National Hunting & Fishing Day

Annual free event to celebrate

Saturday, September 30, 2023

South Cove County Park

9:00am – 3:00pm

Kayaking
Lake Fishing
Archery
Air Rifle Shooting
Fly Tying/Casting
Live Wildlife and Artifacts
Camo Hide-and-Seek

For directions and information, call South Cove County Park at (864) 882-5250
or visit www.facebook.com/southcovecountypark.

What is it?

This celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day is traditionally held the fourth Saturday in September.

In Upstate South Carolina, National Hunting and Fishing Day is made possible by partnerships with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), Oconee County Parks, Recreation & Tourism, Trout Unlimited, Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, South Carolina 4-H Shooting Sports, Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, Duke Energy and the S.C. Wildlife Federation.

The day includes: activities such as archaeological displays, archery, air rifles, camouflage games, fly tying and casting, kayaking, fishing on Lake Keowee and much more. All activities are free, and all gear is provided.

“National Hunting and Fishing Day remains the most effective grassroots effort ever undertaken to promote outdoor sports and conservation,” said Angela Viney, chairwoman of the event. “We look forward to this event every year. It is a great opportunity for the community to come and enjoy the great outdoors in a safe, educational environment with family and friends.”

How a Good Idea Became a Great Tradition

More than 100 years ago, hunters and anglers were the earliest and most vocal supporters of conservation and scientific wildlife management. They were the first to recognize that rapid development and unregulated uses of wildlife were threatening the future of many species.

Led by fellow sportsman President Theodore Roosevelt, these early conservationists called for the first laws restricting the commercial slaughter of wildlife. They urged sustainable use of fish and game, created hunting and fishing licenses, and lobbied for taxes on sporting equipment to provide funds for state conservation agencies. These actions were the foundation of the North American wildlife conservation model, a science-based, user-pay system that would foster the most dramatic conservation successes of all time. Populations of white-tailed deer, elk, antelope, wild turkey, wood ducks and many other species began to recover from decades of unregulated exploitation.

National Hunting and Fishing Day was launched by Congress in 1971 as a day to recognize hunters and anglers and the importance of wildlife and conservation.  President Richard 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.” All 50 state governors and over 600 mayors from across the county joined in by proclaiming state and local versions of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the national sponsor of National Hunting and Fishing Day, and it promotes the contributions of hunters and anglers to conservation.

For more information, visit www.nhfday.org.