Celebration at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, Saturday, Sept. 25, 8 a.m. to noon. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is hosting a family friendly, hands-on event where kids and adults can:

• Shoot a bow and arrow
• Shoot an air rifle
• Learn to cast a fishing pole
• Learn how to identify wild animals
• See live wildlife up close
• Learn about conservation
• Win prizes and more.

To access the festivities, take I-17 to Carefree Highway and go west on Carefree Highway for 1.5 miles to Archery Drive (traffic light that is located about 1.5 miles west of I-17). Turn right and follow the signs to the FITA archery range.

For more details on this event, click here.

Flagstaff

Informational booth at Big 5 Sporting Goods, Saturday, Sept. 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Arizona Game and Fish Department will have an informational table with materials and staff to answer questions on hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation opportunities. Located at 2775 Woodlands Village Blvd., Flagstaff.

Tucson

Kids fishing event at Sportsman's Warehouse, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25-26. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering children age 12 and younger the chance to fish for free (catch-and-release for bluegills) from a giant tank in the parking lot of Sportsman’s Warehouse, located at 3945 Costco Drive in Tucson. The fishing runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 26. Game and Fish will also offer free Global Positioning System (GPS) loading and predator calling demonstrations.

About National Hunting and Fishing Day

Going back to the late 1800s, hunters and anglers were among the first conservationists to realize that expanding civilization and unregulated market hunting were causing serious wildlife population declines, threatening the sustainability of many species. Their efforts to change that situation helped pave the way for today’s science-based systems of wildlife management, where regulated hunting/fishing and habitat management programs have restored and maintained sustainable wildlife populations for all to enjoy.

National Hunting and Fishing Day was established by Congress in 1971 to recognize hunters and anglers for their contributions to wildlife conservation.

Today’s wildlife conservation efforts are funded largely by the money that hunters and anglers spend on license fees, as well as the excise taxes that hunters and anglers pay on certain types of outdoor recreational equipment such as firearms, ammunition and fishing gear. These monies support wildlife conservation programs, habitat acquisition, and outdoor recreation opportunities in Arizona and throughout the country.

To recognize the contributions that hunters and anglers have made to wildlife conservation, legislation was introduced in 1971 and passed in 1972 to designate the fourth Saturday of every September as National Hunting and Fishing Day.

For more information, visit www.nhfday.org.