LANSING -- In recognition of the cultural and economic impact that hunters and anglers have on our state, State Representative Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard) today pushed to designate Sept. 22 as Hunting and Fishing Day in Michigan.
"Michigan residents – including myself -- have long honored the traditions of hunting and fishing," McDowell said. "We are blessed to live in an area offering us so many opportunities to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. We should set aside a day to celebrate the things that make us special."
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan is among the top states in the nation in almost every hunting category with more than 800,000 licensed hunters contributing $2 billion annually to our economy. One in every six Michigan residents is a registered hunter or angler. Sportsmen and women also create essential employment opportunities and support more than 33,000 jobs statewide.
President Richard Nixon signed the first proclamation recognizing a National Hunting and Fishing Day in 1972. Several states – although not Michigan – followed suit. McDowell today introduced a resolution calling on the Legislature to designate Sept. 22 as Hunting and Fishing Day in Michigan.
"Michigan is defined by its waters, forests and fields, and the bounty that lives in our air, land and water," McDowell said. "No state can lay a better claim to being a hunting and fishing paradise. Designating a Hunting and Fishing Day in Michigan will commemorate these great outdoor traditions and encourage citizens to enjoy them."