September 28, 2026 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Saturday, September 26, the nation came together to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF Day), recognizing the contributions of America’s sportsmen and women and the critical role they have played in conserving the nation’s fish, wildlife, habitat, and outdoor heritage.
Established by Congress in 1971 and first observed in 1972, National Hunting and Fishing Day is celebrated annually on the fourth Saturday of September. For more than five decades, NHF Day has provided an opportunity to recognize the longstanding traditions of hunting and fishing while highlighting the significant economic and conservation contributions generated by America’s outdoor sporting community.
The 2026 observance held particular significance as the nation celebrated its 250th anniversary. The 250th anniversary provided an important opportunity to recognize the generations of sportsmen and women who helped shape that legacy and whose continued participation will help define conservation for the next 250 years.
Since 2015, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has worked with the Administration and governors to secure formal proclamations for National Hunting and Fishing Day. This year, CSF secured a presidential proclamation from President Donald Trump and 45 gubernatorial proclamations. These recognitions underscored the importance of hunting, fishing, and other outdoor sporting activities to conservation, local economies, and communities across the country.
“America’s 250th anniversary provided a meaningful opportunity to recognize the conservation legacy that sportsmen and women have helped build over generations,” said Taylor Schmitz, CSF Senior Vice President and COO. “Hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and trappers have consistently demonstrated their commitment to conserving our nation’s natural resources through their participation, financial contributions, and support for science-based wildlife management. National Hunting and Fishing Day allows us to recognize that record of stewardship while looking toward the work that remains ahead.”
Sportsmen and women continue to serve as the cornerstone of America’s conservation funding model through the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF). Through license fees, excise taxes, permits, stamps, and other direct contributions, hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, trappers, and the industries that support them generate billions of dollars for state-led fish and wildlife conservation and habitat management.
These investments support a broad range of conservation priorities, including wildlife research, habitat restoration, fisheries management, public access, population monitoring, and other programs that benefit wildlife, outdoor recreation, and communities nationwide. Participation in America’s outdoor traditions translates into meaningful, on-the-ground conservation outcomes that benefit both sportsmen and non-sportsmen.
National Hunting and Fishing Day recognizes these contributions while encouraging continued engagement in America’s outdoors. Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri, serves as the official home of National Hunting and Fishing Day, while Bass Pro Shops locations and conservation organizations across the country support events and activities that bring the celebration to communities nationwide.
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. For more information about the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s celebration of America’s 250th, click here.