SPRINGFIELD, Missouri – The rich tradition of hunting, target shooting and fishing will be on full display for National Hunting and Fishing Day on Sept. 26, celebrating the conservation efforts of sportsmen and women everywhere.
The annual event recognizes hunters and anglers for their decades-long leadership in funding wildlife and conservation efforts through self-imposed excise taxes and license fees. Since 1939, programs have collectively raised $65.1 billion for habitat restoration and public lands access so that all Americans can enjoy abundant wildlife and wild places.
The official home of National Hunting and Fishing Day is Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri. Created by noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris as a not-for-profit gift to sportsmen and women everywhere, the 350,000-square-foot experience celebrates those who hunt, fish and act as stewards of the land and water. Voted as “America’s Best Aquarium” by the readers of USA TODAY, the attraction welcomes millions of visitors each year and educates them about the critical role hunters and anglers play in conservation.
“National Hunting and Fishing Day is a day to recognize sportsmen and women for their dedication to conservation,” said Johnny Morris, noted conservationist and founder of Bass Pro Shops. “Without their efforts, so many of wildlife and special places we enjoy today would no longer be around. Today and every day, we salute them.”
Wonders of Wildlife is inviting sportsmen and women everywhere to get outdoors this weekend and share stories about why hunting and fishing matters to them using the hashtag #NHFDay.
Carrying the message to millions with Dude Perfect
The takeover will feature voices from across the industry including outdoor retailers, conservation organizations and some of the biggest names in hunting and fishing, including social media superstars Dude Perfect.
Known for their viral videos that have seen more than 9 billion views worldwide, the devoted sportsmen have been named NHF Day’s honorary chairs for 2020. Past honorary chairs for NHF Day include George Bush, Hank Williams Jr., Arnold Palmer, Bill Dance, Luke Bryan and Chris Janson. Dude Perfect will add their names to this impressive lineup by using their platform of 50 million fans and social media subscribers to promote NHF Day’s mission of inspiring the next generation to get outdoors and take up hunting, fishing and shooting sports.
“We enjoy hunting and fishing not only because we love outdoor adventure, but because hunters and anglers are America’s true conservation heroes – raising $100,000 every thirty minutes for wildlife and wild places,” said Tyler Toney, Dude Perfect co-founder. Their past viral Hunting Stereotypes and Fishing Stereotypes videos have amassed more than 150 million views on YouTube alone.
Sportsmen and women can show continued support by visiting NHFDay.org and taking the pledge to introduce someone new to hunting, fishing or target shooting in 2020, where they’ll be entered to win a trip to America’s Conservation Capital in Springfield, Missouri. The sweepstakes grand prize includes a VIP experience at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium and a shopping spree at Bass Pro Shops’ National Headquarters, to stock up on new gear for the next outdoor adventure.
Official partners for the 49th annual National Hunting and Fishing Day include Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Wonders of Wildlife, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Izaak Walton League of America, Yamaha, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Hook & Barrel Magazine. For information on becoming an official partner, visit www.nhfday.org.
About National Hunting and Fishing Day
Celebrated on the fourth Saturday of every September, National Hunting and Fishing (NHF) Day is the largest, most effective grassroots movement ever undertaken to promote outdoor sports and conservation. Enacted by Congress in 1971, the federally-recognized holiday brings together sportsmen and women from across America to celebrate the rich tradition of hunting, target shooting and fishing through organized local, state and national events aimed at introducing new audiences to the outdoors. NHF Day’s official home is at the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri. For more information, visit www.nhfday.org.
About Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium
Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium consists of an all-new 1.5-million-gallon Aquarium Adventure showcasing 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds, and immersive Wildlife Galleries that bring visitors eye-to-eye with the greatest collection of record-setting game animals ever assembled. Created by noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder/CEO Johnny Morris, the 350,000-square-foot experience celebrates those who hunt, fish, and act as stewards of the land and water. Located next to Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters in Springfield, Missouri the campus is a centerpiece of America’s Conservation Capital in Missouri’s Ozark Mountains. Wonders of Wildlife has been voted “Best New Attraction in America” and “America’s Best Aquarium” by the readers of USA TODAY. For more information, visit www.wondersofwildlife.org.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
