Zinke proclamation honors National Hunting and Fishing Month

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke recently proclaimed October as National Hunting and Fishing Month during a visit at the Wonders of Wildlife Museum in Springfield, Mo.

The Trump Administration has prioritized public access to federal lands for sportsmen and sportswomen to expand opportunities for all citizens to enjoy hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation across our nation.

“I am proud to designate the month of October as National Hunting and Fishing month” said Zinke said. “American hunters and anglers are the backbone of conservation efforts, generating over a billion dollars each year for conservation. For more than 150 years, sportsmen and women have led efforts to protect and conserve our Nation’s fish and wildlife. In an effort to serve as good neighbors and stewards of our public lands, the Department has opened millions of acres for hunting, and we are currently working to protect big game migration corridors. I call upon all Americans to join us in recognizing the lasting benefits hunters and anglers have provided our society through their time, tireless efforts, and financial resources.”

Hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities contributed more than $156 billion in economic activity in communities across the United States in 2016 according to the Service’s National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, published every five years.

More than 101 million Americans – 40 percent of the U.S. population 16 and older – pursue wildlife-related recreation – hunting, fishing and birding among others.