While visiting the Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced that October is officially recognized as National Hunting and Fishing Month.
During this administration, Secretary Zinke has made a point to focus on expanding public access on federal public lands, especially for hunting and angling activities.
“I am proud to designate the month of October as National Hunting and Fishing month,” said Secretary Zinke. “American hunters and anglers are the backbone of conservation efforts, generating over a billion dollars each year for conservation.”
Through the American System of Conservation Funding, sportsmen and women contribute the majority of funding for state fish and wildlife agencies – over $62.1 billion since 1939 – from excise taxes on their hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and boating-related purchases as well as hunting and angling licenses. Dedicating the month of October to hunting and fishing traditions recognizes the great contributions that sportsmen and women make to fish and wildlife conservation.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
