MEMPHIS, Tenn. September 22, 2022 In 1972, President Richard Nixon declared the fourth Saturday of every September to be National Hunting and Fishing (NHF) Day, recognizing sportsmen and women for their contributions to the conservation of our nation's rich sporting heritage and natural resources. NHF Day celebrates its 50th anniversary this Saturday, September 24th.

Hunters and anglers often experience the closest connection with the outdoors and are considered among the greatest conservationists, as evidenced by their outsized contributions to conserving wildlife habitat.

Established in 1937 the same year DU was founded the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, now commonly known as the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, requires manufacturers to pay an excise tax on firearms and ammunition which is passed on to hunters through the purchase of their products. Since its inception, the law has generated more than $15 billion for wildlife conservation, including $1.1 billion in 2022 alone.

Similarly, the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act was established in 1950. The law, modeled after Pittman-Robertson, taxes fishing and boating equipment and distributes revenue to states. In fiscal year 2022, over $399 million was distributed to states under this program.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), outdoor recreation makes up 2.1 percent of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), generating $788 billion in gross output and supporting 5.2 million jobs.

"85 years after our founding, Ducks Unlimited is proud to once again support and celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day in its 50th year," said DU CEO Adam Putnam. "We have a deep appreciation for Bass Pro Shops, Wonders of Wildlife and all our partners that help keep our outdoor heritage alive and well for future generations. No one gives back to the outdoors more than sportsmen and women, and that's what makes the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation the most successful in the world. Whether you prefer to spend your time afield or afloat, get outside and join us in celebrating this special 50th anniversary of National Hunting and Fishing Day!"

Sponsors of NHF Day include Ducks Unlimited, Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas, Wonders of Wildlife, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Izaak Walton League of America, National Wild Turkey Federation, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and Boone and Crocket Club.

In honor of the 50th anniversary, Rep. Tom Emmer (MN-06) introduced a resolution officially recognizing NHF Day in the U.S. House of Representatives.

To learn more, visit the NHF Day website here.

For more information about Ducks Unlimited, visit www.ducks.org, and be sure to Follow DU's Twitter feed @DucksUnlimited and @DUConserve to get the most up-to-date news from Ducks Unlimited.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world 's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 15 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.

Media Contact:
Parker Williams
(202) 621-1646
pwilliams@ducks.org