Oconee County’s South Cove County Park near Seneca will again be celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day this fall, with a FREE family event which is open to the public.
Learn the basics of fishing: how to bait a hook and cast a line into the lake! Shoot an air-rifle, learn the basics of archery, fly-tying and fly fishing. All gear is provided!
Visit the exhibits set up by SC Department of Natural Resources, Trout Unlimited, SC Wildlife Federation, the US Forest Service, 4-H shooting sports and other organizations and agencies to learn more about the natural world and the resources available for recreation and education.
Bring your lunch and spend the day or purchase lunch from one of the vendors that will be on site. Many families come at 9 and spend the day with us – there is so much to see and do!!
All Free and no gear needed!!
“National Hunting and Fishing Day remains the most effective grassroots efforts ever undertaken to promote outdoor sports and conservation,” said Angela Viney of Spartanburg, 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.”
National Hunting and Fishing Day is made possible by partnerships with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), Oconee County Parks and Recreation, Trout Unlimited, Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, S.C. 4-H Shooting Sports and the Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund.
For directions and information, call South Cove County Park at (864) 882-5250 or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/southcovecountypark.
SCWF Staff Contact: BeBe Dalton Harrison, Director of Education
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.
On May 2, 1972, 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.” By late summer, all 50 governors and more than 600 mayors had joined in by proclaiming state and local versions of National Hunting and Fishing Day. The response was dramatic.
National Hunting and Fishing Day promotes the contributions of hunters and anglers to conservation. It is traditionally held the fourth Saturday in September. For more information, visit www.nhfday.org.
Photos from SCDNR & NHFD.org