Celebrate U.S. National Hunting and Fishing Day

How Hunters and Anglers Helped Protect North American Wildlife

Sep 21, 2009

U.S. National Hunting and Fishing Day, held the fourth Saturday of every September, recognizes the contributions of hunters and anglers to wildlife conservation programs.

The day was proclaimed to celebrate hunter and angler conservationists who fought to enact science-based wildlife regulations at a time when the U.S.A. was at risk of losing its wild resources. The campaign was extremely effective and became the foundation of the North American Wildlife Conservation Model, a model which prevented wildlife from being lost forever and which to this day protects North American wildlife.

Market Hunting Threatened Wildlife to the Point of Extinction

When Europeans first settled North America, market hunting was unchecked. Abundant wildlife presented a false sense of limitless resources to settlers who sought to tame America. Wild game was harvested in mass quantity and supplied to urban restaurants. Birds, such as the Carolina parakeet, which is now extinct, were harvested in quantity to fill the growing demand for the feathers that adorned women’s hats popular in the day. Bison were often killed just for their hide or tongues. There were no game laws or wildlife agencies and there was no such thing as a conservation curriculum in universities. In short time, many wild species were extinct or on the brink of extinction.

Early Hunter Conservationists Fought to Protect Wildlife

From 1820 to about 1860 there was a grassroots revolution in how North Americans regarded wildlife. Unlike in Europe, hunting in America was enjoyed by people of all classes and not just the wealthy elite. A citizen activist movement emerged among a group of outspoken hunters and anglers who were dedicated to preserving our country’s wild resources. People realized that the protection of wildlife was integral to protecting the future of their nation, its quality of life and its hunting heritage. This fight to protect wildlife was extended to all wild species, not just to the popular game species of the day.

Early hunter conservationists who influenced the movement through their writings included George Perkins Marsh, George Bird Grinnell, William Herbert, Aldo Leopold and Teddy Roosevelt. Concurrently, nearly 500 citizen conservation groups emerged throughout North America. Publications such as Forest & Stream, later retitled Field & Stream, Outdoor Life and American Angling reflected the collective interest of hunter conservationists throughout the country.

Through the fight, game laws and regulations to protect wildlife were enacted by the government. Additionally, hunter conservationists willingly funded these conservation programs through the sale of hunting licenses, ammunition and sporting equipment.

The Seven Tenets of the North American Wildlife Conservation Model

There are seven basic tenets of wildlife conservation that emerged over time as a result of the hunter conservationist movement. These tenets collectively make up the North American Wildlife Conservation Model. The seven tenets are that:

On May 2, 1972, U.S. President Nixon signed the first proclamation of National Hunting and Fishing Day, writing, "I urge all citizens to join with outdoor sportsmen in the wise use of our natural resources and in insuring their proper management for the benefit of future generations." Within just a few months all 50 governors and over 600 mayors had joined in by proclaiming state and local versions of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

Celebrate Hunting Heritage and the Contributions of Sportsmen and Women

Hunting is a tradition that still provides conservation funding for the benefit of all who appreciate wildlife. Since 1939, sportsmen and women have contributed over $5.6 billion to fish, wildlife and habitat conservation programs. For millions of American families, hunting puts food on the table and it contributes significantly to rural economies across the country. Hunting and fishing continue to bring families together across generations and are privileges that deserve to be recognized.

The copyright of the article Celebrate U.S. National Hunting and Fishing Day in Hunting & Fishing is owned by Sue Melus. Permission to republish Celebrate U.S. National Hunting and Fishing Day in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.