Kentucky’s Sportsmen’s Caucus celebrates National Hunting

and Fishing Day

By Max Wise, 16th District Senator

As a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, I am proud to join like-minded sportsmen-legislators from across the nation in celebrating the 43rd National Hunting and Fishing Day on Saturday, September 26. In observance of this occasion, Governor 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.

Last year alone, Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson combined to contribute $19, 276,302 while hunting and fishing licenses brought an additional $29,581,559 to fund conservation and education efforts.

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.

Today we 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 .

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me so that I may better serve you in Frankfort. To voice your issues and concerns send me a message at 1-800-372-7181 or max.wise@lrc.ky.gov . Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

Senator Max Wise (R-Campbellsville) represents the 16th District which encompasses Adair, Clinton, Cumberland, McCreary, Russell, Taylor, and Wayne counties. Senator Wise serves as Chair of the Senate Enrollment Committee; Vice Chair of Education Committee; and a member of Appropriations and Revenue Committee; Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee; Health and Welfare Committee; and Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee. He also serves as chair of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation and member of Budget Review Subcommittee on Education, NR, and EP.