As a member of the Kentucky Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, I am proud to join like-minded legislators from across the nation in celebrating the 43rd National Hunting and Fishing Day this coming Saturday, Sept. 26. In observance of this occasion, Gov. Steve Beshear has proclaimed it to be Hunting and Fishing Day in Kentucky.
In celebrating this day, we recognize the time-honored traditions of hunting and angling, as well as the historical and current contributions of the original conservationists – hunters and anglers – in supporting sound, science-based fish and wildlife management.
Through purchasing licenses, tags and duck stamps, and by paying excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing tackle, motorboat fuel, and other hunting and fishing equipment, sportsmen and women drive conservation funding in the United States.
Collectively, these funding sources create the American System of Conservation Funding, a unique “user-pays, public-benefits” model. Authorized in 1937, the Pittman-Robertson Act – and later the Dingell-Johnson Act in 1950 and the Wallop-Breaux Amendment in 1984 – provide funds from excise tax revenue to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.
All Kentuckians benefit from these monies through improved access to public lands, public shooting facilities, improved water quality, habitat restoration and numerous other Kentucky Fish and Wildlife projects funded through this system.
In addition to the funds generated, the activities of the 713,000 Kentucky hunters and anglers support more than 35,000 jobs across the state.
Kentucky’s fish and wildlife resources would not be nearly as abundant without our sportsmen and women, nor would our economy be as vibrant.
The Kentucky Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus recognizes the contributions of sportsmen and women for conservation and the economy, and thanks the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife for their tireless efforts promoting hunting, angling, recreational shooting and trapping in our great state.
On Saturday, we will celebrate the many and varied benefits that hunting and angling provide for the Bluegrass State. Enjoy this special occasion, and take advantage of the vast opportunities to hunt and fish in Kentucky.
The outdoor traditions of hunting and angling should not be taken for granted, and opportunities to hunt and fish should continue to be abundantly available for future generations. More information on National Hunting and Fishing Day is available at http://www.nhfday.org/Page/Home.aspx.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Rep. Mike Denham, a Democrat from Maysville, has represented House District 70 (Bracken, Fleming and Mason counties) since 2001.