DLNR Celebrates National Hunting and Fishing Day

National Hunting and Fishing Day is a country-wide day of recognition for sportsmen and women in wildlife conservation and restoration, hunter education, and shooting sports, held on Sept. 26.

Founded in 1972, National Hunting and Fishing Day also represents the one billion dollars contributed by hunters and anglers every year in the United States towards fish and wildlife conservation programs through the taxes on their sport-related purchases.

A 10.5-to-11 percent federal excise tax on the sale of firearms, handguns, ammunition, archery equipment, and accessories have been put in place for the past 78 years through the Pittman-Robertson Act, the American System of Conservation Funding. The taxes have resulted in contributions of $9.24 billion towards wildlife restoration projects, which includes an allocation to the states of $808 million in 2015.

“In Hawai’i, our version of National Hunting and Fishing Day is unique, in that it demonstrates that hunters and fishers also care about people,” said DLNR Chair Suzanne Case.

A formal event will be held Sept. 19 and 20 on Oahu at the Koko Head Shooting Complex.