National Hunting and Fishing Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service states Congress established the observance in 1972 and it is celebrated on the fourth Saturday in September
About National Hunting and Fishing Day
National Hunting and Fishing Day is observed in the United States on the fourth Saturday in September as a conservation and outdoor-heritage observance.
Its federal origin is traceable to 1972, when Congress asked the President to designate the fourth Saturday of September 1972 and President Richard Nixon proclaimed 23 September 1972 as National Hunting and Fishing Day.
Why National Hunting and Fishing Day matters
The original proclamation emphasized hunters’ and anglers’ contributions to conservation, wildlife management and outdoor recreation.
Modern U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service material treats the observance as recurring on the fourth Saturday in September, but the 1972 presidential proclamation itself designated the 1972 date rather than creating a permanent federal public holiday.
History of National Hunting and Fishing Day
Congress considered Senate Joint Resolution 117 in 1972 and amended the request so it applied specifically to the fourth Saturday of September 1972.
President Richard Nixon signed Proclamation 4128 on 2 May 1972, designating Saturday, 23 September 1972 as National Hunting and Fishing Day.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service now describes National Hunting and Fishing Day as an annual fourth-Saturday-in-September observance.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
United States Congress through Senate Joint Resolution 117
Proclamation 4128 states that Congress, through Senate Joint Resolution 117, requested a presidential National Hunting and Fishing Day designation.
President Richard Nixon
Presidential Proclamation 4128 following Senate Joint Resolution 117
First documented observance
Proclamation 4128 designated Saturday, September 23, 1972 as National Hunting and Fishing Day.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe National Hunting and Fishing Day
Learn how license fees and federal excise-tax programs contribute to wildlife conservation in the United States.
If you hunt or fish, review current state rules and safety requirements before participating.
Visit a wildlife refuge, conservation area or educational program that explains habitat management.
Use the day to compare historical conservation policy with current management practices using agency sources.
National Hunting and Fishing Day Facts
National Hunting and Fishing Day is now observed on the fourth Saturday in September.
President Nixon signed Proclamation 4128 on 2 May 1972.
The proclamation designated 23 September 1972 as National Hunting and Fishing Day.
Congressional records show the 1972 request was narrowed from “each September” to September 1972.
The modern recurring observance should not be described as a permanent federal public holiday created by the original proclamation.
National Hunting and Fishing Day Messages
Happy National Hunting and Fishing Day — take time to learn how outdoor recreation and conservation policy intersect.
Mark National Hunting and Fishing Day by learning the conservation systems that support healthy wildlife populations.
National Hunting and Fishing Day can be both a celebration of outdoor heritage and a reason to learn more about conservation.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
GovInfo — Congressional Record / Senate Joint Resolution 117 (opens in a new tab)
GovInfo — Presidential Proclamation 4128 (opens in a new tab)
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — National Hunting and Fishing Day (opens in a new tab)
Federal Agency Observance
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Hunting and Fishing Day?
Fourth Saturday in September The documented recurrence rule is: Fourth Saturday in September.
Does National Hunting and Fishing Day fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is National Hunting and Fishing Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States — conservation and outdoor heritage observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes National Hunting and Fishing Day?
The reviewed sources identify President Richard Nixon as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as United States Congress through Senate Joint Resolution 117.
Is National Hunting and Fishing Day international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: United States — conservation and outdoor heritage observance. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-06.
When is National Hunting and Fishing Day?
Current U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service material places it on the fourth Saturday in September.
When was the first federal designation?
President Richard Nixon designated 23 September 1972 through Proclamation 4128.
Did the 1972 proclamation create a permanent annual federal holiday?
No such claim is made here. The proclamation designated the 1972 date; later annual observance is documented separately by current federal-agency material.
Other observances on September 25
These observances are also listed on September 25, 2027.
Fish Amnesty Day
PETA states that it created Fish Amnesty Day in 1997 and marks it on the fourth Saturday in September.
International Ataxia Awareness Day
The National Ataxia Foundation states that International Ataxia Awareness Day is on September 25 each year and is a coordinated effort involving individuals and ataxia organizations around…
International Rabbit Day
World Animal Protection describes International Rabbit Day as occurring on the fourth Saturday of September and gives 26 September for 2026.
Math Storytelling Day
Natural Math’s first-party toolkit says Math Storytelling Day is celebrated on September 25 and explains how Maria Droujkova and Sue VanHattum developed the observance.
National Cooking Day™
Meyer Corporation’s creator-provided 2016 release says PotsandPans.com created National Cooking Day and identifies September 25 as the observance date.
National Ghost Hunting Day
The official National Ghost Hunting Day site states the event was established in 2016 and is held on the last Saturday of September.