Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 55

CURRENTS
National Hunting and Fishing Day Recognized
The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) joined
with other fish and wildlife conservation agencies across
the country to recognize Saturday, September 25, 2021, as
National Hunting and Fishing Day!
" It's hard to imagine Pennsylvania without the full slate of
hunting, trapping, and fishing opportunities it provides, " said
Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans. " It's
part of the very fabric of our Commonwealth, and on National
Hunting and Fishing Day, we all can reflect on the importance
of conservation and celebrate spending time in the Great
Outdoors. With millions of acres of public land to hunt and
trap, and 86,000 miles of streams and 4,000 lakes and ponds
to fish, opportunity is around every corner. And, with hunting
opportunities ramping up, there's no better time to take part. "
" Pennsylvania is second-to-none when it comes to yearround
fishing opportunities and the variety of ways to enjoy
the outdoors, " said Timothy Schaeffer, PFBC Executive
Director. " There is truly something for everyone, whether
you enjoy casting a line on your favorite wild or stocked trout
stream, motoring or paddling on our beautiful rivers and
lakes for big bass, testing your skill with steelhead or muskies,
or the solitude of ice fishing on a frozen lake in winter.
Pennsylvanians are passionate about their long-standing
fishing traditions, and this day serves to motivate us even
more, to protect, conserve, and enhance our aquatic resources
for future generations to enjoy. "
To commemorate National Hunting and Fishing Day,
Burhans and Schaeffer recorded a joint video message, which
is shared on each agency's website and social media platforms.
The video can also be viewed at www.youtube.com/
watch?v=TS6Vfi59NMo
A proclamation from Governor Tom Wolf recognizing
Hunting and Fishing Day in Pennsylvania stated that " Hunting
and angling offer participants an opportunity to connect with
nature on a personal level while simultaneously providing
food security, a sense of self-sufficiency, and both mental and
physical health benefits. "
The Governor's proclamation also recognized that
" To this day, the Game Commission and Fish and Boat
Winter
Fishing
is Here!
www.fishandboat.com
www.fishandboat.com
Commission are funded primarily by sportsmen and
women, through this American System of Conservation
Funding: a user pays-public benefits approach that is widely
recognized as the most successful model of fish and wildlife
management in the world. "
Wolf credited the state's hunters, trappers, and anglers
as being among the first in the nation to support the
establishment of fish and wildlife conservation agencies
and pioneering a self-imposed federal excise tax on
hunting, fishing, and boating equipment to raise additional
conservation funds. The proclamation recognized that more
than 1.4 million Pennsylvania hunters and anglers contribute
to the state's economy through more than $1.5 billion in
annual spending, and support more than 24,000 jobs, creating
$181 million in state and local taxes.
The PGC and PFBC makes it easy for individuals and
families to get involved in hunting and fishing through a
wealth of programs, educational resources, and tools for
connecting with local lands and waters available at
www.pgc.pa.gov and www.fishandboat.com.
To purchase a Pennsylvania hunting or fishing license,
customers can visit either the PGC or PFBC website to connect
to the HuntFishPA licensing system (huntfish.pa.gov) or visit
more than 700 retail license issuing agents.
National Hunting and Fishing Day was established by
Congress in 1971. For more information, visit www.nhfday.org.
Clean Your Gear!
Before leaving a waterway, check for and remove
any aquatic life (plants and animals),
mud, and other organic debris.
For more information, visit www.fishandboat.com/AIS.htm
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * November/December 2021
55
photo-Andrea Feeney

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS6Vfi59NMo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS6Vfi59NMo http://www.pgc.pa.gov http://www.fishandboat.com http://huntfish.pa.gov http://www.nhfday.org http://www.fishandboat.com http://www.fishandboat.com/AIS.htm http://www.fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021