LINCOLN – Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts signed a proclamation for Saturday, September 26 to be Hunting and Fishing Day in the state.
From the Governor’s Hearing Room in the Nebraska State Capitol, Governor Ricketts was joined by Greg Wagner, spokesperson for Nebraska Game & Parks; Scott Smathers, Nebraska Sportsmen Foundation executive director; Kevin Markt, longtime mentor in Nebraska’s Mentored Youth Archery Program and Jeff Kanger a graduate of the program along with being a board chair for the Nebraska Environment Trust. Other members present were outdoor enthusiasts.
Ricketts stated hunting and fishing is a big part of our culture.
“It’s a lot of who we are as Nebraskans and a lot of Nebraskans get out to be able to their kids,” said Ricketts. “Moms and dads take their kids to the blind or to the pond to be able to have that family together time and to be able to teach them the value of the great outdoors.”
National Hunting and Fishing Day is celebrated the fourth Saturday of every September. Hunting and fishing have an annual economic impact of over one billion dollars in Nebraska and support nearly 12,000 jobs in the state. Purchases of hunting and fishing permits also help fund the stewardship of Nebraska’s fish and wildlife.
Wagner talked more about hunting and fishing numbers.
“We have 74,000 new and reactivated anglers in Nebraska,” Wagner added. “We have surpassed the 10-year average for anglers in Nebraska. Our hunting numbers are trending the same way. Our deer permits have skyrocketed with sales. We are far ahead of last year and we’re seeing that with our hunting challenges as well.”
The signing of Tuesday’s proclamation for this weekend recognizes the contributions Nebraska’s sportsmen and women make to the state’s conservation efforts and economic well-being.
Interested Nebraskans can learn more about hunting and fishing opportunities in the state at outdoornebraska.gov.
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts will be in Grand Island on Thursday, September 24 during their annual Chamber Meeting before also giving remarks during a ground breaking ceremony on Friday, September 25. The event will be for the Camp Ashland Post Flood Recovery from the Camp Ashland Training Site.